Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“I am sea captain and king. I’m on my ship more than in my castle. And when I’m ashore, I’m in my castle with my advisors more than being with my people. You’re from a small village. It is my understanding from reports of your activities when I’m away, you often roam the city, attend ill in the hospitals, visit children in schools. In other words, you are often among the people. You’ve spoken of their thoughts and concerns before. What do you think will come of this?”
He was asking…
Me?
“Um…well…”
I trailed off.
He shoved the toast in his mouth and started slathering marmalade on another triangle, talking with his mouth full.
“I am hoping they find these concessions appropriate. Not simply because all know we are the last to practice servitude. But also, because it’s well known around Mar-el that our people think of the practices of the Airenzian toward women range from feeling it’s absurd to abhorrent. That said, I’m uncertain if my people care enough that the Airenzian women are freed of their burdens, for they last a lifetime and are much more monstrous than those in our lands in bondage. But as you mentioned, it’s of concern, our continued distance from those on the mainland.”
As I’d mentioned?
He’d listened to me?
“But I’d already negotiated opened trade of merchants with Firenze and allowed the Firenz passage of their merchant ships not only to us, but to the Northlands, Southlands and The Mystics,” he announced.
My mouth dropped open.
He had?
He had not mentioned that last night.
He continued speaking.
“In a small quantity. I arranged the same to mitigate some of Gallienus’s anger, and perhaps cushion the blow to his aristocracy. And it will be known Cassius negotiated it, so his regency will be better taken. The Dellish king seems uninterested. But I’ve spoken to True in private and if his king can pull his finger out, I’ll do the same for Wodell. More goods going both ways, more coin spent both ways. Enough to take minds from things that might cause unrest.”
“Are you going to…” I cleared my throat. “Going to disallow the pirates from taking more bounden?” I asked.
“I won’t tell seamen what to do,” he grunted.
Of course not.
He was a seaman.
“Is this going to go well for Cassius?” I queried.
He shoved half of his second triangle of toast into his mouth, bit off a chunk, dropped the remains to the tray and looked to me, chewing.
He swallowed.
Then he said, “No.”
“This means we’ll be at war with another land for another land’s problems, my king,” I said softly.
“I promised my armada,” he replied.
“I know.”
“You don’t think it’s a good idea,” he remarked, regarding me closely.
“The Beast rises,” I reminded him.
“My guess is, we have time, considering the tremors have ceased.”
I did not guess the same.
Who knew what those who called to it were up to?
“This will be quite a bit for our people to understand and become accustomed to,” I told him. “But your great-great grandfather also made what was then sweeping change. It is not unprecedented. It was also not so long ago. And we may not have much to do with the mainland, but we get news from it. Therefore, we know Ares, as well as Mars, have done much the same in their land. There was conflict, and violence in all that. But both nations became stronger for it.”
He dipped his chin.
“And they will be glad of opened trade.” I smiled at him. “Even in small quantities.”
“Good,” he grunted, shoving his shirt with its full, billowy sleeves more firmly under the sash around his waist before he reached to his double-breasted waistcoat, flung it behind his shoulders and shrugged it on.
He’d buttoned the four buttons from the bottom (buttons that went all the way to the base of his throat, but he rarely wore it closed all that way) before he grabbed his wide, studded belt, pulling it over the sash around his waist while he returned his attention to me.
“You bond with these women,” he remarked, buckling his belt.
I nodded. “Oh yes. Silence is very sweet. Farah is quieter and more restrained around Elena, for she knows True’s feelings for the Nadirii. But Elena is putting her mind at rest about that. And Elena is very good-humored, when you aren’t discussing Cassius that is.”
“Cassius will win her,” Aramus stated confidently.
Maybe.
However, I tired of discussing everyone else.
Everything else.
But us.
“I’m sure,” I murmured and carried on, “Elpis is lovely, as is Ophelia, in a more detached way. Elena’s lieutenants are chalk and cheese, Hera very intelligent and serious, Jasmine very funny. Sofia makes me melancholy. She feels much guilt for acts she did not do, and she misses her friend greatly even when, often, they are in the same room. I cannot imagine any of them wishing me harm.”
“You’ll still have a guard in the palace.”