The airship landed on the private airstrip. The airstrip was located on one corner of the over a million acre piece of land belonging to the main family of the House of AL. It was beautiful with lush greenery and a fully grown forest complete with established ecosystem. To the villagers, it looked beautiful almost magical. To others who have seen this more often than they cared, it was mundane if not boring.
The airship taxied then came to a stop at the furthest edge of the airstrip. This provided the needed privacy for the precious cargo inside. Albert emerged from the cockpit looking rather angry. Alvin noticed it first but didn't ask. Alex merely ignored him. He was planning on how he would make him pay triple for dragging him here. Slowly the cargo doors opened. The three empty trucks were the first to offload. Then came the seven trucks full of cold water. Alvin looked on at them proudly as they left, feeling rather accomplished and happy.
Albert walked out using the cargo doors. Earlier, he had seen his father standing there in the airstrip waiting. It was as if he had come to personally welcome them back. This made him angry and disappointed. Never once, in all the years that he had known his father, had he ever come to the airstrip to welcome him back. Not only that, he couldn't remember the last time his father actually congratulated him for a successful mission. He had made sure to live up to his father's expectations and became the most widely known and feared priest ibn the world. Yet, his father was right there waiting for them, welcoming a failed mission. He glanced at his younger brother before stepping out.
Alvin was puzzled. Albert had looked at him for the briefest moment ever and yet that moment held a lot of emotions that he'd never thought his cold brother could express. 'Was it to warn me'? he asked himself as the hovercraft, which its occupants hadn't disembarked, slowly got out. Alvin looked around and smiled. His father was standing there welcoming him. The hovercraft edged closer and soon he was face to face with his father. He smiled. His father didn't but merely put a hand on his shoulder and said," Good work." 'He looks like a puppy that just got praised' thought Albert as he followed his father towards the trucks.
Kim had witnessed the whole thing with a confused expression and an uncertain longing. He remembered Shiku's father and how he often did the same thing to him. 'Please stay safe until I come back' he thought hopefully, while a vivid image of Shiku smiling popped in his head. He saw the rest of his village mates come down from their hovercraft. That's when he felt it, a pair of eyes on him. The staring was so intense it felt like they were trying to drill holes into him.
He looked all around him trying to find those pairs of eyes. Nothing. He couldn't find them. He sat there feeling uncomfortable. The stares were still there though not as strong as before.
* * *
Albert walked a step behind his father, he was angry. Why had he pulled them out when they were just about to finish? As if reading his son's thoughts, he said," Alexus was here and knew of where you were." Albert stood still for a moment, stunned. "Did you kill him,? he asked harshly. His father smiled and said," No, I wanted him to leave in one piece before I actually take action," he paused and looked at the people ahead of them. " He had ordered some mercenaries to attack the both of you as well as the village. I think he's responsible for your brother's accident." He concluded staring at the prisoners.
Again Albert was stunned into silence. He looked at his father then turned and looked at Alvin. " He started this , there's no way I'll let him go scot free this time," he said coldly and angrily. His father looked at Albert 'You've grown well my son' he thought. Loudly he said," Don't worry I've sent him a package and will soon be dealing with him." " Complete annihilation"? Albert asked curiously. His father merely nodded. A dark smile spread out across his faith and was glad the darkness around him hid his face. " When do we start"? He asked struggling to hide excitement in his voice. His father replied," In two days."