Chapter 75 – The Eye of Trouble (4)

The Komodo dragon hauled the hunters down this slant road. It hissed and took careful steps. The rider of the Komodo dragon mount had his eyes focus on the road. He was holding onto thick reins that seemed to have been pierced under the mount’s jaws. Grumbling while at it.

The hunters on the mount were talking. Joshua was among them. He was seated next to Silo who has been contemplating about what the hell just happened back then. Joshua had many questions about this mission. One, in particular, is why there was no one calling help from the surrounding Warlords. He did not find any answers to his own so he turned to Silo.

“What do you mean get help from an army?”

“Yeah, if this thing is really troublesome then shouldn’t we get help from a Warlord?”

“And get the town annexed by them? Joshua, where have you been? This is the Freelands. A once barbaric frontier where the dire monsters are plenty, and where each City and Town looks after their selves, trying to somehow turn into a habitable and civilized area.”

“Huh? But Avilla City was helped by Holy Midland Templars.”

Joshua got confused on what Silo was saying.

Ah,” Silo gave this look of disdain, “you mean those Imperialistic bastards? Joshua, those Templar bastards would annex the Freelands whole if they weren’t in a war against the Bali and the Cagan. They want this land but at the moment they can’t stretch their army thin. The Freelands is a ragtag land where Warlords are selfish and weak. They are only ‘Warlords’ in name but to the Templars, they are nothing small-time dictators that they can look down upon.”

“That’s doesn’t make sense. I thought they were honorable? Why would they look down on the Warlords?”

Silo made this grumpy face. “Like I said, the Templars think of the Freelands as a barbaric frontier reaped with untapped resources. Have you been to their homeland? Their roads are paved in stone. Their cities are made of cobblestone and marble. They have tall buildings as high as towers. And I believe that in the Midland. Motor Cars have been popularized. You’d see two-wheeled vehicles roaming around and they have this lamp that is powered by what they call as electricity.”

“What? Are they that advanced?

“Yeah, people their wear suits and dress. Even their citizens wear good clothing. So imagine them looking at the Freelands. They think that we are savages, and they have the power and influence to do so. Heck, they practically own the Freelands.”

“Is that really it?” asked Joshua.

“Yes, it is,” Silo spread his hands. “We are free in name only. But unless the Warlords of the Freelands unite, then we might as well give the Freelands to the Templars. Those Imperialistic bastards like to intervene in the Freelands for their own interest. Heck, I believe that they have allied with a few Warlords who support them.”

“So you are saying that.”

“The Warlords have two choices. They either cooperate with the Templars or they’ll get annexed. Do you know that a few hundred miles from here there was a city? That City was interconnected with Avilla but when that City refused to cooperate with the Templars. Saboteurs appeared. Rebel groups and people who suddenly hated the Warlord of that City appeared. It was chaos and at the end, the Warlord was burned on a cross.”

Joshua felt complicated hearing all of this. He said. “And here I thought they are at least a bit honorable.”

“Honorable?” Silo sneered. “They are a zealous and fanatical bunch. They have good soldiers and there are Legions of them that will fulfill their promise. Honestly, the problem isn’t with them, but their politicians who had the interest of their own country in their heads. The Templars are God-fearing individuals but sadly they have this attitude of looking down at others. Heck, I heard that recently they made Avilla theirs now.”

‘What?” Joshua exclaimed. “They captured the city?”

“No, it is more like the Warlord there showed weakness and allowed the Templars to take control of the city’s problems. The Templars now own the trade union of the City. Avilla is a good trading route. Their roads lead to the other Cities and towns. So it obvious enough that they would do something like that. Not to mention that Warlord just lost half of her army to defend against the enemy. Now she owes The Templars and the Alva’s. And if anything, it is stupid to owe the Alva’s.”

Joshua frowned. “No wonder you call them Imperialistic.”

“The Holy Midland just wants an Empire,” said Silo with disdain. “They’ll do anything to have a slight control of the Freelands. And with the Alva’s helping them, it seems like they manage to control a weak warlord in abiding by their wishes. I do not fault the Warlord of Avilla. But the moment she let the Templars inside her city. And foolishly thought they will help in goodwill. Then she’s an idiot. And she was doing so well. What a stroke of bad luck.”

Joshua folded his arms. “What about her councilors?”

“Oh, well I heard that she has a Lord Enforcer. But the Lord Enforcer she had by her side was nothing but a warrior. He was no politician and he probably wasn’t able to see through the Templar’s slimy hearts. But anyway, don’t expect that we get help from the other Warlords around this part of the Freelands. Not with the Templars making their moves.”

Joshua said. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would the Warlords not worry about the Templars? Letting foreigners intervene in their own land.”

“Have you been listening, Joshua?” Silo gave this irritated look. “The Templars are a faction you don’t want to fight with. They are prideful, honorable and horribly fanatical. They fulfill their oaths but other than that their leaders are slimy bastards with dreams of Imperialism and annexation. Indeed, there might be people who will try to make them leave. But I doubt that they do well. I heard that the Templars that have subdued Avilla are the Thorn Cross Legion. Those Templars have dragon artillery and griffons. A typical warlord state won’t stand chance against the bastards.”

“I see.” Sounds like we really are just alone in this huh?”

“Yep, sadly, and I rather not have Edawick fall to the Templars. It is better for our town to stay being a hidden rural town rather than have them interfere in our affairs. They’ll leave us alone as long as we trade with them and work with them. But we shouldn’t let them think of us as weak. Or else they’ll coil around us. The Templars like others to believe that they are allies. But in reality, they only think of their own interests. We are not their equal.”

Silo said sternly. Joshua nodded his head and kept silent in thought. Then, their travel continued on as the mount they are riding entered the deep forests.

There was no help coming for them.