that General Jeon is part of this plot. It seems he is a bigger fool that I thought. In his quest for power he has disregarded the love the people of Mirnee have for the royal family. It is a big mistake and it will be his undoing. We must act now to take back the Kingdom from the witches.”
His words brought cheers from the gathered crowd that crammed into Ludas’s cellar. Like many cellars in this part of town, it had passageways that led to the market. They had originally been dug out to provide easy access for goods, but now its use was more urgent. This was how the supporters had arrived and how they would leave, that was, once they had begun their plans.
Ganry watched the crowd of people, pleased to see that they were coming together. They would need to be united if they were to win. Ganry had decided to keep quiet about the army of dead they had seen. They had enough to worry about for now.
12
“We are in agreement then,” Ludas addressed the gathered merchants. “Our first priority is to rescue the Emperor.”
Heads nodded and some individuals confirmed their acknowledgement with a shout of support.
Ganry urged caution. “You don’t really know who your enemy is yet. You have no idea of their strengths and weaknesses. If you go rushing into this, it could end in disaster.”
“You have been gone too long, Ganry,” his uncle said. “Most of us gathered here know exactly who is behind this and what his motives are. This is the work of General Jeon. For far too long he has controlled the armies, and now, just as we feared, he is running the Kingdom too.”
“You could be right, uncle, but you must be sure of what you are up against. You are not trained fighters, you are businessmen. If they were to get wind of what is happening here, they will pick you off one at a time, and your families too. I only ask that you tread with caution. I will not be here to help as I need to return to Palara and warn the Queen. Once I’m sure she’s safe, I will return, and together we can put this Jeon in his place. Surely, if you have waited this long, a few more months until I return won’t hurt.”
Ganry wanted them to wait. He had seen the army of the undead, and these people could not stand against them. He wasn’t even sure how he would. Perhaps Hendon could help?
“We can wait patiently, Ganry, but what of the Emperor? He could be dead by the time you return,” Ludas argued.
Ganry nodded his agreement. Fontleroy was frail, despite his show of defiance to the witch. He really could not last for much longer under those circumstances. For Ganry, this presented him with a personal quandary. He respected the Emperor, who had treated him like a son when he was younger, but his own priorities and loyalty lay with Queen Myriam, and he must ensure her safety.
“Promise me that once you have the Emperor safely away, you will await my return before making a move on Jeon.”
Ganry looked at the people who had gathered in support of their Emperor. They were wealthy merchants, not strategic battle planners. They organized the shipment of goods, they did not know how to kill and defend themselves, although many here had their own mercenary soldiers who protected their trade caravans that crossed between the kingdoms. Many of these mercenaries would be loyal to them, and would fight for their cause. He knew this, for he too had been a mercenary, hiring out his sword to the rich merchants, often the same ones, time and time again. This formed a sense of loyalty. A good merchant inspired loyal guards.
“Organize your mercenaries,” he advised the group. “Pay them well. Inform their leaders of your real intentions, as even mercenaries appreciate honesty. Someone will rise to the command, and when I return, I will work with him to end this blight that rules your land.”
The group nodded their approval. Now they needed to decide how to rescue their Emperor and where to hide him while they planned for the next
His words brought cheers from the gathered crowd that crammed into Ludas’s cellar. Like many cellars in this part of town, it had passageways that led to the market. They had originally been dug out to provide easy access for goods, but now its use was more urgent. This was how the supporters had arrived and how they would leave, that was, once they had begun their plans.
Ganry watched the crowd of people, pleased to see that they were coming together. They would need to be united if they were to win. Ganry had decided to keep quiet about the army of dead they had seen. They had enough to worry about for now.
12
“We are in agreement then,” Ludas addressed the gathered merchants. “Our first priority is to rescue the Emperor.”
Heads nodded and some individuals confirmed their acknowledgement with a shout of support.
Ganry urged caution. “You don’t really know who your enemy is yet. You have no idea of their strengths and weaknesses. If you go rushing into this, it could end in disaster.”
“You have been gone too long, Ganry,” his uncle said. “Most of us gathered here know exactly who is behind this and what his motives are. This is the work of General Jeon. For far too long he has controlled the armies, and now, just as we feared, he is running the Kingdom too.”
“You could be right, uncle, but you must be sure of what you are up against. You are not trained fighters, you are businessmen. If they were to get wind of what is happening here, they will pick you off one at a time, and your families too. I only ask that you tread with caution. I will not be here to help as I need to return to Palara and warn the Queen. Once I’m sure she’s safe, I will return, and together we can put this Jeon in his place. Surely, if you have waited this long, a few more months until I return won’t hurt.”
Ganry wanted them to wait. He had seen the army of the undead, and these people could not stand against them. He wasn’t even sure how he would. Perhaps Hendon could help?
“We can wait patiently, Ganry, but what of the Emperor? He could be dead by the time you return,” Ludas argued.
Ganry nodded his agreement. Fontleroy was frail, despite his show of defiance to the witch. He really could not last for much longer under those circumstances. For Ganry, this presented him with a personal quandary. He respected the Emperor, who had treated him like a son when he was younger, but his own priorities and loyalty lay with Queen Myriam, and he must ensure her safety.
“Promise me that once you have the Emperor safely away, you will await my return before making a move on Jeon.”
Ganry looked at the people who had gathered in support of their Emperor. They were wealthy merchants, not strategic battle planners. They organized the shipment of goods, they did not know how to kill and defend themselves, although many here had their own mercenary soldiers who protected their trade caravans that crossed between the kingdoms. Many of these mercenaries would be loyal to them, and would fight for their cause. He knew this, for he too had been a mercenary, hiring out his sword to the rich merchants, often the same ones, time and time again. This formed a sense of loyalty. A good merchant inspired loyal guards.
“Organize your mercenaries,” he advised the group. “Pay them well. Inform their leaders of your real intentions, as even mercenaries appreciate honesty. Someone will rise to the command, and when I return, I will work with him to end this blight that rules your land.”
The group nodded their approval. Now they needed to decide how to rescue their Emperor and where to hide him while they planned for the next
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