The entrance to the town was practically devoid of any signs of life. As the smoke cleared, bodies upon bodies could be seen from miles and miles ahead. Bruised and battered, they were beyond recognition. A major battle happened just a few hours ago with the survivors huddled together in a small cottage not too far from here. The instigators had occupied the village and were gouging on the village women and food. The women screamed and pleaded but there was no one to take note of their cries. Bato, the right hand man to their leader examined the situation. He wasn't really impressed with what was happening around him. In fact he was more concerned with the leader's motives regarding the capture of this small and quite insignificant village. He sat over there in the corner, smoking from his pipe. He would occasionally sample some of the alcohol that was placed to his left. He was a young man in his early 30s. He had a tall slender frame and wore loose clothing. His face felt worn out and seemed to give the impression that he was battled hardened solider. The left side of his lip had a small gash gifted to him by an unknown assailant years prior that would occasionally bleed if his body started to feel tense.
" Nozo seems to be pleased with these developments"
Bato turned his head behind to see an old but quite stiff man and motioned his lackey to pour another glass of alcohol.
"None for me unfortunately, I'm already plenty drunk and of course I can't do my job properly if I'm buzzed"
"Well that's just like you, so what's next?" , Bato asked, taking a puff from his pipe
"Hey there buddy, learn to live a little, have a bit of fun"
"I'll have my fun after I know what's going. I know you're pretty chummy with the leader but being cryptic doesn't really suit the two of you"
"Oh I didn't know you were still angry about that?"
"I'm not, I'm worried"
"Same difference" and with that old man stood up and straightened himself out and motioned towards the door. The old man was called Yondu and he had been with leader through thick and thin which meant he was the only one who the leader saw as his equal. Once outside they began to converse again.
"If you really want criticize the leader, you should at least do it well out of earshot"
"You know what I mean, thing have been going well for us lately. I don't want the leader to push his luck."
"There's a reason why he's the leader my good man. Look I'll let you on something pretty special. This is his town"
"Whose town?"
"Swordfist"
Bato raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"I don't get it, even if this is town why would come here? No one really knows about this place. Plus you guys already killed the remaining messengers so he doesn't even know that the village is under our hands"
"Exactly"
Bato was even more confused but of course he knew there was some advantage that he just couldn't see.
"Alright I give up, explain the plan to me"
Yondu grinned gleefully and took out a small piece of parchment from his back pocket. It was a map of some of the neighboring villages. Basic stuff that was sold at marketplaces and shrines.
"Now look closely, see this small road? This is the entrance to the village, follow the same path and you'll reach the cemetery halfway. That's where he's going to be. Of course there's the likely hood of him not entering from this road and coming from some place else which is why I have Naqe and Leep search for alternative pathways".
Seemingly pleased with his explanation he folded the map and put it back into his pocket, his facing bustling with confidence.
"That's all well and good but why would he come to the cemetery of all places? To mourn the people he's killed?" Bato said, he was quite confused by the whole situation. Just as soon he had said those words, Yondu smirked at the young man and proudly proclaimed
"Because this is the place where his parents are buried"