Chapter 23 – Ploy (4)

Joshua awoke from all the commotion.

He thought what was happening, so he inspected outside while clearly limping. He was using a walking stick and as he peeks outside of the courtyard of the stronghold. He saw men carry crates. He looked at the other open crates and saw rifles, a whole stack of them.

What’s happening? Joshua thought. He made his way down the corridor until he approached a door. Inside there was a smell of coal and greased. Joshua opened the door and strut towards a wooden box to sit. Benton the Smith looked at Joshua who sat and went back to his work.

“You are here,” said Benton, pounding his hammer at a mold.

Joshua breathed a sigh. “Why are there weapons being unloaded and distributed?”

“War,” said Benton dryly. “The Bali and The Cagan are sending their forces to deal with Avilla City.”

“Why?” asked Joshua.

“Because they think of as a threat,” replied Benton. “Sending supplies from them and being allied with the Holy Midland. This day had come sooner than I thought. I expect months of sieges. But to think that they would take to the sky and drop down using those devices. The age of swords and axes are truly fading away.”

“What are you talking about?” said Joshua confused.

Benton pounded the mold he created before turning to Joshua. “Men from the Cagan and the Bali will be arriving through giant airships. Dolce of Alva gave this information to the Lord Enforcer a day ago. Now everyone is panicking to get ready.”

“It was her!?” Joshua shuddered. His eyes had a look of fear. He remembered the sadistic Dolce of Alva. How she was stern and malicious. How she made a man out of him and how he experienced pleasure yet terror at the same time.

Benton looked at Joshua. “You are afraid of that Dolce?”

“Yes,” Joshua replied softly. “She is a she-devil. A sadist that seemed to become unhinged! I remember her words! I did not understand them but now that I do.” He held his forehead. “I feel like I would crumble!”

Benton snorted. “You say that you experienced pleasure. Yet feel like you would crumble? Are you bragging lad?”

“I am not!” shouted Joshua. “That she-devil is dangerous! She sees me nothing but a toy for her to play! You wouldn’t understand.”

“Benton snorted. “I’ll probably won’t.”

Joshua put his palm on his forehead. “Anyway, she gave the information about the invaders?”

“Yes, if she didn’t then this City would be defenseless as men armed with rifles and bayonets cover the sky. The rain of bombs will destroy the walls. The garrison will die at the hands of the cannons that will be unleashed upon us. It can still happen. But this city might be able to fight back at least.”

“Damn it,” said Joshua weakly. “I thought peace would last and here I am proving myself wrong again.”

“Only fools would think that,” replied Benton. “War is the bread and butter of this continent. Warlords go to war to conquer or to defend. Soon, this city will be again facing enemies. Many will die. Many will suffer to defend this city. I may die. You may die.”

“I don’t want to die,” Joshua replied softly.

“No one does,” said Benton. “But as of now, you are part of Avilla. This stronghold has housed you and fed you. And you protected it yourself by killing that assassin. Joshua, you are a good person but your heart is soft at times of peace, and only at the face of danger that it hardens like steel. Tell me, what do you think of all of this?”

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“I think it is waste of time,” said Joshua honestly. “These factions should talk. Negotiate. You say that they are attacking this city for supplying. But I think they have other motives.”

“They do. The City is a gateway to all trade routes. It is not that hard to think that many would like to subdue her.”

Benton said while checking the molding he made. Joshua looked at him with a flat expression. “Yes, that’s why talking is out of the question for them,” he sighed.

“Do you think they are evil?” asked Benton, his eyes seemingly wanting to hear this former mute’s opinion.

“It is subjective. All that matter is the point of view,” said Joshua sternly. “They think that they are taking down the supplier of their enemies. Those who supply their enemies are their allies. Therefore we are evil for helping their enemies.” Joshua paused. He grabs the pistol hung on his belt. “As for us, we think that they are evil for trying to attack us. On my mind right now they are evil for simply trying to take this city. This city only supplies their enemy and I think they pay gold too. So how come we are evil for selling merchandises? No, they are evil. But if one would look at the whole situation using neutral eyes. One would think that both think that each other is evil. Perspective, if I was a member of those factions I would think that they are evil.”

Benton smiled. “That is one way of looking at it. Or are you simply undecided?”

“I don’t know,” Joshua caressed the barrel of his pistol. “But all I know is that I want to live and protect the family I have here.”

“They are not your real family.”

“But they are only one that I have now.”

“I see.’

Benton nodded his head. He started pounding the mold he made.

“Benton,” Joshua said with a flat voice. “That mold you are making...are you trying to recreate the mechanism?”

“You can tell?”

“I am the one who gave you those schematics after all.”

Benton looked at him. He saw Joshua’s flat, expressionless face. “I am trying to make one for myself.”

“Is that so,” he replied coldly. “Too bad then, it is missing something important.”

“What!?” said Benton, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“The superposed design is brilliant. But without the safety mechanism, it is a grenade waiting to be triggered. You’d blow your fingers up if you try to.”

Benton got furious. “What the hell lad! Are you trying to kill me?”

“I am not.” Joshua looked cold. Almost as if he was psychotic. “But are you Sir Benton?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Nothing really...I’ll share the safety mechanism. I hope you won’t share it with evil.”

Joshua said standing up. He looked at Benton with an odd look in his eyes before striding out of the room. Benton stopped his molding. He thought of something uneasy but he shrugged it off.

It can’t be, right?