Gate Keepers

Upon reaching the main gate, a harsh and unpleasant voice resounds from the direction of the walls, directed at Ben. A guard, displaying a curious and grumpy demeanor, decides to halt the caravan. His voice matches his countenance in its unpleasantness. "Halt! Do not proceed any further, you people!" The guard points his halberd towards the caravan, signaling them to stop. Ben swiftly descends from his cart, wearing a gentle and pacifying smile as he approaches the skeptical guard with caution. He reassures the guard that they pose no harm; in fact, they have been summoned by the commander himself to aid in the construction. The guard listens intently, his eyes fixed on Ben with a blank expression. As Ben continues recounting their purpose, the guard's face gradually shifts, revealing a glimmer of amusement. Unable to contain his true emotions any longer, he bursts into laughter, directed right at Ben's face. "The commander himself, huh? He invited all of you here?!" The guard exclaims between laughter.
However, as quickly as his laughter had erupted, his expression turned grave. With a swift motion, he raises his fist in the air, summoning the other soldiers stationed nearby. They swiftly spring into action, surrounding Ben in an instant. Without warning, one of the soldiers violently thrusts his lance’s back into Ben's abdomen, causing intense pain to shoot through his body, as a gentle warning. Caught off guard by this unexpected reception, Ben momentarily freezes. "No tricks, you fool!" the skeptical guard snarls, his face inches away from Ben's. "You heard it, boys! The commander summoned them!" he mockingly announces to the soldiers, inciting raucous laughter among them. "Cease this charade, you peasants!" The unfriendly guard's laughter is replaced by a fierce hostility, erasing any trace of the previous mirth.