(a partial written record found in the palace library in Kennethrach Castle in the Kingdom of Vach Thruyn)
Bybrich finished speaking and sat, his expression both sullen and defiant. The last to speak was Thruyn, who rose and addressed us.
“Gathered Lords and Ladies, it is clear that, with our current resources and manpower, we cannot hope to take the castle.” He looked at each face in turn, his eyes unblinking. “Without assistance, there can be no victory.”
Lady Arthra half-stood. “Assistance? Our coffers are nearly emptied and our favors spent. Outside of this room, there are none left who share our views.”
“Even had we twice the coin and men,” came Lord Bybrich’s deep bass, “the walls are too thick and the defenses too powerful.”
I spoke up as well. “The gate remains our best point of attack, but even then, we will surely suffer heavy losses.”
As the group began to bicker, Thruyn stepped into the center of the circle of chairs, demanding, “I will be allowed to finish!” The room fell silent.
“Lords and ladies,” he resumed after a heartbeat, “I have news. Since we last met, I have been in contact with the sorcerer Ghan.”
A murmur went up at that name. Ghan was a recluse who lived in the hills outside claimed land with his apprentices. Little else was known about him.
Thruyn continued. “It is well known that Ghan is possessed of great power. He personally drove the Hill Tribes from the area and has held it since. A man such as that could be an asset to our cause.”
“Ghan is an unknown!” interrupted Lady Denmer. “Sorcerers act only in their own self interests!”
Thruyn whirled on her, his voice hard as iron. “And that is why I have offered him something in exchange for his help.” He paused, though I could not be sure if it was for effect or to find the right words. “Though he will not fight for us, I have convinced him to breach the castle wall, which will surely shock our enemy and allow our men ingress.”
I waited a beat before asking the obvious question. “What does Ghan ask in return, Lord?”
Thruyn exhaled briefly. “He will be granted a small parcel of land at the western edge of the kingdom — ” there came a collective gasp — “over which he will have full authority to do with as he pleases.”
The gathered nobles immediately fell to open protests and doubt, with Arthra’s higher-pitched outrage an odd countermelody to Bybrich’s bass. I held my counsel.
“There will be silence!” bellowed Thruyn over the clamor, which stopped as abruptly as it had begun. He began to pace.
“There is no other way! We lack the coin to hire mercenaries to fight for us. We could throw our army at the gate and watch them die by the score — if we succeed, we’ll have no one to defend against reprisal or opportunism. A siege will only deplete our own supplies. Land is all we have to barter!”
Thruyn took a deep breath, calming himself. “Can anyone dispute this?” he asked. “Speak, if there yet be a method we have not considered.”
The assembled shifted uncomfortably in the torchlight, the sounds of fine robes rustling against the stone floor. Not a man nor woman spoke.
“Then it is decided,” he concluded. ‘We shall proceed, and Gods willing, prevail. Let us discuss tactics.”