Arnold's voice deeply unsettled Henry: the rage in his eyes remained unexpressed on his lips as he continued calmly.
"All these years, I've given you grace even as you strayed further and further from the path of living a purposeful life. I thought one day you'd figure it out on your own. A passion to pursue, a goal to meet, anything productive, but time and time again, you left me with nothing but disappointment." Arnold remarked smoothly.
Henry, who was hyperalert, could detect a sharp edge beneath his father's stoic words; he felt as if he were directly in the eye of the storm, and the possibility of meeting the storm's eyewall was putting a fear into him he had never felt before with his parents. Still, he tried not to let his fear show, attempting to make eye contact with his father but settling for his forehead, as his eyes seemed to be the cage restraining his intense anger.
"Do you know what this is? Arnold's voice rose for the first time as he pulled a ring out of his pocket and held it in front of himself, allowing Henry a better view.
Seeing the ring, Henry's eyes almost popped out of his head, and true shock was evident on his face.
"How is this possible? How do you have that ring?" Henry asked, reaching for it without realizing.
"Nothing happens in this Barony without my knowledge. Do you really think I would allow you to sneak out at all hours of the night and get involved with the town's underground without keeping an eye on you? Clearly, my weakness in dealing with you has made you naive to the realities of the world. That's why I'm finally doing something I should have done a long time ago," Arnold proclaimed, pulling his arm back to ensure that Henry couldn't make contact with the ring.
"Before I do so, I want to tell you a story, don't worry, it won't take too long. Back when I was a couple of years younger than you, I met an older family of merchants who were stopping here in the barony for three weeks to rest and restock. As the future heir to the barony, my father instructed me to buy steel from the merchants as a test to see if I could handle the responsibility. Determined to prove myself to my father, I headed to the merchant's temporary shop, where I encountered the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I left the shop that day with all the steel my father had requested, but without a single coin left, as her beauty had completely erased any thoughts of negotiating the price. After that day, I spent the next three weeks getting to know the merchant's daughter. Until their very last day in the barony, I told her that I had feelings for her and wanted to marry her. Despite my efforts, I couldn't convince her to leave her family, and they departed at the scheduled time. For the next six months, I saved every coin from my allowance to buy the best ring I could afford—a solid silver band engraved with an 'S' for Sarah and another 'S' for Sinclair as a symbol of my determination to marry her. When the merchants returned to the barony a year later, I presented her with the ring and successfully persuaded her to marry me. Arnold gave a slight smile as he recounted one of the defining stories of his youth, but quickly grew serious again.
"Taking your mother's cherished ring was an egregious mistake, but the fact that you chose that particular ring adds layers of hurt that make my ability to forgive you feel almost insurmountable. It's not just a piece of jewelry; it holds memories, love, and significance that you may not fully grasp. Given the severity of your actions, I advise you to brace yourself mentally, as you will be assigned to the Sinclair Mountain border garrison for an extended period. This won't be an easy transition, and you'll need to reflect on the gravity of the situation."
The final judgment shocked Henry as he realized he was being exiled from both the castle and the town. The garrison maintained strict control over drinking, had a no-nonsense policy on gambling, and prohibited prostitutes within its walls. As he considered all the comforts he was losing, panic began to set in. He realized that arguing with his father after he began speaking with his Baron authority was a futile effort. His only hope was his mother's mercy.
Driven by desperation that undermined his self-respect, he approached the very person he had wronged, appearing as miserable as possible while looking into her eyes. Consumed by desperation that had chipped away at his self-respect, he slowly approached the woman he had wronged. His shoulders slumped, and a deep frown creased his face as he met her gaze. The weight of his regret hung heavily in the air, and his eyes, filled with remorse, reflected the turmoil within him as he sought her forgiveness.
"Mother, please don't let father take me away. I'll be better from now on, I promise, I'll never steal from you again. No! I'll never steal from anyone ever again. Please, mother, I won't make it out alive at the garrison, I'm not built for it," he cried with as much passion as possible.
Despite the sincerity of Henry's words, all he could see in his mother's eyes was sadness. Her tears, which had begun to dry, flowed again with renewed intensity. It was painful for her to witness her son begging for her mercy, but she had agreed with her husband to adopt a tough love approach for their youngest son, and she was determined to follow through with it.
"Henry, how did it all come to this? Where did we go wrong in your upbringing? Maybe your father's right. Maybe we were just too soft on you. I pray for your safety and health and that your father's vision for you is the right one." Sarah sobbed between sentences as she cut off Henry's last chance of escaping his punishment.
Henry, losing all hope, "No! Absolutely not! I can't go, I can't," hyperventilating through his outburst, he did the only thing that crossed his mind in the moment.
He turned around and swung his bedroom door open, ready to sprint away as fast as he could. However, just after stepping through the doorway, he collided with what felt like a brick wall—two tall, muscular men standing side by side in front of the door. The collision sent him bouncing right back into his room.
There was no escaping the consequences this time; his father had orchestrated everything with meticulous precision. Before he had fully grasped the reality of the collision, a massive knight seized him, yanking him from his room as if he were nothing more than a plaything. His father stood nearby, an inscrutable expression on his face, watching the scene unfold with a chilling detachment, while his mother averted her gaze, as if she couldn't bear to witness the unfolding drama. The knight's grip was unyielding, his movements rough and commanding, making it seem as though he were toying with a mere doll rather than a full-grown man.
Henry's spirit to flee had crumbled in an instant. Silence enveloped the air, heavy and oppressive; not a single word escaped his lips, nor did the knights utter a sound as they loomed around him. With an air of grim determination, they continued to drag him to the main road that stretched out before the towering silhouette of the castle. One of the knights, a formidable figure clad in glinting armor, had taken hold of Henry, binding him securely to the front of the horse's saddle. He sat closely behind him, an unyielding presence that left no room for defiance, ensuring that every movement Henry made was under his strict control. The tension between them vibrated in the air, a stark reminder of Henry's helpless situation amidst the echoes of distant galloping hooves.
Under the cover of darkness, they set out on their two-hour trek toward the barony's most strategically vital garrison, a fortress known not only for its importance in military defense but also for its strict regulations. As they moved through the silent, shadowy landscape, the faint sounds of their footsteps echoed against the stillness of the night, each step bringing them closer to a place that held the key to the barony's security. The garrison stood tall and imposing, its watchtowers piercing the sky, while guards patrolled its perimeter, ever vigilant, maintaining discipline and order at all times.
The horses moved forward with each stride, bringing Henry closer to his new reality.