Chapter 103 – Barbados, the old Saboteur

The sun was covered by clouds. But a few streaks of light passed through. A vehicle hummed along the road that leads to this little hamlet village located up an isolated cliff. Barbados peaked outside the window of his vehicle. The wind pressed on his face. He half-closed his eyes and gaze at the village. He pulled his head inside. He gripped the steering while and pushed the pedal until was near the village.

The village had kids and women ambling about. A man with cane stick looked at Barbados and nodded. Barbados pressed on inside the village until he spotted a peculiar vehicle on the fringes of the village. He swung his vehicle there and disembarked.

He stretched his legs to the house beside it. He knocked and the door opened. The man who he met eyes with was unfamiliar. But behind him, he could see the two Cattus sisters that he met in the city of storms. In front of the two was the girl that requested him to take Shig’s corpse and bury it. She craned her head towards the door and her face beamed.

“Uncle Barbados!” hollered the girl. She stood and sauntered to him. The man took a step back and let Barbados enter.

“It’s done, Mia. He’s at peace now.”

Mia frowned. She lowered her head and said. “I see. Thank you, Uncle Barbados. I know that it was hard to-“

“Hard?” He cuts her in. Swaggering inside, sitting cross-legged inside. “The bunch whoresons didn’t even notice my presence despite their flying ships and such. It was no big deal. And forgive me if I blew up the city. It is not like your managing it right now.”

She looked at him. “No innocent died I hope.”

“Better hope that,” Barbados snorted. “You can’t expect me to get away without distraction. Bah, if people died there then they can condemn me into hell.”

“Is that so?” Archie flattened his back against the wall. “I heard of your reputation as a smith and a saboteur...but this.”

Barbados grimly looked at Archie. “Hmm, do you expect saboteurs to be honorable heroes? Look at me lad I am a mere dwarf that knows how things work. Unlike the Cagan’s we have nothing but our arms and wits.”

Archie shook his head. Barbados turned his eyes to the Cattus sisters. “And you are still here? That’s surprising even for you, Cattus.”

“I have no choice. The Templars knew of my face.”

“Is that so?” He snorted curtly. “To think that you human-hater would live with two humans. I guess your love for your sister outweighs that hate down eh?”

There was mocking in his tone. Archie raised his voice. He wanted to speak but Mia looked at him shaking her head.

“What do you want, dwarf?”

“Nothing,” Barbados raised his hands. “I just want to warn you that if I ever hear that you abandon my comrade’s little girl and by the Hammers of Toran I would find you and gut your little sister in front of you.”

Then the coin dropped. Leiko’s face turned that of a werecat and she lunged herself at Barbados. Barbados merely snorted coldly as he crooks his arm and punches her squarely right in the chin. This made Leiko’s head ringed badly. She staggered and stumbled, losing her beast form. Archie shouted. He sprinted towards Barbados only for Barbados to catch his right arm and with an elbow lock, threw him on the floor.

“Enough!” Mia stood with a stomped. Barbados shrugged his shoulders and sat again. Mia stared at Barbados hatefully. “What are you doing Uncle?”

“Just making a point,” He snorted. “I know what a Cattus can do and I don't believe she couldn't help Shig. I know and heard what happened. Benton’s a familiar bastard in the circles of smiths. His grizzly death at the hands of the mute is well known now. And you Mia, the fact that you let someone who had done such favor get treated like that and get sold to an Alva of all people? Shame on you! And do you think that the people won’t turn their backs on you after you sold him? You bunch of fools!”

Mia gritted her teeth. “I thought it was the best. Uncle Shig also stood by my choice.”

“Shig was no politician. He was a warrior. He could never know what he was doing. But even he was a fool. He has grown paranoid enough that he had abandoned all of he stood for to protect you. Bah,” Barbados looked like he was tired. “Though I cannot blame you two for all of it, you faced the Templars and I know that Vigo is a crafty bastard.”

“Vigo?” said Mia. “Who’s that?”

“The Justicar of the Thorn Cross Legion. You don’t even know his name?”

Archie stood up. “No, everyone just called him The Justicar.”

“I see,” Barbados folded his arms. “He’s a dangerous foe. He had fought in the first war against the Cagan and had fought our warband to a standstill. And you actually trusted the bastard?”

“I thought we could,” Mia said.

“Well, I can’t blame Shig. He’s a fool who thinks rightly of his opponents. If it was the old times then maybe Vigo wouldn’t so such thing to Shig. But something changed that bastard. Something that made him does such thing to a long rival.”

Leiko stood up. Kioko assisted her sister while giving a glare at Barbados. He ignored the little girl and continued speaking. “Mia, I know that you plan to take the city back. But know this. You won’t stand a chance.”

“But I have to try!” Mia stomped her foot down. “That city rightfully belongs to me! And I will not stop until I get it back!”

“Then you are a fool!” Barbados sneered loudly. “You cannot win against them. Their new rifles and equipment are no joke. They have flying flotillas guard the city and it seemed like the Alva’s factories have done them well. You cannot simply win. I suggest that you give up.”

Mia’s face winced madly. “And let those bastards get away with everything? Hah, are you going to abandon me too, Uncle Barbados?”

Barbados looked at Mia. “Your father wanted nothing more than to see his little girl grow up peacefully. I know about your abilities. I have seen you grow up into a fine warlord. But my little girl, the time of sword and ax’s gone. This is no longer the era of swords and duty.”

Barbados looked down. He thought of the moment he heard the news. He was saddened by Shig’s death and the treatment that was done to him. But he had no intention to help Mia get the city back. And he only did what he did to help a comrade get his rightful burial.