Letter 7

Ramon Salazar to Osmund Saddler

19th August 2002 (from Castillo Salazar, near Pueblo)

Dear Lord Saddler,

First of all, please excuse the delay in my response. Your letter came as quite a surprise to me, and, as you say, amid a troubled time in my village. Having neither parents I can turn to for advice, nor even a wife I can share my troubles with, I find myself able only to rely on my own counsel in deciding how to proceed. At eighteen years of age I hope you can understand that this is a rather great responsibility and I pray that you forgive the time I have allowed myself to make a decision.

Before I do give an answer I feel it necessary to arrange a meeting face-to-face, so we can discuss the specific details of your plan. I also have quite a few questions. Respectfully, I am most curious as to how your organisation came across the tiny dot on Spain's map we call Pueblo. You seem to have quite a thorough knowledge of my family's history, and again I find it hard to imagine how you came across this information. You must understand that the founder of this castle sealed the caves for a reason, therefore I will not open them unless I understand your intentions.

This is not to say however that I am not very interested in your proposal. As the eighth in a line of castellans to preside over this castle's affairs, I feel the weight of my ancestors' history on my shoulders and find myself, unlike even my father only a few years ago, reduced to a mere figurehead in the eyes of the people of Pueblo, if even that. I therefore feel responsible not only for continuing the successful running of the castle but also for restoring our family's image in the eyes of the villagers. I can only proceed if I feel that opening the caves will benefit both the future of the Salazar dynasty and the well-being of the people of Pueblo.

I hope that you will accept my proposal to meet here in person so we can discuss the details of your proposal. Please find my contact details overleaf and telephone or write to me again at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Ramon Salazar, 8th castellan of Castillo Salazar