B3 Chapter 10

The custom of casting seals was an old one, almost ancient. It originated from a time when the legitimacy of royalty was but a suggestion, only elevated by support from the many minor nobles of the old empire. Those who had decided to seat their leaders on freshly forged thrones. In its nascent form, the ritual was simple. Each house threw a signet ring in a bowl to signify their support. Those who could not attend sent letters of recognition waxed and sealed by their signets. Eventually, the former act turned into a raising of the forefingers by the lords bearing their houses’ signet rings, and the latter act stayed its course.

While Lucan mused over this, Lord Drummond was bringing his needlessly long-winded speech to a close, having rambled on about stations, privileges, and rights until Lucan had to worry that some of those attending would nod off into a brief slumber.

“That is why, as per their standing in a proper court, knights, even if their nobility is not in question, cannot be weighed on the same scales as lords, lest our own stations come into question.” Lord Drummond gasped in a breath after finishing, his head swivelling to meet the attention of the lords in presence.

At last, Lucan met the lord’s eyes, and the latter nodded, which was enough for him to call for the seals, though he had to offer courtesy first. “Do any in attendance wish to contend this proposal with words before the casting of seals?”

It was cause for mirth, truly, that the man’s speech had so numbed the knights that they decided not to extend the suffering of all those present by pleading their cause with another one. Indeed, alliances within alliances had already been born. Lucan knew that Lord Thornvale would stand against this proposal, though he was not certain of everyone’s standing on the matter. He hadn’t pushed Lord Arden to cast his seal in either direction, considering that this was not a matter worth the goodwill he would have to spend with the man. He had to decide himself, however, whether he would abstain or cast his seal against Lord Drummond’s proposal. He did not want to provoke the man for fear of pushing him to think again about his decision to join the alliance, and casting his seal against him after he’d encouraged him to make the proposal might hazard that. On the other hand, abstaining may offend his allies in Sirs Wolfe and Upton.

He decided to begin the casting regardless. Since they were all in attendance, the balance would be clear. If he had to cast his seal to save the knights from losing their weight, then he would, but if it were not necessary, he would keep his neutrality for now, at least until the alliance was set on its feet.

“If there are none, then we may begin casting our seals,” Lucan announced. “Those for Lord Drummond’s proposal to halve the weight of a knight’s seal may raise their own.” In response, three ringed forefingers were raised. Surprisingly, Lord Arden was one of them, and it didn’t take much to understand why. It was in his interest to gain more weight for his own seal, and he was beholden to none of the landed knights in attendance. The other two were Lord Ravencroft, who stood to gain just as much; and, of course, Lord Drummond.

“Those against the proposal may raise their seals,” Lucan called, and four forefingers answered him. Lord Thornvale’s, Sir Caerlyn’s, Sir Wolfe’s, and Sir Upton’s. Lucan observed that Lord Sergrave had chosen to abstain, as he had himself after realizing that Lord Drummond’s proposal was doomed to fail. Lord Sergrave, however, struck him as one who would stay out of such matters due to his disdain for them compared to what he would consider a more pressing duty, fighting Wildermen. Perhaps the man even worried that belittling the knights might hinder his efforts in the times to come. Lucan found him a difficult man to read at times, and he could only presume. Lord Cassius, too, had abstained, though it seemed born of uncertainty more than anything else.

Lucan cleared his throat and announced, “By majority, the proposal is struck down.”

Lord Drummond was quick to object. “I see no sense in having the knights cast seals on a matter that concerns the weights of those very seals.” He glared at Lucan. “It boggles my mind, Lord Zesh.”

Lucan was quick to retort, unwilling to imperil one of the alliance’s founding tenets on its first day. “By your very own proposal, you have acknowledged their seals and their weights. Otherwise, you would have had no cause to attempt to change them. By the tenets of the alliance, this matter is decided in the knights’ favor.”

Lord Drummond bit down a response, scoffing. Lucan imagined that the man would avoid bringing up his other proposal. If he had failed at halving the knights’ seals, then he would certainly fail at halving their tolls. Lucan even doubted that Lord Arden would support the man on that, considering there was little to gain out of it aside from infuriating his neighbors.

Of course, as the matter came to a close, murmurs chased away the hall’s quiet, and Lucan had to raise his hand, as respectfully as he could, to summon back the quiet. “Good lords and sirs. If I may, I have my own proposal, and I believe this one to be of utmost importance. I have foreseen strife that might bring discord to our unity in the days to come, and it must be addressed. I cannot see to that alone, however, and hence I require your seals once again if you will. My proposal pertains to the matter of trade and tolls. As you well know, not every estate here is certain to receive visitors eager to trade. The route across the south would take merchants through certain territories regardless of their wishes. However, some territories are not so fortunate as to be on that route. A merchant crossing into Lord Thornvale’s estate from the west may choose not to visit Sir Caerlyn’s estate before continuing east through Lord Sergrave’s. A merchant heading west from Lord Ravencroft’s estate may not visit Sir Upton’s, or perhaps even Lord Arden’s, on his journey across Barwalis. But perhaps they would decide to visit those estates after all. Perhaps they would see benefit in peddling their wares and seeking others in these territories. Under such circumstances, they would have to pass some estates twice on the same journey.” 

As he paused, panning his eyes over the nobles, he saw plenty of confusion. Even Sir Caerlyn seemed perplexed by the notion, and so he thought to explain further, “Suppose that a Pontian merchant has crossed into Lord Thornvale’s lands. If he wishes to cross the breadth of Barwalis, he must head east, crossing Lord Sergrave’s estate and Lord Drummond’s after him. Of course, he would surrender a toll to each of the lords, including Lord Thornvale. But should this merchant wish to visit Sir Caerlyn’s basin, he would need to head south first, forcing him to cross back into Lord Thornvale’s lands after he had handled whatever dealings he had in Sir Caerlyn’s estate. This may leave him open to another toll by Lord Thornvale, which would discourage any merchant from visiting territories not on the main route between west and east for fear of being tolled twice in the neighboring estates.” 

“What I propose today, good lords and sirs, is to abolish such injustice by ensuring that merchants may only be tolled once on the same journey in the interest of peers here who may need the attentions of such merchants.”

There was a murmur, and Lucan glanced at Lord Arden, cocking his head. The old man shrugged nearly imperceptibly, and Lucan smiled. He then turned towards the two knights standing among his peers. He met Sir Upton’s eyes, who nodded easily, since this proposal was in his interest. Lucan then turned to Sir Wolfe, who was not in the same boat. They shared a slow nod. They had spoken of the matter before the assembly, of course, and though the knight was reluctant, he hadn’t wished to offend his neighbor, considering that they shared a silver mine and, now, an alliance.

The murmur rose as the matter was discussed among nobles, their sons, and their aides. Lucan didn’t wait, however, raising a hand, polite as he could be. “Unless someone wishes to speak against my proposal, I will ask the good lords and sirs to cast their seals.” He waited for a beat, and no one rose against him. “Those for the proposal may raise their seals.”

He raised his own ringed forefinger. Lord Arden’s rose beside him as well. He saw Sir Wolfe’s and Sir Upton’s, too. Of course, Sir Caerlyn joined them, and unsurprisingly, Lord Thornvale. It was not in the latter’s interest, but he likely didn’t wish to build resentment with his lesser ally.

That was six out of ten seals, which ensured that his proposal would be upheld, but out of courtesy, Lucan still asked, “Those against may raise their seals.”

Only two seals rose, Lord Cassius’s and Lord Ravencroft’s. Surprisingly, the ever-objecting Lord Drummond did not raise his seal, perhaps avoiding the disgrace of being on the losing end again. Lucan understood that Lord Cassius would oppose anything that might cost him coin, though he didn’t understand what drove Lord Ravencroft to oppose it. Regardless, it was Lucan’s victory, and he observed that Lord Sergrave had abstained once more.

“By majority, the proposal is upheld,” Lucan said. “My gratitude to all those who supported it. For those who have benefited from this proposal, I counsel that you do not impose tolls of passing in your estates so that you may lure more merchants to your lands.”

There were nods of both gratitude and acknowledgement from those who were most affected by the proposal, namely Sirs Caerlyn and Upton. In truth, merchants could choose to forgo passing through Lord Arden’s and Sir Wolfe’s territories as well, which meant they stood to gain from this proposal in some rare circumstances, but they hadn’t seemed concerned beforehand when the matter had been discussed.

Regardless, today was a significant triumph on all fronts. And while there were plenty of reasons for him to be concerned about the coming times, now he had allies with whom he could be concerned.