"What is it?" The guard asked in an annoyed tone.
"We have come to negotiate the release of all the soldiers, tell your lord that we are asking, for two platinum coins, to release all of the soldiers here," Branden said.
In times of war, demanding ransom for prisoners was not uncommon, though typically reserved for high-ranking officials or individuals of strategic importance. However, it was rare for common soldiers to face such demands.
In this scenario, the Captain of the city's guard, well-versed in military matters, recognized the subtlety in Branden's request for a relatively modest sum of ten silver coins per captured soldier. This apparently low cost concealed a clever strategy. With a significant number of soldiers available for release, the city could amass a potent force that would serve as a formidable work force for at least a month. This would give them time to recoup the expenses spent on releasing the soldiers.
