Chapter 549: The Guild Masters’ Plan (Part One)
Baron Hanrahan looked ready to explode when Isabell said that the Town of Hanrahan and even his entire Barony weren’t worth fighting for. He might not be someone who had marched on the front lines during the War of Inches, but by the Holy Lord of Light, he’d done his part! He’d fought to protect this town!
No demon raid on the supply lines through Hanrahan Barony had ever succeeded during the entire war, and he’d turned his very own manor into a safe haven where the priests could gather and the wounded could be treated within the security of his fortress walls. He had done his part to secure the future of his family and his people!
Unfortunately, one glance at Owain’s calm, calculating expression was all it took to know that further outbursts would only be counterproductive. His job had been to rage, rebuke, provoke, and do whatever it took to draw Master Isabell and Master Tiernan into making a commitment for the upcoming war.
It was Owain’s job to gently guide them into making that commitment in Hanrahan Baron,y and it appeared that the young lord was finally ready to make his move. Now that they’d reached this point, Baron Hanrahan would have to swallow his pride no matter how much he wanted to speak up in front of the people at the lower tables, to make a show of defending what they had built here and that they wouldn’t accept insults about the fruits of their hard labor.
But the time to do that would have to come later. For now, it was Lord Owain’s turn to guide the conversation.
"I’m curious, Master Isabell," Owain said, swirling his wine casually in his goblet as he stared at the proud engineer. "If this town isn’t worth fighting for, then what is? Or would you prefer to be tasked with rebuilding the town of Hanrahan into something worth protecting... maybe something that could withstand even your fearsome assaults," he said, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at Isabell.
"I’ve discussed matters at length with Master Tiernan," Isabell said, leaning back in her chair and sipping her wine. Finally, it seemed like they were going to get to the point. She only wished she could have gotten here without being so forceful and without having to dredge up so many old memories.
Now that she had, she needed a few minutes to calm herself before she went any further. Thankfully, she and her fellow Guild Master had discussed things well in advance, and he was more than capable of supporting her in her time of need.
"Master Isabell doesn’t mean any disrespect to your lordship’s estate, Lord Hanrahan," Tiernan said, diplomatically stepping into the gap that Isabell had created for him. "It’s just that, when we discussed matters and considered the interests of the other Masters whom we represent, we find that Hanrahan Barony is a bit too... out of the way for our needs."