Family Union

In the Dead desert, Benard and his men were sitting together and discussing when Thomas came in with a deer he caught and threw it on the floor.

"Oh Thomas you brought us food. What can we do without you." Benard said as he pat his shoulder.

" This food should be enough for us all." Vandrol said as he looked around all the men with them.

" Let's prepare this food as we wait for Stanley's arrival." Benard said as he ordered some of the men around. He then went to Vandrol and they went to a place where no one could hear them.

"Do you think this plan will work." He said as he held Vandrol by the hand.

" It will work Benard. You think way too much. As long as you play it smartly, you will succeed in taking over the camp outside the gates of Fadian." He said with a smile on his face.

Benard then looked around to check if anyone was eavesdropping.

"I feel like there is someone plotting against me and I want to find out who the traitor is."

Benard said.

" That is a matter I will look into because every of your plans that were communicated to your men have all been thwarted by the Fadian army. For now we have to make sure that this plan will be successful."

Benard and Vandrol came out from their spot and Thomas came to them.

" We were all looking for you. Stanley has arrived with his namesake." He announced.

Benard then walked to his brother standing with his horse and saw Stanley behind him. He said a few things to his brother and he rode his horse away.

"Welcome to our little camp here in the Dead desert. I am happy to see you and I see that you brought your men here. There was no need for that." He said with an awkward friendly smile.

" One must be prepared always." He said as he stood up and shook his hand.

"I like that. We need people like you working with us."

Benard then invited all of Stanley's men to sit and have some water before the food would be done. After a few minutes, the food was done and was served to everyone who ate with happiness and unity.

"Maybe we were meant to work together." Benard said to Stanley as they ate."

"What makes you to think such thoughts." He replied.

" Maybe it was just because my brother's name is also Stanley don't you think?"

" I don't know about that Benard but I hope that our unity will bring good results."

" It will partner, it will." And immediately they all started dancing to the music being played by Benard's men and gyrated throughout the night.

Joy was cooking dinner for herself and her son while humming a song when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, she was so happy when she saw her husband James standing there.

"Can I come in please?" He asked jokingly as she hugged him.

"Of course you can. I missed you so much." She said as she helped him to pull off his cloak and spread it outside.

Immediately his son ran out and hugged him.

"You came father. You fulfilled your promise." He said with glee.

He then gave him a small wooden figure of a warrior to play with and soon Joy was done with the preparation of the food. They then sat down to eat.

"How have things been in the camp?" She asked.

"Just been a bit stressful and filled with threats from Benard and his cohorts almost every week." He then took a piece of the beef and ate it.

" I hope you have made sure that there was no entrance into the city that they can access?"

" All the ones we know have been protected."

" What if there are some entrances that you don't know that they do?"

" Don't worry about that my love. Our men are alert and ready for anything." He said with confidence.

" I hope so." She said as she poured some wine for him.

" Cletus said that he was coming to visit for the celebrations." She added.

" He will finally leave that forsaken Valley of Hurk he has been defending." He said with a little laugh.

" Ashra would definitely be the happiest woman on earth just like I am right now." She said as she looked at him with admiration evident in her eyes .

" Yes she will." He said as he smiled.

When he was done, she took the plates in and after arranging, she went to sleep beside her husband in the room.

"Do you think this will ever end?" She said with her head on his chest.

" I believe it will and we shall be victorious." He said as they fell asleep.