The Ancient King

Act 9

Everything was going well.
A few weeks had passed.
Tents stretched out into the moor, bordered by large wooden pikes which formed a solid wall around them and the village.
Tall towers, the height of the wall were spaced along the wall as guards with crossbows stood, glaring into the moor.

The place was alive.

Guards patrolled everywhere, laughter came from the inn and the tents.
The sun beamed down lighting up the entire place.

Darkness had faded away.

The Silver Stones marched about, Cyrus had brought back more commoners bolstering the group up to two-hundred men strong. Blacksmiths had forged better armour and their surcoats blew proudly in the wind around them with their new coat-of-arms.

"How much!"

Merek leant forward.
"Calm down Cyrus, it's affordable".

Cyrus grimaced.
"I don't fucking care! You've spent most of the money left in the banks of Kypris and Wvronikopf! Your brother leaves you all of this for a reason!"

"My brother is still gaining money! We aren't poor and we still have enough to last us through the winter!"

Tranos moved across the room.
"Merek, I have to agree with Cyrus.
You are spending a lot on this, the food, the materials, my own men, it's a lot"

"My brother can afford it!"

"What exactly does your brother do?"

"He partly runs a bank, he goes to different countries setting up new positions so the bank can expand and he runs something else, I'm not sure I never cared to ask but he sends me a lot of money!"

Cyrus glared at Merek, a clear annoyance was in his eyes.
"It's too much, you are supposed to be spending the money on Wvronikopf!"

"I don't care! Shut up, Cyrus! We have enough money, and it's worth it, we are being paid a lot from the King!"

"Ah yes, the secret amount, why can't you tell us how much the King is paying you for The Ancient King?"

"Because I don't know"
Merek fell quiet, Cyrus just laughed.
"He showed me a vault, showed me what was in it. A lot, but said it would increase over time and I could take it once I finished my job, and either way, I signed a contract I have been hired to do something and will do it, now get out both of you!"

The two men went to leave but were stopped when a soldier wearing the surcoat of the Silver Stones rushed into the room.

"My lord!"
He took a deep breath.
"We've spotted a large movement of enemies near the highway, I've ridden for two hours!"

"How many men?"

"Around thirty!"

"Why was there a large movement?"

"They had two carriages, my lord!
We don't know what was in them"

"Cyrus, go find Aella, I will gather my men we will make haste for the highway, set up an ambush point and wait!"