The convoy stopped a few hours later. The road leading to L-03 passed through a wooded region where the trees grew taller and denser with every mile. After the attack, Alaric had ordered a short break. The horses needed to be checked, some equipment had to be repaired, and they needed to make sure there wasn't another enemy group nearby. The Imperial Knights had spread out around the camp. The Imperial Guard watched the surrounding area. The Black Ravens, meanwhile, remained slightly apart from the others. They didn't seem to need much time to recover. Darius was speaking with Gareth and Silas. Aldren was inspecting part of the road. Lucian had settled beneath a tree with several documents. Ethan was standing beside Kael. Nyxara was resting quietly at their feet. Kael stared into the forest. He hadn't said much since the attack. Ethan eventually looked at him. “You're still thinking about it.” Kael didn't take his eyes off the trees. “Yes.” “The figure?” “Among other things.” Ethan crossed his arms. “You think he was there for you?” Kael remained silent for a moment. Then he answered: “Yes.” Ethan sighed. “I figured.” Kael finally turned toward him. “Does that bother you?” “That someone organized an attack to get to you?” “Yes.” “Obviously.” Ethan paused. “But what bothers me more is that you already seem to consider this normal.” Kael gave him a faint smile. “I never said that.” “You don't have to.” Ethan lightly tapped him on the shoulder. “You're really difficult to read.” “I know.” A little farther away, the doors of the imperial carriage opened. Crown Prince Lucien Arclight stepped out. Princess Elara followed him. Alaric was right behind them. The three walked toward Kael. Ethan straightened slightly. Kael remained still. Lucien stopped in front of them. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael inclined his head slightly. “Your Highness.” Elara looked around. “Is it always like this with you?” Kael frowned slightly. “Like what?” “You arrive somewhere and everyone ends up fighting.” Ethan suppressed a laugh. Kael gave him a look. “It wasn't intentional.” “I know,” Elara said with a smile. Lucien then looked at Ethan. “Your brother?” “Ethan Veyron.” Ethan bowed slightly. “Your Highness.” The prince returned the gesture. “You were impressive earlier.” Ethan looked slightly surprised. “Thank you.” Elara added: “All of the Veyrons were impressive.” She glanced toward Darius. Then Aldren. Then Lucian. “Even your uncle.” Lucian looked up from his documents. “I'll take that as a compliment.” Elara smiled. “It was.” Lucien turned his attention back to Kael. “I'd like to discuss what happened.” Kael nodded. “Of course.” Alaric stepped closer. “It would be better if we discussed it together.” They gathered around a temporary table set up for the officers. Ethan sat beside Kael. The prince and princess sat across from them. Alaric remained standing. “First,” the captain began, “the attack was organized.” Kael nodded. “Yes.” “They knew our formation.” Ethan frowned. “They knew where the imperial carriages were.” “Exactly.” Alaric placed a map on the table. “But they weren't actually trying to reach the prince or princess.” Elara looked at the map. “Are you certain?” “Yes.” Alaric pointed to several areas. “The first attacks were meant to slow down the vanguard. Then they tried to get around the Imperial Knights.” Lucien studied the map carefully. “To reach someone in the center.” Alaric nodded. “Kael.” Silence fell. Ethan crossed his arms. “That was our conclusion too.” Kael simply studied the map. “They changed direction several times.” Alaric looked up. “You noticed that?” “Yes.” “When?” “When Darius pushed them back.” Kael placed a finger on the map. “They could have continued toward the imperial carriage.” He pointed toward another area. “But they changed course.” Alaric nodded. “That is exactly what I observed.” Lucien looked at Kael. “So they wanted to separate you from the rest of the group.” “Probably.” Elara frowned slightly. “Why?” Kael shrugged. “I don't know yet.” Ethan looked at Elara. “But we can guess one thing.” She looked at him. “What?” “They knew who Kael was.” Lucien remained silent. Ethan continued: “They called him by his title.” Alaric added: “And they identified the Echo of the Void.” The princess looked at Kael. “So they knew exactly who they were attacking.” Kael nodded. “Yes.” Elara was silent for a few seconds. Then she looked at Ethan. “And you intervened immediately.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Of course.” “Why?” Ethan seemed surprised by the question. “Because he's my brother.” The answer was so simple that nobody spoke for a few seconds. Lucien looked at Kael. Then Ethan. He understood. “The Veyrons weren't just protecting the mission.” Ethan shook his head. “No.” “You were protecting Kael.” This time, Kael looked up. Ethan didn't answer immediately. Then he gave a small smile. “Yes.” Elara looked at Kael. “Even when you were under attack yourselves.” Kael answered calmly: “That's normal.” The princess stared at him. “For you.” Kael didn't answer. Ethan gave a small smile. “For us, yes.” --- Alaric studied the map for a moment. “There is something else.” Kael waited. “The Veyrons reacted before most of our soldiers.” Ethan looked at the captain. “Thanks to Nyxara.” “In part.” Alaric paused. “But not only because of her.” He raised his eyes. “Your men coordinated without waiting for additional orders.” Ethan smiled. “Darius.” “Darius, Aldren, Gareth, Silas, and Rowan.” Alaric sighed. “I've never seen a unit react that quickly.” Elara smiled. “Neither have I.” Lucien nodded. “Their formation was impressive.” Kael remained silent. Ethan noticed. “You're not going to say anything?” “About what?” “Your knights.” Kael thought for a moment. “They did their job.” Elara looked at him with amusement. “Are you really incapable of complimenting them?” Kael shrugged slightly. “They already know what I think of them.” Ethan smiled. “Translation: he's proud of them.” Kael shot him a look. “I didn't say that.” “You didn't have to.” Lucien laughed quietly. --- Alaric continued. “There is something that particularly interests me.” Kael looked at him. “What?” “When the attackers realized they couldn't reach you directly, they tried to isolate you.” “Yes.” “But they gave up as soon as the Veyrons regrouped around you.” Ethan looked at Kael. “They realized they couldn't get through.” Alaric nodded. “Exactly.” Elara looked at the Veyron family. “So that's it.” Kael turned slightly. “What?” “Why people talk so much about your family.” Ethan smiled. “You're only starting to understand?” The princess gave him an amused look. “I'm mostly starting to understand why nobody seems eager to provoke the Veyrons.” Ethan shrugged. “Probably a good thing.” Lucien spoke up. “It's not just their individual strength.” He looked at Kael. “It's the way they work together.” Kael said nothing. The prince continued. “Darius always knows exactly where Kael is.” “That's his job,” Kael replied. “Ethan reacts to your movements.” Kael looked at his brother. “He knows me.” “Aldren understands changes on the battlefield before most others even notice them.” Kael nodded. “He's been commanding for a long time.” Lucien then looked at Ethan. “And all of you share the same priority.” Ethan answered simply: “Protecting our own.” The prince remained silent. Then he looked at Kael. “Even you.” Kael frowned slightly. “What?” “You protect everyone.” Ethan gave a small smile. “He tries.” Kael sighed. “Is this turning into a meeting about how I work?” Elara laughed. “Maybe.” Kael shook his head. For the first time since the conversation began, the atmosphere relaxed. --- A few moments later, Darius arrived. “Everything's been checked.” Alaric nodded. “Any survivors?” “None who could come back and attack us immediately.” Darius stopped beside the table. “What did I miss?” Ethan answered: “They're talking about us.” Darius looked at the prince and princess. “Oh.” Elara smiled. “We were discussing your effectiveness.” Darius raised an eyebrow. “I assume Kael hasn't said anything.” Kael looked at his second-in-command. “Why does everyone think that?” Darius smiled. “Because we know you.” Ethan nodded. “Exactly.” Kael sighed. “I regret this conversation.” Lucien burst out laughing. Even Alaric smiled. Then Darius looked at Kael. His expression changed slightly. “They really came for you.” Kael nodded. “I know.” “Doesn't that bother you?” Kael looked toward the forest. “It bothers me that they managed to find us.” Darius slowly nodded. “Me too.” Silence settled over them. Then Kael added: “But now they know something.” Ethan looked at him. “What?” Kael turned his eyes toward the group. “That they can't reach me easily.” Darius smiled. “And that's probably information they wish they hadn't learned.” Aldren, who had just arrived behind them, heard the last sentence. “They learned something else.” Everyone turned toward him. Aldren looked at Kael. “They learned what it means to come after a Veyron.” Kael remained silent. Then he looked down the road leading toward L-03. “Then let's keep moving.” Lucien stood. “In that case, we still have a few hours before we arrive.” Elara stood as well. She looked at Kael one last time. “I have a question.” Kael looked at her. “Yes?” “When everyone was fighting to protect you…” She hesitated slightly. “Were you afraid?” Kael thought about it. Then answered honestly: “No.” Elara looked surprised. “Why?” Kael looked at Ethan. Then Darius. Then Aldren. Finally, he looked at Nyxara, who was still quietly sitting beside him. “Because I knew they'd be there.” Ethan smiled. Darius looked away slightly, a small smile appearing on his face. Aldren said nothing. But his expression softened. The prince and princess exchanged a glance. They understood. The strength of House Veyron wasn't just in its weapons. It was also in the bond between its members. And after watching the family fight together, Lucien and Elara now understood why an attack aimed at Kael was never simply an attack against one man. It was an attack against the entire Veyron family. The convoy eventually resumed its journey. L-03 was getting closer. And this time, no one doubted what awaited them there.

Those They Protected