Leon watched from the shadows of the village square, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as Grig bustled around the wagon, overseeing the unloading of the supplies. The grin on Grig's face was as wide as the wagon itself, and he gestured with exaggerated enthusiasm to the piles of wood, crates of food, and bundles of tools that had arrived. The villagers, relieved to see the much-needed resources, worked quickly to carry everything inside the village walls.
Grig's voice carried through the air, boasting about the low price he had managed to secure. "You see? You see what I've done for Vekara? I got these supplies from a nearby village—practically nothing! Just a bit of trade and negotiation. We're building something great here, and I'm making sure we have the resources to do it!"
Leon stood back, silent, but his mind was anything but calm. There was something about the whole situation that unsettled him. Grig had been given a task, and while he had delivered on his promise, Leon couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Grig was too eager, too proud of what he had accomplished. It wasn't in his nature to do something out of pure goodwill. There was always a game, always an angle.
Leon's instincts told him that this wasn't just about securing supplies. Grig was playing a deeper game, and Leon had learned long ago to trust his gut.
Mara appeared beside Leon, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What do you think?" she asked quietly, her eyes flicking between Leon and the scene unfolding below. "It seems like a good thing, doesn't it? We needed those supplies."
Leon's jaw tightened. "Maybe. But Grig's always got an angle. He wouldn't have done this unless he thought it would benefit him somehow."
Mara's brow furrowed. "You think he's up to something?"
Leon nodded, his eyes never leaving Grig. "He's always up to something. My concern is what kind of deal he's made. These supplies didn't just come from nowhere. If he's trading with nearby villages, it's only a matter of time before word gets out about Vekara. And if the wrong people hear about it…"
"The king," Mara finished, understanding Leon's fear.
"Exactly," Leon said, his voice hard. "We've been careful to stay under the radar. The last thing we need is for one of the king's loyal lords to hear that a new village is springing up—especially one made up of former slaves and mercenaries. The king won't tolerate a threat to his rule, no matter how small."
Mara frowned, her gaze shifting back to Grig, who was now chatting animatedly with a few of the villagers, his hands moving expressively as he continued to boast about the success of his trade. "So what do we do? We need the supplies, but if they bring unwanted attention…"
Leon sighed, his mind racing. "We need to find out where these came from, who Grig is dealing with, and what promises he's made. I can't risk this village being exposed before we're ready."
Mara nodded. "You think he's playing both sides again?"
"I wouldn't put it past him," Leon muttered. "Grig's smart. He knows he's walking a thin line, and he'll do whatever he can to stay alive. If he thinks he can secure his future by selling us out to someone powerful…"
Mara's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then we need to act before he does."
Leon glanced at her, a plan forming in his mind. "I'll talk to him. Quietly. See what I can get out of him."
"And if he's working against us?"
Leon's expression darkened. "Then we'll deal with him."
Without another word, Leon stepped away from the shadows and began to approach Grig. The man was still talking loudly, his voice full of pride, but as Leon neared, he must have sensed the shift in the air. Grig's eyes flicked toward Leon, and for the briefest moment, Leon saw something flash across his face—fear, or maybe guilt. But then it was gone, replaced by the same ingratiating smile Grig always wore.
"Leon!" Grig exclaimed, his voice overly cheerful. "Did you see? Supplies, at a bargain price! We'll be able to finish the walls, stock up on food, even build some proper homes. Aren't you impressed?"
Leon didn't smile. "I'm curious."
Grig's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Curious? About what? The trade went well, no trouble at all!"
Leon folded his arms, his gaze hard. "Where exactly did you get these supplies?"
Grig's eyes darted away for a split second before returning to Leon's. "Oh, you know, from a village not far from here. They were happy to trade—said they had an excess of goods and were looking to offload them."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "And you're telling me they didn't ask any questions? Didn't wonder where you came from or why you needed so many supplies?"
Grig's smile slipped further, his hands twitching nervously. "Well, I… I kept things vague. Told them we were building up a small settlement. No need to give them details, right? I didn't mention Vekara by name, if that's what you're worried about."
Leon's voice grew colder. "But you told them enough. Enough for them to get curious. And if they talk to the wrong person…"
Grig's face paled, and he shifted uncomfortably under Leon's intense gaze. "Look, Leon, I know you're cautious, but this is a good thing! We need these supplies. The village is growing, and we have to be able to sustain ourselves. I didn't promise them anything dangerous, I swear. Just a bit of trade."
Leon stepped closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You need to understand something, Grig. If word of Vekara reaches the wrong ears—if the king or one of his loyal lords gets wind of what we're doing here—it won't just be you that's in danger. It'll be all of us. Every man, woman, and child in this village will pay the price for your deals. Do you understand that?"
Grig swallowed hard, his eyes wide. "I—I understand, Leon. I do. I didn't mean to—"
Leon cut him off, his voice as sharp as a blade. "I don't care what you meant. What matters is that you've put us at risk, and if you've made promises or deals you're not telling me about, you'd better come clean now."
Grig shook his head frantically. "I haven't! I swear, Leon. I just made the trade, got the supplies, and that's it. I didn't make any deals with anyone important. I'm on your side, I promise."
Leon stared at him for a long, tense moment, searching Grig's face for any sign of deception. The man was terrified—of him, of the situation, maybe even of what he had gotten himself into. But whether that fear would be enough to keep him in line was another matter entirely.
Finally, Leon took a step back, his expression unreadable. "This is your last chance, Grig. You're useful, for now. But if I find out you've lied to me, or if this trade brings trouble to Vekara, you'll wish you'd never made that deal."
Grig nodded quickly, relief washing over his face. "I won't let you down, Leon. I swear it."
Leon didn't respond. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Grig standing there, trembling in the wake of their conversation.
As Leon made his way back toward the center of the village, his thoughts churned. Grig had gotten them the supplies they needed, but at what cost? The villagers were happy now, grateful for the resources that would help them continue rebuilding. But Leon knew better than to let his guard down. Grig was still a ticking time bomb, and the village's future depended on keeping that bomb from exploding.
And somewhere out there, the king's eyes were always watching. It was only a matter of time before they fell upon Vekara.
"One wrong move," Leon muttered to himself. "And everything could fall apart."