Ойкумена / Oikumena: Глава 9

Part II

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:09

Best job in the world

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:09

Chapter 9

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:09

Birthday present

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:09

* * *

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:09

// "I saw a dream..."

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:05

"What, my lord?"

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:06

The Duke raised his head and realized he had spoken the last phrase aloud.

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:06

"I saw a dream," he repeated with surprise. He repeated and fell silent, staring at the travertine floor and the pattern of the family crest in small octagonal tiles.

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:08

The steward froze, bowing respectfully. One of the few people the Duke trusted, so much so, that he even occasionally shared his innermost thoughts. A man of low class, elevated by his lord's will to a level that many nobles could never dream of. A well-fed uncle in clothes of dim, restrained colors (the ruler should not think that the subjects luxuriate too much) patiently waited to see if the patron would deign to develop the thought. But the Duke remained silent, frozen like a statue in the family gallery.

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:10

// "Flessa, youngest daughter... It's been many months since you left the ancestral castle and have been living in the capital, representing our family, conducting secret affairs."

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 09:11

The white robe hung heavy, pressing down on his skinny shoulders with their protruding bones. The Duke knew from the outside it looked stern and imposing, but the heaviness kept him from breathing and bent him to the ground. The weight of years lived, of hard decisions, of necessary betrayals, of calculated cruelty. The old ruler thought he hadn't worn armor in three years, not even for horseback riding. He would probably never wear it again unless it was new, "tar" armor, half the weight of steel. It was said that it was becoming fashionable in Milvesse to cover the armor, which looked like brown glass with a cloth backing, with the finest foil to make it look like real steel from the outside. Good, profitable news, for a quarter of the tar armor of the entire Ecumene, was already being made in the workshops of Malersyde from special sulfur mined from the Wastelands.

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 10:16

// "Flessa... violent, impetuous, bossy, intelligent... a true scion of the Wartensleben. The only one to hold my legacy! Is she the only one?"

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 10:17

The only one. What an unpleasant, categorical word. It has a bitter taste of inevitability, of finality. How sad to say it, even to think it. And yet. Is there a way out?

Camrad_RIP 14.10.23 в 10:18

The Diabalus, the judicial book and code of laws of the new Empire, strictly delineated inheritance issues. The first child receives all immovable property minus the "woman's share". The second child receives his mother's personal inheritance, as well as maintenance payments from the family treasury. The third goes into the ecclesiastical ministry or - if the Church does not entice - can buy a place in a good, honorable shop. Everyone else gets nothing but a horse, arms, and a title. Therefore, according to the new judicial laws, the duchy must be inherited by the eldest daughter.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:02

She should. If she had the will to rule!

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:03

On the other hand, if does a little bit of wiggling with reading the confusing legal formulas, he can try to make Kai the heir. Many people did so, appealing to the fact that "heir" is consonant with "firstborn," i.e. we are talking not just about the first child but about the first boy. Yes, it is possible.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:04

It's possible... If Kai had any talent as an owner!

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:05

However, there is a third party.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:05

The Duchy of Wartensleben has long lived according to the Partidas, the law books of the Old Empire. Well, to put it more accurately... the dukes declared their adherence to noble antiquity at the expense of Diabalus. In reality, of course, as befits a good ruler, the Wartensleben have had their noses in both troughs by necessity. But now, a reputation for upholding long-standing traditions may serve them well. The Partidas states explicitly that a lord with at least ten generations of noble ancestors with all the proof of nobility can enjoy certain privileges of a senator. Including marrying and divorcing children, as well as choosing an heir by personal will, according to the interests of the family. And it does not matter the Senate hasn't convened in three hundred years, if not more. What is written in the quills of the lawmakers of the Old Empire is stronger than steel and more valuable than gold.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:09

There are ten generations of the Wartensleben surname. Praise be to Pantocrator, who gave the founders of the family short lives. But even here, everything is not easy. To justify. Moreover, defending the claim will not be easy because traditionally, such a privilege is enjoyed by Primators, to which the house of Wartensleben has not yet belonged. It was logical: old houses have old rules.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:11

Yes, it won't be easy. The help of the islanders, who will support the Duke's claims and reinforce them with the authority of the real old house and an army of lawyers, will come in handy here. But it can be done. And it's time to start getting something from the unspoken, secret alliance.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 10:34

Or wait?

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 08:11

Flessa is smart, moderately violent, and calculating. And has long been playing family games, carefully building her network of spies. If he starts acting, the girl may think of herself as more than she should. On the other hand, legal things are slow, so it makes sense to start early. Just in case ...

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 10:38

Pantocrator witnesses it so complicated!

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 10:39

The Duke took a sip of wine from the glass and ran his finger over the smooth surface. The aventurine glass had not a single flaw. Just like artifacts from the old days when magic ruled the world. The old lord only now noticed that the manager was standing immovable and seemed afraid to even breathe. It was a pleasure to watch. Well-trained servants, disciplined servants, controlled possessions. Everything worked like a precise mechanism, reliable and predictable. But the next thought was much less pleasant - and his father had thought the same thing. The Duke grimaced, and the fat man in the gray-brown robes, seeing his lord's grimace, bowed forward in the most respectful manner possible.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 10:42

Idiots thought the Duke. God, what idiots. They honestly think he cares about rags. And that ostentatious modesty would somehow protect them from his wrath. Never mind that the fat man is wearing simple wool stockings with leather soles. He can wear spider silk. It doesn't matter. What is important is that the sins of the steward are known, counted, and recognized as insignificant.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 10:44

The passion for little girls not yet of childbearing age is against the laws of God and man, but who is perfect? For this sin, the steward will answer to the Pantocrator. The love of swallowing liquid smoke, but controlled, not more than once a week. A habit no worse than any other if it doesn't turn into an addiction. Bribery. This is already more serious, but the Duke understood well where a live coin rings, some silver, and gold will inevitably stick to one's hands. The main thing was to keep the measure. And there was nothing wrong with that.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:01

Moderation, diligence, and a clear understanding of the limits of what was allowed - that's what kept the ducal servants privileged.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:26

// "Flessa, I miss you!" - the old aristocrat finally confessed to himself.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:26

// "It's much easier to rule a trained domain with you. I'm getting older. My body and mind are wearing out. The burden is getting heavier, and it won't get any easier. I'll have to share the power now. Yes, there's a good chance that a respectful daughter will want to reduce my burden early. But if the moment is lost, she will do so guaranteed, and by then, I will be too weak and senile to resist her. Like my father once upon a time, long ago."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:28

"Did you know that my family had mages?" the duke asked the fat servant suddenly. He froze with his mouth open, confused and uncomprehending, whether his lord had bestowed a great honor or was making an elaborate test.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:28

"No, honorable sir," he mumbled, finally. "This was not known to me."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:29

"But it is so," the lord narrated gloomily. "It is said that a drop of the magical gift is still passed on in our blood so that occasionally members of the Wartensleben family see amazing, prophetic dreams..."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:30

"That's great, honorable sir," the steward bowed, cursing the moment he dared to open his mouth. The duke was not prone to gratuitous waste, but the powerful did not like to have their innermost thoughts revealed to the ears of others. And who knows if the lord would regret the next morning that he had said too much the day before.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:31

"I always thought it was fairy tales," said the Duke. "I've never seen anything that could be considered 'prophetic'. And neither have my kinfolk, or they wouldn't have ended up..."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:32

// As they ended," the fat man completed the ragged phrase to himself and bowed even lower just in case.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:32

The old ruler went to the window and ran his fingers over the bronze lattice, polished to that special, golden copper glow that only noble, unadulterated material, excellent casting, and careful polishing can give.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:47

"I had a dream. Malersyde was surrounded by strange, marvelous figures. They seemed to grow out of the heart of the earth. The ocean raged, then the salty waves gave out, and a bridge was erected, which at the same time was not a bridge, for it did not connect but barred. The city burned in ghostly flames. A road of fire crossed Malersyde from end to end. And two queens fought in that fire, Red and Black. It was a fight to the death. What could this dream mean?"

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:49

This is not known to your humble servant," murmured the steward. "Every man should do the job he does best ... I can count profits with losses, but dreaming.... Honorable, you'd better consult an astrologer ... or a magician."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:49

"Yes, indeed," the duke muttered under his breath. "To the magician. Of course."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:51

He turned to the steward, and the latter flinched. The ruler seemed full of vigor again, exuding impenetrable confidence. The Duke snapped his fingers with the words:

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:51

"Have them replace the wine. It's worn out. What's for today?"

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:57

"Confirmation of the prohibitive duties for the next year, Sir," was the language the steward understood, and he opened the folder in a businesslike manner. Flessa had introduced this accessory, too. Before, documents were carried in special leather sacks.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:58

"As you wish, the city council forbids the removal of any provisions from the property without special permission. Also, the issue of sending silver to Milvess for coinage must be resolved. Squadron composition, guard galleys, permission to leave port, confirmation of priority mooring rights in the capital. All require your seal. And..."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:59

The fat man faltered, dimming his eyes as if he were embarrassed to be reminded.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:33

"And?" the Duke raised an eyebrow.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:34

"I beg to remind you. It is necessary to spread new rumors that the Emperor wishes to encourage craft councils and limit the ancient privileges of the workshops. It is necessary to pay heralds, scribes of forged letters, and masters of other secret affairs. The Lady has sent a detailed estimate from the capital."

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:35

The manager tugged at the edge of a separate sheet of parchment in the general stack.

Camrad_RIP 19.10.23 в 11:46

"That is where we shall begin," commanded the duke sharply. "Those who skimp on soldiers and spies are digging their own grave.'"

Camrad_RIP 10.10.23 в 18:11