Chapter 104 – The Old and Tired

Barbados swaggered out of the house. He saw that there was an empty boulder near the cliff so he went there. He sat and rested. He closed his eyes. He recalled those that left him behind. He muttered. “Y’all just left me behind eh.”

The memories of old and the brothers and sisters in arms of Barbados flashed before his eyes. He could recall the days they would sit under the stars. Talking about glories and their honor, their raised mugs filled with ale. It was all gone and all he had no was memories and scar.

There was a mountain which outline could be clearly seen. The forest below had an orange tine. There were fallen leaves everywhere. There was a river down below that was shaped like a snake. There were two hills and there were mists over them. The sun was clearing up. The streaks of light shined upon the forest and the river, giving a glimmering look. Barbados took a long look at the scenery. He reached for his canteen and drank some warm ale.

He thought to himself how long it has been since he went out of his workshop. Ever since he settled in the city of storms all he has been doing was to work for the various people in that city. The place was a living toxic ground but the city pays.

“Why do I have to leave the city just to bury you bastards?”

He murmured alone in the cliff. His face knotted and he squinted. He looked at the bottom of his canteen. He has stopped drinking but ever since hearing what happened to Shig. He started drinking yet again. He would like to have followed his old friend’s advice. But living seemed like it was a pain as years passed by. He was glad that he could see technology improve through the years. Yet there was this feeling of wanting to go back to the good old days.

But he knows that such thing can never happen again. He had reminded himself over and over again. The time of sword and ax’s are gone. Truthfulness was getting lesser and wars are fought with guns and artillery. If it was the old days he would be running around with his ax and sword. But now he was just dwarf mechanic gushing over how technology improves every year.

It was fun. But yet there was this hollow feeling in his chest. Every day he finds it hard to get up. At some point, he just wants to stay still in his bed. If it wasn’t for the call he would have stayed in the city of storms. But now he was here in this village that he couldn’t even bother to know its name. His eyelids were heavy and the ale was at least helping him.

Barbados hallucinated and saw figures of the old. He could see the dead. He could see those that have already left him behind. It was bitter for him. His face squirmed. His eyes filled with pain. Barbados continued drinking his ale.

As he does Archie came out of the house and strode towards him. He looked at the old dwarf who seemed like he was tried. Archie sat cross-legged and said. “Thank you for taking care of Old Shig.”

“Bah, it was my duty to bury an old friend,” said Barbados. “But that’s all I’ll do for the little lady. She’s brilliant and is like her father. But she doesn’t know the scope of what the Templars could do. I’ve been to the Holy Midland. It is unlike this backwater place. There are tall buildings that scratch the skies. Their roads are paved with what they call as bitumen. And vehicles such like that are popularized. Their common people wore nice clothes. There factories covers miles and their defenses are solid. Their people are covered in soot. And even though there is poverty. Everyone in that land can say that they are safe from harm. Most of the dire monsters there are either dead or tamed. The Freelands is an untouched soil. Its wilderness is untamed and there are many tribes that even the Templars are wary of. The Isolist tribes, the High Ogres demesne, the rat-kin, and various dire monsters of shapes and sizes plague the land. Maybe if they conquer the Cagan and Bali natives. Then maybe they would finally turn their attention to this land. So tell me. How do you expect Mia to hold off an entire Empire of loyal soldiers armed to teeth with those same weapons that drive them off?”

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“No, I don’t think she can,” Archie admitted.

“Good. You don’t think short-sighted. I’ve heard of you, Archie. Your name rings even in the mouth of merchants. The big hero who got his ass kicked by Templars trying to save that poor lad named Joshua from the Templars. You are a good man. But I hope that you do not follow Mia in her foolishness.” He looked at the sky. “She’ll never give up what her father gave her. And I fear that it might lead to her death.”

Archie’s face hardened. “So why not tell her that she’s risking her dear life? She’ll listen to you.”

“No she will,” Barbados said curtly. “She’s stubborn and her eyes are those that seek revenge. I believe she can do it. I do not doubt that. But the Templars will soon overrun her. Even if she gathers all the warlords of this land, she will not succeed. Not to mention that the Alva’s have been extending their reaches. Just a week ago two warlords have joined the Alva’s. The ‘promise’ of an Alva is as bright as gold these days.”

“So you are suggesting for her to give up?” said Archie with a frown. “Then let all the things they did to Shig unpaid?”

“Yes,” said Barbados. “Shig died saving you four. He died knowing that he was doing what he does best. His corpse was treated like trash. But his soul died knowing that. Besides, I’ve done what I did. Those soldiers that hung him were only given orders. And Vigo...that crafty bastard probably wanted to make other surrenders. I can understand the bastard but I’ll punch his jaw if I see him.”

“You are...forgiving,” said Archie confused.

Barbados looked at Archie with a bitter face. “I am old and tired. I don’t think I can outrun the Templars influence. And Vigo...that bastard probably had something in mind.”

“You really don’t hate him,” Archie said.

“Why would I hate him?” Barbados added. “He’s a follower of the Pontiff. He has duties to do and things to consider. I will not hate him for what he does for his home. But I’ll punch him for what he did to Shig.”

Archie frowned. He could not understand why a friend of Shig would be so forgiving about the person who desecrated his friend.