The Lion's Peril by Alexander Grant

Author:Alexander Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alexander Grant
Published: 2018-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

‘Let me see if I understand what you expect from us,’ Red Crissa told Ral, fascinated. ‘We will administer the funds from Lord Kazimo’s mines, using some for our patients and the rest to support retired or maimed men of your Company. Is that what you want?’ She and Red Tina were listening with keen interest to Ral’s plan.

‘In a nutshell that is the basic idea. There is more to it that I will tell you in a moment. You will, if you agree, also work as money lenders. Should ex-mercenaries come up with a worthwhile idea for a business, you will provide the funds to help them set it up. You seem to know everyone and everything that goes around, and I have learned to trust your judgement. I can assure you that the money coming from the mines will only be a small part of what you will administer. I plan to radically change many things in your lands,’ Ral said with conviction.

Tina’s face lit up with enthusiasm when she spoke. ‘That sounds fantastic. Pray tell us more. I, for one, would love to be part of such a scheme.’

‘Your enthusiasm is heart-warming, Tina. I will tell you of my ideas but they are for your ears only. I abhor the way your societies play with war and bloodshed. Your Lords use mercenaries like toys. They hire them to get butchered just to claim more lands and riches, and then discard them when they are of no further use. That will stop. And I am the one to teach them the price of war. They will understand, the hard way, what war means. No more sitting comfortably exchanging human lives for gold and silver. If they want to place someone before a sword’s tip, they must be ready to share the danger. This will begin here and now. Will you side with me?’

‘You plan to threaten the Lords?’ Crissa asked incredulously.

‘Threaten? No! Terrify? Yes! Peace will come at a price. So, I ask you women of peace again; will you support me?’

Ral felt two different waves of emotion emanating from the healers. He recognised the warm feeling, obviously coming from Tina, whose eyes shone with excitement, but he had no way of interpreting the other feeling. The best way he could describe it was as if the warmth was coming and going as if something held it back.

‘You seem absolutely certain you can succeed. What makes you so certain? Crissa asked.

‘A fair question. It is true that even the best plans can go wrong once a battle starts. My job is to make my plans work. If I fail, I will pay the price. This is the warrior’s destiny. I have thought long about that. With the money I have, in case my memory doesn’t return to me, I could become a merchant or a farmer. But I know, don’t ask me how, that this is not a life for me. I believe that I can be a catalyst for change.

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