Abandoned house

Knock knock knock!

Was heard on the door which inevitably grabs the attention of the 5 people already inside, who were waiting quietly in the abandoned house for the 6th person to arrive.

Gazing at the candle in the middle of the empty old dining table as the moonlight shone through the completely wooden windows, who're damaged far beyond repair.

None of these people dared to utter a single word up until this point, all because of waiting for the 6th one to arrive.

The root of this silence is to avoid getting any patrol Guard's attention, 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 remains 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 is very close to the wooden door, where cold or heat can easily slide its way from underneath or through the cracks.

"Moonlight strikes." Whispered the man from the 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 to tomorrow you know!" Whispered a man with a rather irritated tone, as if he wanted to punch the daylights out of the man who's 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.

Trying to tame the masses, he waves his big palms and explains. "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!"

"Next time try to arrive in time, it's 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 men on their feet which they no doubt have to follow.

"Yes ma'am!" The 2 men spoke out at the exact same time, as they heard the order of the one in clear authority.

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.

Call it stress or anger, but her teeth are squeaking before she weighs in a key fact. "This project of ours has started 2 weeks ago yet I only saw 10 Guards leaving the city, what is the matter with you people?"

"I am trying my best but there is little I can do without exposing myself, all I can lie about is what travelling merchants say." Complains one man in a dark, medium length beard and a bald head.

He has an above average physique and seems to be in his late twenties, this is the same man who just opened the door for the late arriver.

He's trying 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, a skull can be crushed in a quarter of a second as there is no sympathy here.

Grabbing her head with both hands and gently rubbing the temples, trying to calm herself down and think clearly. Silence remained firm for a few seconds until she broke it again.

"This isn't working, it's april already and I need at least 500 Guards or Soldiers out of this city by the end of the year, yet we are failing. Do you understand the severity of your lacking progress?!" Her upper lip even raised a bit up in anger.

And her eyes are 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 city, hired wagons." An average weighed man excused himself.

He has flat brown hair reaching down to his shoulders and with a tone which is rather high pitch, odd voice for a man who looks like he is close to the good 40s, but no doubt a mood lifter in such a topic.

"Keep it down you fool! Do you want the whole city 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 looks 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." Answers the whistling tone.

"People focus!" Yells out the woman as much as one could while whispering, with her eyebrows jerked up. "We need ideas."

"Look, the reason why barely any Guard left is because the city is too far away, right?" Said a man who kept quiet until now, stroking his beard which reaches down to the chest and spreads wide like a curly bush.

This man looks rather physically fit compared to the rest. He isn't the strongest of the 6 but would definitely have better chances to win a 1 versus 10 battle, his mind seems to work overtime.

But to his thought, most of the group replies.

"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 at least quadrupel."

"That's obvious." Followed up the lady with an unpleasant glare as she raised her eyebrows up but with curiosity, wanting to know more.

So she chose not to fly off topic and let the man speak as he was always good with ideas, therefore asking him. "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 followed by a strong physique.

Continuing in detail, the first twin cites. "The two cities aren't in the same Alliance but there is no law stopping travelling merchants. These people prefer horse travel which would only take around 4 weeks in one way, while on foot it would take up to 3 months!"

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

Switching positions of telling this fresh plan, the second twin deciphers. "You should give the travelling merchants who come from Salmon river city, a few coins to accept any travellers for free. Most of them wouldn't deny this offer when their home city is to be spoken off."

"But wouldn't travelling merchants giving these people free rides sound 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 and pitches another idea. "Okay how about this, we tell the travelling merchants to offer a ride for an affordable price. Travelling such a distance requires around 60 bronze coins, what if the merchants offer it for 20?"

"I love this idea." Expresses the woman in enthusiasm while finally showing a good mood on her face.

But of course she has to filter the plan and add her delicate touch. "Okay, new plan. You people won't only spread the previous word."

[Which to clear it out, the previous spread word was that Salmon river city is offering free housing with tax, free food, a job paying 20 silver coins a month and instant citizenship. For any man who has over 1 year of experience on being either a patrol Guard, castle Guard or Soldier.]

After making sure that she explained those details, the base of the plan has to be pitched. "But you will be spreading a second set of news after exactly 1 week until I get everything together."

Silence remaining strong, she carefully continues. "You will also say that merchants are offering to transport for 20 bronze coins per family. But of course food and drink will have to be covered by the families, that way the whole thing will look believable."

After finishing her sentence, she gazes at the candle light and puzzles. "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 aren't big and dumb.

Her expressions are different, although proud she still gives a rough whisper. "No questions? Good, now scram!"