While Carlos was asking Hollis about the flour, a red notification came, which was never a good sign.
He stopped halfway through the question. The Baker kept explaining for a few seconds before noticing that Mira had gone quiet too. She knew when something was up by looking at Carlos’s expressions.
--
[Territory Raid Notice]
[Lord: Carlos Goldwin]
[Registered territory: Ironroot]
[Raid begins in: 24 hours]
[Prepare your territory’s defence]
--
Carlos read the countdown twice, then looked through the kitchen doorway. A worker had stopped with a basket against his hip. Farther along the path, a Militia was already running toward the Training Yard.
"Keep preparing the food," he told Mira. "I will speak to Kaia. Tell me if anybody outside needs to be brought in."
She nodded, putting the flour bowl down before calling the Hearthkeepers closer. Hollis followed her gaze to the open oven, then turned back to his tray. The bread still needed taking out.
Kaia met Carlos outside. She saw the notice Carlos opened and a grave expression crept over her face.
The attack preview indicated the western approach. Carlos showed her the warning and sent Cosmic a message asking him to come over with his own territory’s notice, if he had received one.
"I want everyone who works near that side inside before it begins," Kaia said. "The fixed guards stay at their posts for now. We have a day."
"Take the people you need to prepare. I will tell Arthur too."
He had accepted the family’s protection. Keeping them unaware of an actual raid would be stupid, even if he wanted to handle it himself.
Arthur’s reply arrived while Carlos was still walking toward the hut.
--
[Arthur Goldwin]- Send the full warning and your present defensive force. Do you require military support?
[Carlos Goldwin]- Thank you, sir. I believe we can defend it ourselves. I will send both records now.
--
Carlos sat at the table and attached the warning. He included the upgraded Hall’s actual output and the three Epic Guardians he had summoned from it, keeping the older Guardians separate.
Brann’s experience mattered, but he wasn’t going to label every Bearkin Epic because their building had changed.
Cosmic came in before Arthur answered again. His own record was open, and he drew a chair over without waiting to be asked.
"We should keep the crossing clear," he said. "I will bring the goods people keep walking past into the warehouse. No trading till we get rid of this raid."
"I talked with Arthur. He offered soldiers."
"What did you say?"
"That we can do it on our own."
Cosmic read the Hall record Carlos had sent and looked toward the doorway. Brann was crossing the yard with one of the new Guardians beside him.
"Then let’s make sure we do."
Arthur’s next message opened in front of them.
--
[Arthur Goldwin]- You intend to refuse support with a Production Domain? Companies assign powerful troops to their production Lords for exactly this reason. They expect to protect the people producing their resources.
[Carlos Goldwin]- I understand, sir. Kaia, my army’s commander, is arranging the defence now. We have more than the troop building in that record. I would like to try with our own force.
--
Carlos paused before sending the last sentence. He changed it himself.
He would defend with his own force. This wasn’t something he could casually try and decide against after enemies reached the kitchen.
Evelyn contacted him a little later. Arthur had sent her the notice, and she asked about where support would arrive if Carlos changed his mind.
He thanked her and repeated his refusal politely.
--
[Evelyn]- You know you are allowed to use the help offered to you, Carlos. This is normal once the Beginner Period ends. Lords support each other, and companies make arrangements long before the attack starts.
[Carlos Goldwin]- I know. I appreciate it. Please don’t think I am refusing because I don’t want the family’s help.
[Evelyn]- Some Lords pay an enormous amount just to have one SSSR-grade troop present during their raid. You should understand what people consider worth paying for their survival.
--
Carlos showed Cosmic the last message.
His friend read it and breathed out slowly. "One of those would probably change the whole thing for us."
"Probably. But we have been growing too. I want to see what all this work has given us."
Cosmic leaned back, looking at him properly now.
"Then don’t hide behind the fact that we refused. If Kaia tells you something is beyond us, we listen."
"Of course we listen. I am not planning to lose everyone to make Arthur think I am good."
Carlos wrote back to Evelyn, saying he would keep the contact available and tell them if the situation changed. He accepted her request to report the outcome afterward.
Arthur sent one final instruction: keep the warning record and do not let pride delay a request for help.
Carlos answered that he understood. Then he put the messages aside and went to see what his own commander needed.
By evening, the western approach had been cleared of ordinary carrying traffic. Kaia was walking it with Garr while Nessa checked the tower’s view over the ground beyond it. Rowan stayed beside the nearest field boundary, showing a worker where the water route must remain open.
Carlos had just reached them when a Militia came from the district portal.
Cedric wanted to speak to him. All five Lords were coming, and the guard had been told to fetch Carlos rather than bring them through the working ground unannounced.
He found Cedric near the portal with Rhea beside him. Tomas stood behind them holding his shield by its lower rim. Milan and Evan were looking toward the preparations at the western wall.
"You got a warning too?" Carlos asked.
Cedric nodded. "All of us."
That made Carlos stop. He glanced at the others and saw the same answer on their faces.
"Show me. We can discuss what help you need."
"We do need help," Cedric said. He rubbed one hand over the back of his neck, then lowered it. "But that isn’t all I came to ask."
Carlos looked at Rhea. She held his gaze instead of leaving Cedric to speak for her.
"I asked you something before," Cedric continued. "You told me to prove I could lead people and follow Ironroot’s rules. We have been working here since then."
"I remember."
"I don’t want another short arrangement, Carlos. I want to join your territory. Permanently. I ask you to either do it right now or we will have to see where our future is meant to be... if not here."
Rhea stepped closer before Carlos could answer.
"And this time, I would like you to hear the rest of us too."