Letter 4

Osmund Saddler to Ramon Salazar

14th August 2002 (from Madrid)

Dear Castellan Salazar,

Allow me to preface this by explaining that I am aware of your village's diminishing situation. I have had an informant posted in Pueblo for several weeks and his reports indicate that rising unemployment and a lack of resources are causing problems for the local inhabitants. I understand you must be a proud man, but there is no hiding the fact that your village is doomed to falling out of existence, either by an uprising or total abandonment.

I would therefore like to propose a solution. I know that you have no political power in the village but there is something you can do to help your people and yourself. My research has led me to understand that your castle is built on top of what I believe is the only remaining dwelling of an organism discovered by my organisation in the days of our ancestors. According to records, the first Salazar castellan opposed my organisation's work to study the organism and sealed off access to the caves where they lived below the castle.

I propose that you allow my group access to the caves to see if there are any surviving specimens of this organism. In return, I am prepared to provide substantial compensation in both cash and resources. I will allow you to present as much of this as you deem fit to the people of Pueblo and allow them to believe that the money has come from you.

At the very least, I ask that you permit me a meeting in your castle so that we can properly discuss my plans and negotiate a deal for your trouble.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Osmund Saddler, Head of Los Illuminados.