A visit to Stanley

In the Dead desert, there was silence and calm but all of a sudden, there were sounds of horsemen in the desert moving at high speeds and were approaching a certain hut owned by a man called Stanley who had a large hold on many soldiers in that area. Stanley was just reading a certain scroll when he heard a knock on his door.

"Who is that?" He asked as he cautiously approached the door.

"It is I Benard. I come in peace."

Stanley started wondering how a man like Benard would come in peace and after considering, he decided to open the door.

"I am happy that you opened the door to me." Benard said as he brought out a flask of wine from his bag. " Do you have goblets? I forgot to bring some."

Stanley wondered why Benard would want to have a drink with him and he asked his steward to bring two goblets and he went ahead while staring at Benard who gave him a threatening look which made him to take his eyes away. Benard then took off his black cloak.

"The dust storms in this area are serious Stanley. I had a hard time coming here after a meeting in Chanchan with my generals there." He said as the steward brought the goblets and arranged them while Benard signalled to him to pour the drinks and he obeyed.

"It is like that in this area Benard. You are just not used to it." He said as he took a sip of the wine.

" Stanley, I have something to tell you." Benard said as he sipped from the wine and signalled to the steward to leave.

"I knew it Benard, I knew that you needed something from me and I am not going to grant that wish." He told him with an emotionless face.

" You have to listen to my offer first before you refuse. I know that we have never been best of friends but I believe that we can work together."

" I don't think working with you is a good idea. We are opposition and should remain that way."

" Just listen to my offer and then you can decide on what you will do with it."

" Alright I am all hears." He said as he drank the last of the wine in the goblet.

" Thank you. So you know that I control majority of the regions in this continent and the fact that fadian is the only country I have never conquered. I believe that if my men merge together with your men, we can defeat fadian and control it. Fadian has an estimated total of 700,000 soldiers, we the snake army are at around 645,000 and based on my estimates, you have up to 90,000 men under your command and if we merge together we have a high chance of becoming victorious."

" What is in it for me and my men?" He asked sounding more interested.

" Two bags of gold for you and your men to share." He said with a smirk.

" Do we look like your hitmen. We need a better offer or we leave." He said while banging the table which made some of Benard's men outside to come in to which he signalled to them to go back.

"You don't have to be so violent Stanley. That offer will be good enough for you and your men."

" You can't cheat me. You might be more powerful but I don't work for anyone."

" I like the fact that you acknowledge my great power and you know the fact that I can end your men entirely but I am asking for your help. I am not asking for you to work for me but with me."

" All I want is a better offer and all is settled. I can't get just two bags of gold for joining forces with you." He insisted.

" So what do you want now?"

" Since you want to take over fadian and you have control over many powerful cities, you will give me the two bags of gold and continue to give me the same every month."

" That is an outrageous offer Stanley."

" Then you can take your leave." He said as he gestured towards the door.

" How about one bag of gold every month?" He suggested.

Stanley after some silence agreed to the offer but asked for the agreement to be written on a scroll and it had their seals on it. Benard wanted to take it but he refused and asked to be the one to hold it to which he agreed. Benard then immediately ordered one of his men who was about seven feet tall to bring two bags of gold which he brought to Stanley.

"I am glad that we could agree to work together. I believe that we can succeed together." He said as he climbed on his horse and disappeared into the desert with his other men.

He then told his steward to take the bags in. He then sat down. He knew that it was better to gain from Benard than to refuse him because he would still coerce him men to join him and he won't get those benefits which were in this deal though he also feared that Benard might double cross him. He then went into his room where the money was.