After a meeting of officers, the Freelancer Company decided to head for Barbaruda. The Barbarudi were currently the only power in the Caraíbes Isles that could stand up to the Evrúopeans.

Salvador stood at the prow of the ship, staring at the endless blue of the ocean. The salty ocean spray constantly jumping out from the sea and hitting him in the face. It was a serene sight. One that drove away the nightmares.

Ever since that fateful day in Grenaserrat City, Salvador found himself plagued by nightmares. He would have vivid visions of the dying peasants of Grenaserrat City. He saw the Evrúopeans killing the commoners, regardless of age or gender. He saw the woman and her child, trying to run away from the Evrúopean knight that Gerard killed.

He saw his own failure.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He knew in an instant that it was Gerard. The Freelancer Knight said nothing. He just stayed close to Salvador, watching the beautiful sea.

"Land ho!" screamed the man in the crow's nest. "Land up ahead!"

Salvador squinted and waited.

"Here," Gerard said, handing him a spyglass.

"Thanks," Salvador mumbled. He raised the spyglass to his right eye and focused up ahead. Yes, he could see the coastline. If their course had stayed true, they should be in the vicinity of the Barbarudi city of Bethebleu.

"How in the Angel King's name will we do this?" Salvador asked, more to himself than anyone else.

Gerard answered nonetheless, "We have to try. It is obvious the Evrúopeans will strike at Barbaruda next. Our homeland is too divided to put up any defense. Barbaruda is the Caraíbes' last hope."

Salvador felt his hand form into a fist. "Eternal damnation to the King of Sersalvon for letting that happen! I'm not sure Barbaruda can stand to the Evrúopeans. Before the fracturing of Sersalvon, the Sersalvonian military might was the greatest in the Caraíbes!"

Gerard grunted in reply. "However, the Barbarudi sphere of influence could be enough to stall the Evrúopeans. Barbaruda holds sway in many other Carabaí nations."

"But the Barbarudi alone seems unlikely to beat the Evrúopeans," Captain Tomas added out of the blue. "It is necessary to have a united Sersalvon in the Caraíbes to push back the Evrúopeans."

Salvador felt himself sneer at Tomas. "Doesn't Veroña revel in a broken Sersalvon?"

"And I suppose you cared anything for the fractured kingdom during your time spent around being a mercenary?"

Salvador whirled around to Tomas. "You're right. I didn't care. And I still don't. I don't care for the kingdom, I care for its peasants. The innocents who will die by the thousands, even though they have no part in the war that will reach their shores."

"You and I both know that the Duchess of Veroña is the best hope for Sersalvon right now. She holds the largest duchy and the most powerful military force in Sersalvon," Tomas retorted.

Salvador did not answer immediately. But when he did, his tone one of mock regret. "Then Sersalvon's fate is truly dark."

Tomas's face darkened. "It's an honor to follow you, Segniuer Castellano. I respect you greatly. But I shall not have you foul-mouthing my liege lady."

"Screw your liege lady."

"Salvador―" Gerard said, attempting to intervene. But he was too late. Captain Tomas drew his sword without a moment's hesitation and Salvador was a fraction of a second behind him, Gerard's Aes Sídhe blade shining.

"I will defend the honor of my liege lady!" Tomas announced to the sailors and soldiers on the deck who had begun to crowd around them.

"'I will defend the honor of my liege lady,'" Salvador repeated in a high-pitched, mocking voice. "I don't see the point of defending the 'honor' of a rotten papaya, but go on ahead."

The laughs of the crowd enraged Tomas, who subsequently charged at Salvador. . .

And was knocked to the ground by Gerard.

"Enough!" The Freelancer Knight bellowed. Uncharacteristic anger shone on his face as he confronted Salvador and pointed a finger at him. "Enough of this, Salvador! You have no right to take out your anger on Captain Tomas."

"Anger?" Salvador asked incredulously. "What sort of 'anger' are you imagining?"

"Blast it, Salvador!" Gerard faced the crowd. "Get out of here. All of you!" The crowd quickly dispersed at his shooing. When they were alone, Gerard faced him once more. "You know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't."

"Oh? And all this brooding you've been doing for the past few days is just part of your normal behavior?"

"Mood swings."

"You're not going through puberty."

Blast.

Gerard waited. "Well?"

Salvador let out a sigh. "Fine. . . Yeah I'm a little angry. And before you ask why, it's because of the mother and her child."

"What mother and child?"

"They were trying to run away from that Evrúopean knight. Then one whose greatsword we took after you killed him. I was trying to reach them. Trying to save them. He got to them first." Salvador closed his eyes as he remembered that horrible scene. "I failed Gerard. I failed. How many more like them have to die before this is over."

"I don't know Salvador. . . but I think a lot of them will."

Salvador slammed his fist into the railing. "I can't live with that."

"That's why we're getting help."

". . . We're not going to sit on the sidelines."

Gerard grinned. "Like hell we are."

Salvador stared at Gerard in mock shock. "Gerard. . . I think you cursed."

The Freelancer Knight rolled his eyes.

After some time, the Bethebleu came into sight. The port city stretched across the beautiful Orivara River Delta. Fishing boats, river boats, patrol boats, and some warships were navigating the extensive delta. The city flew the banners of the House of Barbaruda, House Fiorentine, and House Terossi, the House of Bethebleu. The Fiorentine sigil was a blue and white chief charged with a yellow mermaid. The Terossi sigil bore a yellow field blazoned with a red siren.

Gerard had instructed the three galleys to raise the banners of House Florjes and the pennant of Lilliana Florjes in an attempt to get the Barbarudi into receiving them quickly.

It worked.

The Barbarudi port workers that recognized the pennant scrambled to report to their superiors. Salvador could see the wide-eyed stares of Barbarudi. The last time a Sersalvonian noble had come to Bethebleu had been to siege the port city almost twenty years ago.

"What do you think the Barbarudi will do once they find out that we're not actually nobles," Salvador muttered to Gerard.

"Technically, I am," Gerard said.

Salvador gave him a dead stare.

"You own a farm."

"That's land."

"And only because you asked the Duchess kindly."

"Shows that I'm in her favor."

Salvador snorted. "In more ways than one."

Gerard narrowed his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Salvador just smirked.

Gerard gave out a frustrated sigh and turned away to face a sailor. "Call Captain Tomas. Tell him to bring ten soldiers with him as guards. We're going to meet the Lord of Bethebleu." The sailor nodded and hurried away.

When Captain Tomas jogged to them, he purposefully ignored Salvador. "Segniuer? You wish me to accompany you."

"Indeed."

Tomas did not question any further. Good soldier.

Once they set the boarding plank down and set foot on Barbarudi land, a group of City Guard approached them, much like in Grenaserrat City.

Gerard showed them a seal of the Duchess Lilliana Florjes without saying anything. Salvador was surprised to see he had a seal.

When the soldiers began to lead them to the castle, Salvador hissed, "What is that for?"

"What do you think," Gerard responded sarcastically.

"I mean. . . why in His name do you have that?"

"Be a good soldier and don't ask questions."

Salvador nodded slowly. "I see."

"What? What do you see?"

Salvador blinked. "You're supposed to not say anything after I say, 'I see.'"

"Well I did, so could you give me an answer?"

Captain Tomas cleared his throat politely and gestured with his eyes at the Barbarudi troops who were glancing back at the whispering duo. "Continue your joust another time," Tomas said.

"And so we shall," Gerard agreed with a note of finality.

In order to reach the castle, they had to get on some small boats and row to an island that stood at the end of the delta and the mouth of the River Orivara.

But it was worth it.

The main keep stood on an island between both banks of the river. It was connected two both banks by a large gate that also served as a bridge between the banks. On each bank, a smaller keep stood to control the river. The main keep was a four-towered fortress with a central spire that seemed to command the entire city.

Salvador smiled. He'd been to Bethebleu before on some. . . shady business. But the sight of the Tower of Sirens was something he would never get tired of. The Siren of Terossi flew proudly on the spire almost as if it was saying, Come and try me!

Well, he was about to.

It was a long process of marching through the castle gates and entering the keep. Salvador could've fallen asleep on his feet! But finally, they reached the main hall of the castle where the Lord of Bethebleu was waiting to receive them.

The Lord of Bethebleu was also the Duke of Benevo, the most powerful duchy in Barbaruda. Being a duke, he held his own large court where common citizens and highborns alike could go to him for their problems. Of course, highborns always went first. Although it was because of this system that Gerard and Salvador were able to have an audience with the duke.

"Explain to me why we're going to a duke and not the Queen of Barbaruda?" Salvador whispered to Gerard.

"Because Duke Terossi holds sway in the Royal Court. He is also close friends and allies with the queen. If we can convince the Duke of Benevo, then it is likely the rest of Barbaruda will join him."

Salvador grunted.

Gerard just raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Sir Gerard Elwyn, the Freelancer Knight! Captain Tomas, Third Company of the Seventh Veroñian Battalion! Salvador Castellano!" the herald announced.

No title for me?

"The Freelancer?" a man who Salvador assumed to be Duke Terossi because of the ornate throne he sat upon. "Representing Lilliana? I don't believe that is what 'freelancing' means." The surrounding nobles chuckled.

The courtroom was nice and open. It had high ceilings with windows that allowed the sun to shine through. On the far end of the room, two large doors gave way to an ornate balcony with a marble balustrade. The steps leading up to the ducal throne had a exotic carpet draped over them. The gathered nobles sat in rows of seats that had comfortable padding to them.

"Your Grace," Gerard began, ignoring the duke's quip, "I do not come to propose an alliance or a treaty between Terossi and Veroña. In fact, I come here of my own accord."

"Well then," the duke interrupted. "What is it?"

Salvador blinked. "He was going to before you interrupted."

The nobles gasped. Salvador rolled his eyes. What is with these highborns and gasping?

The duke coughed. "Well. . . um. . . continue, Gerard."

Gerard gave Salvador a withering glare before saying, "I do not know if you have heard of the news from Grenaserrat. For Grenaserrat City has fallen, and a slaughter has taken place. The Evrúopeans showed no care for the distinction for a soldier and a civilian; they slaughtered everyone they saw.

"I have no doubt that the Evrúopeans will not settle for the little Kingdom of Grenaserrat. Aside from the Kingdom of the Ciuracon Islands, there is nothing standing between Barbaruda and the Evrúopeans. And so I am here to convince the Barbarudi to act; to strike first against the Evruopeans, or to find a plan to hold them off."

"Until what?" the duke asked sharply. "Until your petty kingdom unites?" The highborns had a good laugh at that. Salvador himself felt like chuckling because the sheer idea of that seemed incredibly stupid. "Is it that you want us to spill Barbarudi blood in order to save the lives of Sersalvonians? And not to mention, why do you come to me? A modest lord of Barbaruda? This is a topic you should take with the queen."

"Your Grace," Gerard pleaded, desperation seeping into his voice. "Please, listen―"

"No, Sir Gerard. You listen. I know what you speak of. Not so long before you arrived, we received a message from Grenaserrat City. It read that the city had fallen to the Evrúopeans, specifically the Kingdom of Réaltimar which had not too long ago absorbed the Kingdom of Élira. I heard of the Grenesarri defeats. But it is nothing to be concerned over, for the Grenesarri army was small, not well-trained, and lacked the militaristic creativity that Barbaruda has an abundance of.

"Do you even know why Réaltimar is here? Because of an ancient claim Élira has over the Caraíbes Isles. I'm sure you all know history well enough and will remember that the Carresturian Empire once controlled the majority of the Caraíbes. The Kingdom of Élira considered themselves the heir to that grand empire, and so they always claimed the Caraíbes. They even attempted an invasion once, almost six hundred years ago. The invasion failed spectacularly. And it will again, if it ever comes.

"Already the Réaltimarines have begun to spy on us―" He whispered something to a guard nearby. The guard left the hall. "My guard will bring you a surprise." After a bit of waiting, an Evrúopean was dragged into the room and thrown onto the floor on his knees not to far from Gerard.

"The spy was given to my interrogators and provided some interesting information. Réaltimar is open to negotiations. As you see, war is not the only path." The spy was quickly dragged out of the throne room.

"Nonetheless, Barbaruda is prepared. If the Evrúopeans do indeed attack, one battle will teach them to turn back. Even if we lose, their victory will be so costly that they will think otherwise of continuing their invasion. So no, Sir Gerard, and I believe I can speak for all of Barbaruda here, we will not attack Réaltimar just out of mercy for those pitiful Grenesarri."

Gerard gaped at the duke. Just like that. No help, no nothing. Salvador swept his gaze across the chamber. How many times had he stood in halls like this? Filled with highborns to the point where it seemed like the hall would burst. Life would've been so much simpler as the son of a blacksmith and a merchant. All ruined because of one person. . .

Salvador shook his head clear of those dark thoughts. Now was not the time.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he strode right to the base of the stairs leading up to the throne. "Okay, listen up, Your Grace―" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "―My partner here, Gerard, seems to have gotten you to misunderstand him. Don't worry, it's not an uncommon mistake while speaking to Gerard. However, I think I shall take the liberty to provide some clarification."

The duke raised an eyebrow and looked at the herald. "Who is this man again?"

"Salvador Castellano, Your Grace."

"Arrgh! Why does no one seem to know me?" Salvador cried in frustration. "Anyway, as I was saying, I'm going to clear up your murky perception of what's going on. I could not give the slightest darn about the Kingdom of Grenaserrat. In fact, all highborn to me are made of the same stuff that those sick psychos who are rotting in the Arx Ferverus! How else do you explain all the inhuman things that you do? I don't know how this King of Réaltimar can sleep at night knowing that tens of thousands of people live in Grenaserrat City, and he just killed most of them over an ancient claim.

"But perhaps this is your chance to prove me wrong. Show me that the high lords and ladies can hear the drums of war begin to beat. And show the world that you will uphold your values that you swore to uphold. Innocent people will be caught in the crossfire of war. They will die regardless of what we do but we can minimize the casualties. We can save those who play no part in this war.

"And yes, I know my history. I also know that the Élirians were defeated by a united coalition of Barbaruda, Sersalvon, and the Patriarchy of Valencius. Valencius has devolved into multiple island-kingdoms at this point, but the Barbarudi hold influence over a great many of them. A united front is what we need to protect the Caraíbes Isles. With work, we can do it."

Silence in the hall. Silence. Silence.

And then roaring laughter.

The duke, his wife, the highborns all began laughing at once. Even the guards joined in. Men and women had faces that resembled that of a tomato, for they were laughing so hard. A few even fell to their knees, hugging their stomachs. After some of the laughter died away, the duke said, "Oh how naive and foolish you are, young man! You truly believe that the squabbling nations of the Caraíbes Isles will put their differences aside even if for a second? Ha! Oh Freelancer, what a burden it must be to have this squire. He has no manners! Is he even highborn?"

Salvador faced Gerard who was licking his lips.

"Ha!" the duke laughed. "I thought not. We have a peasant in our midst who thinks he can. . . what do you think you can do? Save the Caraíbes? Silly boy, the world has no need for people like you. People who try so desperately to make themselves important when they are destined for the low life. Out of generosity, I will let you, Freelancer, your squire and the captain, who's been awfully quiet, to stay the night. Refresh yourselves before you set off. Now go! There's a line outside."

Salvador's face had long fallen by the time the guards escorted them out of the chamber and into some guest rooms. Back into the guest rooms, we go.

Salvador sat down on the plush bed and thought to himself. He thought to himself for a long, long time. He thought of commoners who he saw die to the hands of Réaltimarine knights and soldiers. If they could not convince the Barbarudi to support them, many, many more people like the ones he saw would die.

And so he concocted a plan.