David Dalglish - Wrath of Lions

Matthew grimaced.

“And it won’t get better, dear Matthew,” said Cleo. “This war has yet to even begin , and look how much it has cost us. Once the fighting starts, who knows how long it will last? One year? Five? Ten? And we, the most capable of all Neldar, will bear the brunt of keeping the people fed and clothed and alive . Karak will take and take until we have no more to give, and then what? When the war is over, and it is time to rebuild our nation, we will be decimated. There will be others who wish to take what we once had, and we will be in no position to stop them. If you think that unrealistic, consider the brigands who are even now running about the country. They already take what they want outside our townships. What happens when they realize we are too weak to defend ourselves?”

Matthew wrung his hands together. “What you say might be true, is true, but what are we to do about it?”

A sly grin came over Cleo’s face, but it was Romeo who answered.

“We must ensure that Karak doesn’t win,” he said.

Moira laughed aloud as Matthew pushed himself away from the table in shock.

“What?” he exclaimed.

“We are resourceful people,” Cleo said with a shrug. “In this time of strife we must set aside our differences and bond together to face a common enemy…who unfortunately happens to be our god. If we do, we just might retain the lives we have built for ourselves when all has been said and done.”

“Karak will kill us for this blasphemy,” Matthew muttered.

“Blasphemy? I think not,” said Romeo. “What we propose is directly in line with what Karak preaches. His laws are clear as day. Do not kill without reason. Do not murder the unborn. Do not take what is not yours. Do not defile the temple of worship. Do not turn away from Karak. What we will be doing is adhering to those principles, not breaking them. Yes, he would kill us if he discovered our plans, but it is certainly not blasphemy.”

“And if anyone has broken those decrees,” Cleo added, “it is Karak himself. He has turned away from his own teachings by stripping us of the freedom he promised. If his temple is his law, then he has defiled it. He is in the wrong, not us.”

Matthew dropped his head, took a deep breath. “So this is why we meet at night. You two might not have tried to kill me on the way here, but what you ask is little different. To do this, to work against our deity, would mean signing my own death warrant.”

Romeo shrugged. “Could be. But then, we would be doing the same, would we not? The fewer who know, the better.”

It seemed so surreal. Matthew couldn’t get over the fear that he was being played, that somewhere in the room was a mystical object sending his every word and action back to his deity. But even though he knew not to trust the Conningtons, their every word made sense. Had he been younger and more devout, he would have left the moment they began their profane tirade, but as a high merchant and unquestioned ruler of Port Lancaster, he owed it to his people see if there were an opportunity here.

“What is your plan?” he asked.

“Weapons,” said Romeo.

“Weapons?”

Cleo slapped the table. “Yes, weapons. Our cache is empty in that regard. The acolytes load your boats with the steel we forge.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Two seasons ago you purchased a large reserve of weaponry from us to outfit your sellswords,” said Romeo. “Two thousand swords, battle-axes, lances, mauls-you name it.”

“And?”

“And I assume you still have them. We need them.”

This time it was Matthew’s turn to laugh. “You cannot be serious? You want me to arm your populace with weapons you could very well use against me? And free of charge? Ha!”

“Silly, silly Matthew,” scolded Cleo. “We told you in our letter what our compensation would be. Right at this moment there are sixty carriages filled with grain, vegetables, and salted meats from Omnmount sitting a mile from your city gates, just waiting to hear that the deal is done. And we do not want the steel for us .”

Sixty carriages of grain, vegetables, and salted meats. That amount of food could support the remaining citizens of Port Lancaster for months. Matthew’s eyes widened.

“Ah, the deal is looking better, is it not?” asked Romeo.

He felt lightheaded. “Perhaps. But if the weapons aren’t for you, who are they for?” he asked.

“We have birdies in our god’s army,” Romeo said. “And those birdies have told us that the one who now holds Karak’s ear is wary of Ashhur’s dark-skinned children in Ker. They are physically superior to the rest, perhaps smarter, and certainly more capable. They have been independent of Paradise for some time now, and word has it that our Lord is bent on invading their lands last. The steel is for them .”

The deal was becoming more and more tempting for Matthew. Part of him tried to steer away from acceptance, but the logical part of him, the part that believed in the words of the god more than the god himself, began to sway.

“And you are willing to take this chance?” he asked. “What if Karak discovers us?”

“The way things are going, we are dead men already,” said Romeo with a shrug. “If our time is about to end, we might as well go out trying to do something to stop it.”

Matthew sat back, chin cupped in his hand. He was so deep in thought that he barely felt the tug on his blood-stained tunic. He turned to see Moira staring at him, concern in her icy blue eyes.

“A word?” she asked.

“Ah, dear Moira wishes to advise her brave Matthew!” exclaimed Cleo.

Bren rolled his eyes. “Shut it,” the burly man said. “I’m in pain, and I don’t need to listen to your squealing voice.”

“Calm yourself, Bren,” said Matthew. He stood from his chair, looked at Moira, and then gestured toward the corner. The slender woman rose to join him.

“What is it?” he asked in a whisper when they were far enough away from the table.

“I am not sure this is such a good idea,” she replied. “You brought me here to protect you, and right now, this is the best protection I can offer. Turn them down. Walk away from here.”

“I’m surprised at you, Moira.”

“Why?”

“You hate Karak more than anybody. I would think you’d be all for their plan.”

“I hate Karak, but I am not stupid,” she said. “Are you sure you can trust these two?”

He shook his head. “Of course not.”

“And yet you’re seriously considering working with them.”

“Strife makes for strange bedfellows. And besides, everything they’ve said makes sense. It’s not as if I haven’t had these very thoughts before tonight, and while I can’t trust them, I can trust their goods . Who am I to turn them away if they can feed this city? What is a cache of weapons worth when your people are dying in the streets from starvation?”

“You intend to accept.”

“I do.”

“Then I hope you’re not being an imbecile.”

He went to grab her shoulder, but she eluded his grasp.

“You don’t know me,” he said, anger churning in his gut. “Remember, you’re my property from now until Peytr pays me back. Disrespect me again, and I’ll have you cleaning the privy nightly.”

With that he swiveled on his heels and marched back toward the brothers. He bit his lip, half expecting a shortsword to plunge through his back and out his sternum. Peering over his shoulder, he met Moira’s cold stare and thanked the gods his harsh words hadn’t been met with a harsh reaction.

Stupid, Matthew. Stupid.