B3 Chapter 14

Master Saltner seemed frozen in time, his eyes wide and staring at him, then they finally moved, shifting around with the man’s thoughts. “This…how? Some of my peers may be able to cross from the Union into the lands north of your Alliance, then veer south, hoping to avoid conflict and slip into a safe trade route. Am I to assume you have another way?”

“Indeed.” Lucan only smiled.

“Will you enlighten me then, my lord?”

Bertram, the man’s son, suddenly perked up, blurting out, “The canal!”

Lucan chortled. It appeared that Lilian’s brother was sharper than he appeared. “Precisely.”

Master Saltner cocked his head. “How? Some small boats could perhaps navigate the shallows of the canal, but any real trade would need barges and a proper route.”

“Well, we shall have to clear the canal then,” Lucan said, smiling.

He was only met with a silent stare from the merchant, doubtlessly filled with a thousand questions.

“First,” Lucan continued. “I must impress upon you the importance of secrecy in this matter. Should our enemies learn of it, even by chance, then the estate and all those tied to it would be endangered.”

At a moment’s notice, Master Saltner wore a grave countenance, exchanging a nod with his son. “You have my word, this matter will not be spoken of outside of your study unless you broach it.”

Lucan accepted his promise with a nod of his own. “I intend to visit the Union.”

Without further explanation, it dawned on the old merchant what he intended to do. Thoughts seemed to flit behind his eyes before he spoke. “Which city?”

“The nearest one, Varencourt,” Lucan said. “I will treat with the guilds there.”

Master Saltner rubbed his chin. “I have friends there. I must come with you.”

“No,” Lucan said flatly. “This needs to be a discreet matter. With your renown, Master Saltner, it will be anything but.”

“Then take my son…or Ghafir. They can be of aid.”

Lucan shook his head. “I will not even take my title with me. I will barely take any men. We will be travelling through rough terrain, and I will enter the city as a traveller. I don’t wish for anyone recognizable to be in my company, and I intend to be an unknown until I’m acquainted with certain people within the city.”

Master Saltner seemed ready to contend his decision, but after a moment, he sighed, leaning back in his seat. “Then I must apprise you of all I know about Varencourt. Perhaps you may take a letter with you? I assure you, it would be of great benefit to your endeavors there.”

Lucan gave him a deep nod, accepting his offer. “At a later time, I will have Ryder summoned, and we may discuss the matter at depth.” He intended to have only two men-at-arms with him on this journey. Ryder for the ease with which he navigated the streets and alleys of cities, along with his combat prowess. And Tomis for his wildcraft.

“It would be my pleasure,” Master Saltner said.

“Now,” Lucan said. “We ought to discuss matters of trade. Silvergate will soon be the only town in Barwalis unembroiled in the war, and it is the only town in the alliance. I wish to make the best of it, and I want your counsel on certain matters.”

“It would be my pleasure to give it,” Master Saltner said. “Pray tell.”

Lucan began, “I intend to build a small dock for trade by Silvergate, and soon, I hope, there will be plenty more trade to come.” The merchant nodded at this. “All members of the alliance have agreed to set an equal toll of passage across the territories, but I also intend to demand dues from traders arriving at my estate. Gate dues. Docking dues. And already, we have stall dues, as you well know.”

Master Saltner hummed thoughtfully, then said, “I would advise against gate dues, my lord. My peers and your own people will go around them and trade piecemeal outside of Silvergate.”

Lucan rubbed his chin. “What would you counsel then?”

“If your journey to the Union is fruitful and trade soon comes through the canal, then docking dues are appropriate. However, one must keep in mind that if there are other docks where the merchants can land, they may forgo your own.”

“Lord Ravencroft will likely build his own dock.”

“That is why,” Master Saltner said, “your docking dues must be reasonable enough to attract merchants and travellers. My peers and I would always prefer the faster water route to landing and trudging through the earth. But if it is necessary, then you can be certain we would journey on land.”

“I see,” Lucan said. He’d hoped he could make better of his fortunes, but it seemed he would have to plan this carefully. Perhaps he could agree with Lord Ravencroft on a docking fee fitting for both of them.

“The stall dues and the docking dues ought to be plenty,” Master Saltner added. “Gate dues and tariffs are only reasonable in truly big cities where goods have to flow in large amounts. Silvergate is yet to have so many folk as to need such an amount of goods. Any gate dues would only encourage a bending of your laws. You would need an iron fist to keep that from happening.”

Thomas cleared his throat and said, “Which may well cost us more than it gains us.”

“Indeed,” Master Saltner said.

Seeing that even his own steward agreed, Lucan said, “Very well, there shall be no gate dues. We will confer with Lord Ravencroft to make the best of our docks.”

Thomas, who stood at his side, nodded. “It shall be done.”

“However, while Silvergate's market is not small,” Master Saltner said, “it will be for the trade flow one might expect from all these circumstances coming together. It would not be unreasonable to raise your stall dues then, considering how many merchants will be visiting the town. You may even demand dues from members of the Merchant House, though it would be wise to delay the latter until such a time that all those of my profession find Silvergate an indispensable haven.”

Lucan glanced at Thomas, who shared a nod with him. This was why he sought the merchant’s counsel. There was much the man knew when it came to what his peers would find reasonable and what they would not.

“As for the matter of Silvergate’s status,” Master Saltner continued. “I believe it is of great import that no other significant towns sprout up in the South during the war, so that yours may be the crowning jewel of all trade therein.”

Lucan drew back with a frown. “That would be…”

“I imagine a subtle touch would be needed,” Master Saltner said, giving him a meaningful smile.

“Lord Ravencroft’s lands show the most promise when it comes to that,” Thomas spoke up. “At least, once trade from the east flows through the canal.”

Lucan hummed in agreement. “Lord Thornvale, too, and he’s an ambitious one. He has long planned to make best of his estate’s nearness to Pontis.”

“Does he not intend to tariff merchants crossing the border?” Thomas was quick to ask.

“He does,” Lucan said. “Though it will only be the ones crossing from Pontis into Barwalis. I made certain of that.”

“Huh.” Now it was Master Saltner who rubbed his chin. “Perhaps we may use this.”

“How so?”

“As you must well know,” Master Saltner said. “My peers take ill to  any excess in tolls and tariffs.”

“Do you believe they would take ill enough to his imposition that they would punish it?” Lucan asked.

“If they would not,” Master Saltner said with a smoky voice, “then we may endeavor to persuade them. And you have built us the perfect place for such affairs.”

“Ah.” Lucan grinned. “You will confer with your peers in the Merchant House about it.”

“Indeed, I will.”

“Good.” He glanced at Thomas. “We will keep an eye on Lord Ravencroft’s estate when the time comes. Hopefully, together we can dissuade him and your peers from expanding a settlement near his docks, though I don’t imagine it will be easy.”

With shared nods of agreement, they sealed their assembly for the day. Lucan’s wedding was fast approaching, and only after it could he go to the Union, which would then put their plans into motion.

Three days before the wedding, Lucan met his friend, Ainsley Rooklet. The young merchant had been at the estate for a time, but he’d been attending to dealings with farmers and townsfolk, and Lucan hadn’t wanted to take him away from his breadwinning.

Oftentimes, they would meet in the bailey or even outside by the farmland. However, this time, Lucan had the young merchant brought to his study. Some matters they would be discussing couldn’t be overheard.

A knock on his study’s door preceded Thomas’s entry, with his merchant friend close behind. Lucan got off his seat and walked around the writing table with a wide smile. “Ainsley, my friend!”

The young merchant smiled just as wide but chose to bow first. “My lord.”

Lucan simply gripped his arm and then pulled him into an embrace, which the merchant returned. After a pat on the back, Lucan let him go. “It has been a time, eh?”

“Indeed, Lord Lucan.”

Lucan gestured for them to sit, and they both did only after he was in his seat. “Tell me, how have your dealings been in the estate this season?”

“Rather good,” Aisnley was quick to say, his countenance ascertaining his words. “Every time I come here, the land is more prosperous and the markets more plentiful.”

“Good, good,” Lucan said, his smile persisting. “Ainsley, you know I count you among my good friends, yes?”

Ainsley leaned forward with conviction. “And it is my honor, my lord.”

“You have heard of the Merchant House I have built, have you not?”

“I have,” Ainsley said. “Word is, Master Saltner, your lawfather–ah, apologies–who is to be your lawfather, will be its master.”

“He already is.”

“Then word is true!” Ainsley gave him a cheeky grin. “I must commend the estate’s venture in building such a place. It will gather the wealthiest of my kind.” He then appeared thoughtful, chuckling at some thought that neither Lucan nor Thomas could hear. “May I join their ranks someday,” he eventually said, a wistful smile on his face.

“Perhaps you will sooner than you think,” Lucan said. “I’ve spoken with Master Saltner. I wish for you to be among the council of your peers that will oversee the affairs of the House.”

Ainsley jerked back as though stung by a wasp. “M-me–?” he stuttered. “I-I don’t understand, my lord.”

“Let me say it once more then.” Lucan leaned forward. “I want you among your peers in that hall. I wish to have a pair of ears in the council. Master Saltner will be my lawfather, and so the council will, at times, not have full faith in him to have their interests at heart. They may not share with him what they share with each other then.”

After a brief pause, during which Ainsley’s countenance changed colors more than once, he spoke. “My lord, I would be the youngest and the least among them in a thousand manner and one.”

“That, I well know,” Lucan said with a steady tone. “However, you will have something none of them do. My ear. They would do well to use that when they need it. In exchange, they must acknowledge your seat on their table.”

“I see,” Ainsley said. “And what would I need to do on your behalf, my lord?”

“For now, you only need to listen,” Lucan said. “I want word about the ongoings of trade in the territories of Lord Thornvale, Ravencroft, and Sir Ward. Can I rely on you, my friend?”

Ainsley nodded mutely.

Still in the murk of surprise, the young merchant didn’t speak much afterwards. Lucan made certain that he would deliver word of anything of lesser importance to Thomas, and anything of great importance to him sooner rather than later.

After his friend and Thomas left, Lucan leaned back in his seat and sighed. Only three sunrises stood between him and his wedding night, and he was...anxious.