“The captain should be back by now” Thomas commented waiting by the docks.

“He’s an experienced captain, he won’t go down that easily to measly pirates” Lea replied waiting with him on the captain’s return. Both of them have been spending more time with each other when it was available, she would help out Thomas by the forge while he would accompany her around the city. The return of the captain had been delayed was surprising to the Monroe and Cormac at the fort, having thought of the captain to be dead is the scenario they have conclude about why the captain had not return. Of course they was still doubt about this, Preston had a good track of encountering pirates before and surviving yet could this particular encounter be the end of Captain Preston Orbis of the Seaway Doumum.

“If he’s not returning, accept the reality you feared”

“If he is dead there is a chance that there have been sighting of a ship wreckage or bodies floating in the open waters”

“Have you asked some sailors?”

“They said they haven’t wreckages…but there were some bodies. But they weren’t identified easily could be just another dead sailor in the waters”

“He’s not coming, just continue your services to Monroe. Didn’t he mention that you’d receive more sovereigns for your continuous work at the forge?”

“Not entirely, he’s suggesting that the Anglox army in Averigo could use a blacksmith”

“Aren’t thinking of the offer?”

“Tempting but I won’t exactly accept it”

“Why not? Some folks here migrate to Averigo, mostly in High Hills much nearer to Hurence”

“Why there?”

“The leathering business is blooming there, much nicer to live in a peaceful forest land. Though if it’s action you seek there’s always the recruitment office maybe that’s the one Monroe is suggesting. Could be an opportunity in the colonies as a blacksmith in the colonial army, maybe even a soldier too”

It was either being a young man wanting for glory and adventure, or he had always dreamed of joining the army. The Anglox armies had been spread out in the world from Pheuropa to A’sun. Anglox’s influence and impact to the world was deep, Anglox began spreading their popularity when they captured land overseas like the colonies in Averigo, parts of the continent of E’frik which was north of Pheuropa told by him by Rowlan that in myths it said that it was birth place of life in the Ancient Age, and Ishinia which Jindagee hails from. Anglox’s expansion of land in the world had been driving the other countries with fear of their powerful but Galrance only saw this as dare to expand more land than Anglox from what Thomas had heard from when there was always was a conversation between Anglox and Galrance yet Ispavia had gotten more land in the southern continent of Averigo which was just named South Averigo (which explorers called the two land masses of North and South The New World, Ispavia still had more land than Anglox yet on terms of military might he would often hear that the Anglox army was more powerful that the lands conquered by Ispavia would be in Anglox hands.

From all these stories he’d heard when he was young he slowly started to dream of joining the army, why not? He thought to himself he was an experienced blacksmith that the army could use and even could lend a hand if need be. Surely they’ll accept him, he would ask Monroe later on the offer. Being a blacksmith in the army would be good career, his parents might be proud of it that one of their sons was a blacksmith and a military soldier and maybe even perhaps a higher ranking in the army.

“You have me interested, since some folks here move to Averigo are you one of them?” Thomas asked smilingly

“Interesting but I have family need to take care of”

“Why not move your family? Problems in money?”

“Deep family roots here, wouldn’t trade it to settle in a foreign land. That’s what people like you are for, travelling n’ fighting”

“I’m guilty of it, I’ve always had an interest in the army and the thought of travelling to a different land is enticing. Though I’m not all about fighting I could be leader of a battalion”

“You?!” Lea asked with astonishment and laughter “I could see you as a brave soldier in a battlefield or defending a fort against the zeal of thousands of men rushing to get in but to lead? I think you’re better off as someone….how could I describe it….. Ah an advisor to a captain or morale figure to get men behind on”

“Aren’t morale boosting men leaders to lead their men into the Frey?”

“Does a king fight with his men on the battlefield? I heard shouts of soldiers and generals shouting ‘In the name of the king’ or queen, or that king or this queen but they just shout the names of their beloved king to rally the soldiers on. In hopes of getting themselves a place of honor in the king’s favor”

“You seem to have some hate for monarchs”

“I’ve lost family in battles in the army, should feel honored that I have them fight though that pleasure is soured when you’ve learned that they fought a war over a trivial matter”

“I won’t press on it, though in my words I think without wars fought the world isn’t shape as we know it today”

Lea gave a questioning look and said “Wise words for a blacksmith, a soon to be soldier, and a philosopher as well”

“No just wise words I’ve heard” Thomas replied as he heard those words from the Smith back at Summit’s Chest.

Over by the distance there two ships approaching one was a trade ship that went through hell and back while the other was a brig damaged by the looks of it. Immediately Thomas recognized it to be Preston’s ship. As the ships were now being docked he saw Preston’s crew had been injured, the captain himself emerged from his crew and ordered them to seek aid from the fort to heal their wounds.

“Captain! What happened out there sea?” Thomas asked

“Waiting for the damn ship and a surprised ambushed from pirates! It was fierce but nothing compared to a fight with a Man of War in stormy weathers!” Preston exclaimed loudly. “I’ll tell you about the stories after I report this to Monroe and get him to repair my ship”

“Might as well I repair some of your crew’s weapons at it”

“Yes you’d better do, when they boarded the ship they had been blood all over my nice clean ship”

After finishing the repairs of tools and weapons that had taken him nearing dusk to finish because of the added work at the fort, he was about to leave for the Drowning Drinks bar until he saw Monroe and Preston appeared at the courtyard. Monroe looked too shocked at what Preston was telling him, Thomas decided to wait until their conversation was over so he could hear Preston’s story at sea. When it was over, Preston approached Thomas asking if he was finish with his work so he could tell the story at a bar where his crew is at. Thomas agreed as they left the fort but before leaving he was about Monroe about the army.

“Sir Monroe, I was thinking the offer”

“What offer Thomas, I’ve had been busy for so long that I’ve nearly forgot what I’ve been saying to people”

“Joining the army in colonies”

“Really?” Preston himself was surprised even Monroe too who had to say: “Most men who’d join the army are either drafted or just paid groups for a time being like Preston but volunteers are not too common to be joined especially considering just years before”

“The expansion war of Austar, I’ve seen the naval ships of Ispavia clashing with Anglox’s own during my travels at sea. I’ve escaped an entire fleet of Ispavian ships to do my job to escort a lord back to Anglox.”

“I was under command by my officer that time, the Gaelish are not to be trifled with. Despite their low numbers they manage turn the tides against us. But to notion of wanting to join the Anglox army” Monroe paused and seems to be thinking about it for a moment “Maybe another time, we currently have no time to recruit but in due time we will I guarantee. Maybe you could start out as a colonial militia men. Now gentlemen I must see sir Cormac about the latest happenings to the criminals” he said leaving.

“Aspired now to be a soldier, well I heard that story to many times” Preston commented

“The army needs more men don’t they? I’m willing to join”

“An attack during a festive night is different from a soldier who serves his nation during war”

“But it’s the soldiers and guards who prevent that, I’d gladly serve the Anglox army”

“In the Ascension of Austar, I’ve come across men drifted on the open sea, heard their stories of how their ship was ambushed by the enemy and left to die in the open waters. It would often go like ‘I’d wish I got stuck in a farm working, or a carpenter’”

“There’s lost, death, and misery. That’s what’s expected when you join and I can accept those terms”

“I’m just giving some wisdom to people who wished to join, most of them are either idiots expecting to come back as a war hero, men whom are from wealthy family to increase their reputation of their family, or to support someone back at home”

“How about a noble cause to help people?”

Preston didn’t reply but shook his head while smiling giving Thomas that he resembled a young foolish man.

Preston’s crew had filled the bar, they welcomed their captain as he entered the bar giving cheers on their mission. Thomas looked around to spot if Lea was there but she wasn’t. He found himself with Preston’s crew sitting down listening to rambles of old stories yet Thomas was eager to hear what happened at sea, his men were comparing the battle at sea to their former battles all the while Thomas decided to get a drink. Two glasses afterwards of beer he started feeling headaches and a burning in his chest, he still had consciousness so he wasn’t entirely drunk.

“Can you tell the story what happened at sea before I get drunk to remember it?”

“The blacksmith can’t handle more than two beers?!” shouted one of crew hand.

“Most of us are drunk!” shouted another.

“Now, now,” Preston said as he made his crew quiet down, “Let’s tell the Thomas the blacksmith of the tale:

Now the Seaway and two frigs had stayed in the southern ocean near Magna, there we waited until we at least we saw ships coming. It had truly been a war of attrition to stay there, one frig had to run off to get some supplies nearby a dock to keep us at point which ironically used up my money almost costing 500 sovereigns. So waited and waited, bathed in the searing sun and I think almost half of my crew got delusional thinking they saw a merwoman in the waters tempting him for.” Preston said the last part loudly as the crew laughed. “After hours and hours of waiting, it was then from the south ships began to emerge. It was completely off guard it was as though they wanted us to be weakened by waiting out in the open sea, one carrack pirate ships. Then the trade ship came in fighting off three frigates.”

“The two frigs never made it out” Thomas stated.

“Yes, what you thought they were at another port? No, they as of now are in the ocean floor” Preston bowed his head as well as his crew to honor the dead.

“I signaled the two frigs to engage the three while the Seaway dealt with the Carracks that was supposed to engage the trade ship. Baiting the carrack apart as to not to bombarded my allied frigs as their cannons would devastate them. Compared in the naval blockade and ship battles in the Ascension War it was not as intimidating nor dangerous yet in very battle there was always a loss. The enemy carrack ship ignored us heading directly into the trade ship’s path, whilst my allied frigs had intercepted the enemy waiting, their cannons ready and fired that was concreated at one frig that immediately began to sink into the ocean eliminating a threat though in turn faced returned fire from the other frigs while the trade ship had made distance from them. The carrack ship in range of the trade ship opened fire at them though giving us a chance to fire at them from the opposite side of their gun ports and in the heat of fire power the men of both ship’s began to fire their firearms when they were close to collide with each other, some injured and some died. Maneuvering behind the trade ship my allied frigs had joined and fired their cannons, it did little to damage the carrack as he returned fire with twice more power sinking them, men were flying around the air from the explosion ending up in the ocean while some were unlucky to be directly hit upon impact, have you ever seen a cannon shot blow away a man’s head? An arm? or even the chest? It did gave the trade ship to escape it but was foolish not courageous, I fired back carrack keeping him at bay until it retreated and with the trade ship safety nearing the Magna’s shores”

“Were there any survivors on the enemy ship?”

“None they’re all dead, if they were survivors submerge underwater they would have been stranded at open sea”

“Why didn’t you chase after the carrack?”

“I wanted too though I had to make sure the trade ship was okay till the ports of Black Pool”

“You mentioned that the battle was not as fierce as the ship battles in the Ascension War, what was it like?” Thomas asked which had gotten a reaction from Preston’s crew as all were now whispering loudly of events but since all of them were whispering at the same time it was hard to make out.

“Blockades!” someone shouted.

“Yes the forsaken blockades!” the crew shouted.

“Blockades?”

“The blockades of Anglox navy was used to choke the trade routes to Galrance coming from Hurence though that’s not to say someone didn’t try to stop them, Ispavia’s own navy had been deployed to cut some trade routes as well. Two mighty navies clashing is a sight to behold yet also a sight that you wouldn’t want to be a part of. It was lucky for us to get out alive, pure chaos I tell you now the soldiers on the ships bouncing right off as the cannon shots impacted on the sides they were standing on, the boarding parties that painted the ship decks with blood even then they weren’t safe from another ship’s wrath of other ships firing. We are truly lucky that we had gotten there alive while others didn’t right mates?”

“True that captain!” someone responded.

The captain and his crewmates continued to celebrate their victory for the rest of the night, Thomas had now began to think of joining the army. Could I stomach another sight of chaos? was I ready to take another person’s life again? all of this had been circling around his head, Lea had sparked his interest in the army yet when he took a life during the night of the attack he was scarred, He was blacksmith yet still he seems to be motivated that he could do more than sit in a shop or fort, he had knock for firearms and could fire well, maybe he needed to find something like all soldiers had to had a steel heart to fire away to take another man’s life. With that thought he began to drink along with the captain’s crew consuming alcohol beverage after another to ease this troubling thought, his vision was blurry but could still see what he made out which was a woman standing before him. “Drunk are you?” she said which Thomas recognized as Lea.

“I can still think”

“I came back to the bar only to have it filled with drunken sailors and a blacksmith trying to keep up with them” she mocked him.

“Hey gerlie! I need another cup! Something stronger!” shouted one crewman.

“I’ll get it! And get down from the damn table” Lea shouted back at the crewman who was standing at the wooden table inciting more shouts from his crewmates.

“You deal with this every single night?” Thomas asked.

“Yes, some nights are peaceful yet depressing and others are chaotic yet irritating. But I do get a kick out of it” she replied as she left to get a bottle from the bar, as she retrieved it the very same crewman shouted “Throw it here gerlie!”. “If it breaks you all have to pay more!” she shouted angrily as she threw it at him which he did not catch as the bottle hit him directly in the chest causing him to fall off which . She took another bottle and went back to where Thomas sat.

“You sure you’re allowed to take that?”

“I’ve worked with sailors like this for years, I’ve deserve something to relieve the stress.”

“I might need that too” Thomas said as he took the bottle from Lea’s hands.

“You're tough Thomas from getting a beating but not tough enough for that kind of drink”

“I’m old enough for a real drink, besides I need to get used to it” he replied with a boast, or was it an excuse to get rid him thinking his decision to be armed and ready to join the army of Anglox in Averigo, he popped open the bottle and drank it only to have his mind go blank.

Thomas found himself waking up in the barracks of the fort, his head aching, and his chest burning. This had been his first time to wake up losing his mind to alcohol, he got up and sat on the bed trying to recall the events that happened after he drank the bottle. He felt he about to puke, though luckily for him there a wooden bucket near his bedside, recalling the events made his head hurt. The soldiers around him were laughing reminiscing how they were like getting the effect after passing out due to alcohol. Try as he might he couldn’t remember what had happened that was when Henry had passed by.

“Who brought me here Henry?”

“Ah, it was Lea. Angry, pissed, and hell annoyed at what you did last night”

Thomas gave Henry a dumbfounded look

“Well you see after you drank the bottle, you were a completely different person”

“How so?”

“You did every much possible thing that Lea witnessed serving as a barmaid that made her mad”

“Like?”

“You stood on top a table. Saying the lines of ‘I’ll lead a battalion myself! Your captain might be a captain of a ship but I’ll lead a battalion against enemy lines! With zeal! Forward men!’ ”

Thomas was in disbelief he could say that with pride, trying again to recall the events he felt a severe headache, and this time he puked into the wooden bucket.

“Happens to everyone who lost their mind to the drinks for the first time, get some fresh air to ease it” Henry said and left.

He walked his way to the courtyard yet he was struggling but still manage to get there, feeling he was going to puke again he rushed to the walls and puked into the sea. Entirely exhausted he rested on the walls leaning his head on the edge of wall in case he was going to puke again. He should have regretted drinking last night if this would be the aftermath he would face but he struggled on. The soldiers in the fort were staring at Thomas as rested himself on the fort wall with one spouting for him to get back to work. For another few minutes after puking at the sea, he struggled himself back to the forge to continue on working but when he got there he sat himself on a stool closing his eyes to rest unknown to him he fell asleep.

When he woke up again he was looking at a pile of tools and weapons he needed to repair, while his mind and body were still aching he continued to work.

“Here’s some water for the aches” Lea said as he appeared with a cup of water looking very annoyed and angry.

“About the things I did last night” Thomas weakly said as he took the cup of water.

“Two tables broken because you and the captain’s men were imagining yourselves charging against the fires of enemy lines”

“Carpenter could probably fix that-”

“13 bottles broken, not empty”

“I’m sure the captain paid for it”

“Total of 120 sovereigns worth of damage which is still needed, that isn’t the whole story”

“It was my first time to ever be drunk alright” Thomas pleaded

“Oh..” she sounded in mercy but quickly rebutted “You also didn’t heed by warning, the bottle you drank was a favorite of the bar keeper, strong stuff not to be taken by the light drinkers. And because of that I had the shittiest morning hours to fix the bar”

“I’m sorry” was all he could muster but he saw that she was still angry.

“I’ll pay for it I promise”

“And how much you have”

Thomas knew he didn’t have nowhere near the amount of 120 sovereigns, all he had was a few sovereigns which was from his parent’s but the pay he would receive from Monroe would still come after he had done his services which would still come when he had reached Union’s Rising. Then another came to him that would he still want to leave for Union’s Rising?

“Maybe after Monroe’s business here”

“That’ll take months” she raised her voice in anger.

“All I can say is sorry alright” he tried to plead.

She looked at him with distain and anger, he thought she hated him. “If you can’t pay right now with money, then least clean your mess up”

“I will then”

“Now” she said fiercely as she would deal with other drunkards which prompted Thomas to do as she says following her back to the Drowning Drinks bar whislt also struggling as he was still hungover.

“Was I too much to handle last night?”

“Very”

“Couldn’t take an entire crew”

“Oh no, the crewmen I could easily handle before you were drunk, but when you entered you definitely lead the men with zeal. I tried my best to stop yah, but you were definitely a soldier as you inspired the men to make me surprised how much chaos I could see in a drunken bar night” she said in annoyance to which Thomas halted himself to ask her more. Entering the Drowning Drink bar he couldn’t have believed in what he saw the floor still have stains of alcohol, some broken chairs and tables, and broken bottles laid across the floor. She gave him a mop and a bag telling him to get started while she goes to the back room checking supplies for the bar. For the next minutes Thomas stashed the broken pieces of bottles into the bag while mopping the alcoholic liquids that stained the floor, looking around him while doing his chore he began to see if this catastrophe of Lea is not a something he should be fully regretted, he was definitely sorry that he made Lea had to do even more work and scolded by the owner of the establishment but he was inspired and awed that he was courageous enough to inspire men, he doubted it. It was the influence of Alcohol that made him courageous yet there always a spot of light in this matter that made him think otherwise, having heard of a saying that when you lost your mind to alcohol you were honest as a priest and never afraid to show what you think and act on it.

If I can be that courageous when drunk, I can do it without being drunk.

But there was always the question in his mind; Can I pull the trigger a second time?

He shut the lingering question to continue his payment to Lea, there were now fewer broken pieces of bottles and less stains.

Lea returned after what felt like an hour to relieve Thomas of his duties but telling him that she still needed the sovereigns to pay for the broken chairs and tables, Thomas told her that in due time but Lea took an angry glance at him.

“When Monroe’s task is done I’ll get my pay to repay you”

“Can’t yah just ask the captain for payment? I’m tired of getting shouted around by the owner”

“I will pay you back” Thomas said reassuringly.

It was past hours when dusk began to settle as Thomas managed to finish his work at forge yet his performance was slow, the repairs in demand needed was still plenty while he did so little due to his condition, pausing in each time doing his work to either rest that led to a short nap or even longer, to constant headaches plaguing him. I would just have to get used to it.

Preston appeared in the courtyard again with Monroe and Cormac followed them were fort guards and prisoners, Cormac shouted the guards to get them in the cells to be interrogated while he talked to his two companions then quickly disperse as Cormac and Monroe went to interrogate the prisoners, Preston saw Thomas quickly coming over to him, I can get the money out of him to pay Lea if he has.

“There’s the battle zealed soldier” Preston commented

“Tell me how much was I…..courageous” Thomas said best to describe him drunk last night.

“Or were you too drunk to notice” he added.

“Mildly drunk I add you I’ve tasted the sweet wines of Galrance which is stronger than what you took, entirely different! Spouting out lines from men whom were at the front lines at a battle. Courageous inciting a bar fight and chaos but foolish in actual battle”

“Which is why I need the money to pay off Lea for the damages”

“How much?”

120 sovereigns”

“You’re employed by Monroe, yes? Then you’ll get you pay”

“When his job here is finished, can’t you lend me?”

“Sorry Thomas, when you’re a captain of a ship and crew you need to manage finances”

“Speaking of courageous, you promised to help fight, I would need when I’ll join the army in the colony”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from my journey, experience and wisdom. Entering the Austar War I had no experience in an actual war, there were battles of course but it was between only pirates or mercenaries though in an actual battle anything could happen that will end your life. If you want to learn how to hold yourself in a fight go and ask my crew men they’ve been in enough fights to teach you”

“In a war where you’re needed to kill the enemy, how do you stomach it?”

“It’s all down to why do it. Why do soldiers fight and kill? They protect and serve their nation. Some kill and fight for gold, while some for survival, it depends really”

Thomas nodded in what Preston had said though still conflicted inside yet he was too tired and still aching from getting drunk that he wanted to fall asleep making his way to the fort’s quarters.