From Slave To Ruler

Knock knock knock!

Was heard on the door which inevitably grabbed the attention of the 5 people already inside who were waiting quietly in the abandoned house for the 6th to arrive. Staring at the Candle in the middle of the empty old dining table as the moonlight shone through the completely wooden windows, who were damaged far beyond repair. None of them dared to speak until the 6th one arrived to avoid getting a Patrol Guard's attention as much as possible. They can't risk killing another one.

However no one yelled for the knocker to come in and no one went ahead to open the door for the man outside. The ambience still remained quiet until a whisper from the other side was heard. A whisper loud enough for someone from the inside to hear, if one's ear was very close to the wooden door where cold or heat can easily slide its way from underneath or through the cracks. But also a Whisper quiet enough to not drag attention from the outsiders in this pitch dark night.

"Moonlight strikes."

Whispered the man from outside. Giving the people from the inside, all the information they need to let the man in with less worries over their shoulder. A screech was heard from the hinges as the door was gently opened by a man from the inside.

"By the 3 Gods! What took you so long? We all have jobs to go too tommorow you know!" Whispered a man with a rather irritated tone. As if he wanted to punch the daylights out of the man who was over half an hour late. But yet again the man who was late, is big and strong enough to take on all of these men. From appearance, it is clear that Blacksmithery is his craft and his age is above thirty.

"I'm sorry. I had to wait for my wife and kids to fall sound asleep before i could run out. I'm here now!" Tried to calm down the situation, the large man who just arrived.

"Next time, try more to arrive in time. Its already past midnight. Now both of you. Sit!" A feminine voice was heard from the table of 4, giving out more of a command than a request to the 2 on their feet, which they no doubt had to follow.

"Yes mam!" The 2 men spoke out at the exact same time, as they heard the order of the one in clear authority. Time is already wasted. They have no more time to spare in bickering, arguing or s.e.xist egoism.

"This project of ours has started 2 weeks ago. Yet i only saw 10 Guards leaving the Kingdom. What is the matter?" With her tone becoming a bit more aggressive this time, and her face no doubt showing an irritated mood from what they could see in the candle light. It was no doubt clear that she wasn't proud at all of the progress these 5 men brought in 2 weeks. Her overall dissatisfaction was clear to see. She was grinding her teeth in anger.

"I am trying my best but there is little I can do without exposing myself. All i can say is "The travelling Merchants" said this and that. I can't tell them the exact truth." Said one man in a dark medium length beard and a bald head, a bit above average physique who seems to be in his late twenties. A.k.a the same man who just opened the door for the late arriver to enter. He tried to reason his failure. But no matter what, failure is still failure.

"Does that excuse your failure? Well let me tell you something. It doesn't!" Her tone became more irritated and cold by the moment. Grabbing her head with both hands, and gently rubbing the temples trying to calm herself down and think more clearly, they all sat in quiet for a few seconds until she broke the silence again. "Look. Clearly this method isn't working. Its already April and I need at least 500 Patrol Guards, Castle Guards or Soldiers out of this Kingdom combined by the end of the year but only 10 so far made their way out, most of them even going alone. Do you understand the severity of your lack of progress?!" Her upper lip was raised a bit up in anger, and her eyes were burning with rage that one would think she can dim the candle light with her death stare.

"In our defense, no one would want to walk almost 1,000 kilometers on foot. Those who made their way to Salmon River Kingdom, hired horse dragged Wagons." Excused himself an average weighed man, with flat brown hair reaching down to his shoulders and with a tone which was rather high pitch. An odd tone for a man who looks like he is close to his 40s, but no doubt a mood lifter in such topic.

"Keep it down you fool. Do you want the whole Kingdom to know who we are working for?" Yelled a shorter, thinner man, seemingly in his 40s without a hair on his face or head. He indeed seemed like the most harmless and the most devious at the same time in this circle of 6 people. Sure he doesn't have a stronger physique to cause physical trouble, but the average look on his face looks like a gate to a more devious or wiser mind.

"I'm sorry."

"People focus!" Yelled the Woman as much as one could while whispering, with her eyebrows jerked up with rage. "We need ideas."

"Look. The reason why barely any Guard left yet, is because The Kingdom is too far away. Right?" Said a man who kept quiet, as he stroked his beard reaching down to his c.h.e.s.t and spreading wide like a curly bush. This man seemed rather physically fit compared to the rest. He wasn't the physically strongest of the 6, but he would definitely have better chances to win a 1 versus 10 battle, his mind seems to work overtime.

"Right."

"That's obvious."

"Be more quiet."

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"My point is." He raised his finger up, causing complete silence and respectfully catching the attention of everyone without having to shout. "If travel expenses were more, plausible. Our progress would quadrupel, or even more."

"That's obvious." Followed up the lady with an unpleasant glare as she raised her eyebrows up but with curiosity wanted to know more, so she chose not to fly off topic and let the man speak. This man was always good with ideas after all. "But how will it fix the problem?"

"If we sit around here all night, it won't fix anything. But don't you understand already? The merchants are the key." Said the man with a big beard and another man very similar to him, followed up aiming to finish the previous sentences. It looks like they are twins, and one would think so no doubt. They look exactly the same. Beard wide and long like a bush and a rather strong physique.

"The Two Kingdoms aren't in the same alliance, but there is no law stopping travelling Merchants. None of those merchants walk 1,000 kilometers on foot. But they prefer horse travel, which would only take around 4 weeks in one way. While on foot it would take up to 3 months. No man can carry enough supplies for 3 months on his back, especially for a rumour with its origin uncertain."

"Your point being?" Asked the woman who was able to form a few ideas until now but not a solid one. So she had no choice but to calm down and listen.

"We should give the travelling Merchants a few coins to accept any traveller, for "free". Most of them wouldn't deny such offer when their home Kingdom is to be spoken off."

Follows the Twin Brother, switching positions on telling a fresh new plan.

"But wouldn't travelling merchants giving these people "free rides" seem "abductive"?" Pointed out the small hairless man. Who for some reason, abduction was the first thing in his mind when previewing this plan.

"He has a point!" Added the largest man in the group in a thick tone, with his hands on the table, covering 1/3 of the space.

"He does." Sighed one of the Twins. "Okay, how about this. We tell the travelling Merchants to offer a ride for an affordable price. Travelling such a distance requires around 300 Bronze Coins. What if the Merchants offer it for 100?"

"That way, it would portray a "scheme to beat the enemies in the same business." Instead of portraying abductive propaganda. Meaning, people would be way less scared to join these merchants on travel." Followed the other Twin, finishing the sentence.

"I love that idea." Said the Woman in enthusiasm while finally showing a good mood on her face and added. "Okay now new plan. You won't only spread the word that "Salmon River Kingdom is offering free housing(with tax) and food, a job paying 15 Silver Coins a month, and instant citizenship. For any man who has over 1 year of experience on being either a Patrol Guards, Castle Guards or Soldier." But you will be spreading a second set of news after exactly 1 week until I get everything together. You will also say that Merchants are offering to transport people for 100 Bronze Coins(1 Silver Coin) per family. But of course food and drink will need to be covered by the families, that way it will look more stable." After finishing her sentence, she stood in quiet with the rest and added "Does anyone have any questions?"

Everyone stood in silence, trying their best to memorize the plan and none of them bothered to ask questions. Making the woman proud for hiring them. They seem more than capable even considering their different characteristics. They weren't big and dumb.

"No questions? Good. Now scram!"