The Invisible Chains - Part 1: Bonds of Hate (47 page)

The mayor rubbed his hands.

“Excellent. They won't be a burden, though? Unruly behavior, you know?”

Anaxantis shrugged.

“There's always a possibility of that. But I expect no more inconvenience than what you have now. Besides, we have copied the disciplinary rules of the army for the militia. Have you ever seen what a horsewhip does to a man's back? I assure you, whoever has witnessed that once, becomes very, very careful not to transgress the rules.”

“Between your sergeants and our city guard we won't be running into too much trouble then. Oh, before I forget, the other thing... I think I have convinced the majority, although not everybody, and I'm sure the motion will pass easily.”

“Good that you mention it. I don't want it done by voting. I want it done by acclamation.”

“Acclamation?”

“Yes, acclamation. I don't want anybody counting afterwards. I want the appearance of unanimity, of a united province. Think you can do it?”

“Oh, yes. It's even easier. Well, in a few hours the die will be cast.”

Both men looked at each other and each saw that, notwithstanding their outward calmness, they were nervous.

“You're certain,” mayor Fraleck asked, “that the king won't intervene when you start moving against the Mukthars?”

“I'm very certain that he will intervene. Or at least try to intervene. Like the nobility, you can leave His Glorious Majesty to me, lord mayor. I assure you, I am nothing like the count of Whingomar.”

“Strangely enough, I believe you,” Uppam Fraleck thought. “I may well have grown soft in the head, but by the Gods, I believe that you can outwit and outmaneuver your father. I might be mistaken, but at least it will be an exciting mistake to make.”

“Come on guys, try to look as if you belonged together and not as if you were some flotsam accidentally washed together by an unkind sea.”

Obyann snorted. The prince had ordered them to make the pages presentable, and he was perfectly prepared to kick hem into presentability if need be. Of course, Landemere stood there looking all impressive while being of no use whatsoever. He flicked an imaginary speck of dust of his mantle and planted his fists in his sides.

“So, let me repeat, there will be no pushing and pulling, no slouching and no wiping your noses on your sleeves. And, yes, I'm looking at you Rivrant. And no farting. Absolutely no farting. Don't look away, Yondar, you know very well I mean you. Man, you could chase a regiment of Mukthars back over the Somertian Mountains with those butt explosions of yours. And Eldorn, I know I said to look decorously, but there is no need to pull a face as if we were attending the funeral of your twenty five odd sisters. We want to impress the representatives and the nobility, not make them commit suicide, so lighten up. Iramid, believe it or not, you're even more handsome when you keep those flaps of wild flesh you call lips together. I'd never thought the day would come I would say this, but there you are.”

“You could use a comb yourself,” Arranulf whispered in his ear.

“There's nothing wrong with my hair,” Obyann hissed back.

“Not if you want to impersonate a haystack in a storm, no.”

“Humph, we'd better get our act together. The prince will be coming any minute now.”

They knew all too well that the prince liked to be called by the lesser title of lord governor, but amongst themselves and to all others, except Anaxantis himself, they called him the prince and his highness. Not particularly out of reverence. It was more to enhance their own standing as his pages.

They were waiting in a little room that gave out to the main entrance hall. The Provincial Council was being held in Dermolhea's City Hall, an ancient and imposing building. A big hall had been fitted with benches at both sides of the aisle and a dais with a throne at the far end. Some tables and chairs were put aside for Tomar and his scribes.

Since noon people had started arriving. They flocked together according to their status in life. The higher nobles, the lower nobility, the mayors of important cities and those of more modest townships. Everybody knew why the lord governor had called the Provincial Council. The invitation had plainly stated that his proposal was a tribute to raise a Provincial Militia to defend Amiratha against the expected barbarian onslaught. It had also stated that those who didn't attend the meeting would be presumed to be in favor of the tribute. No wonder the turnout was enormous, which pleased Anaxantis, but worried Tomar.

Around two in the afternoon Tomar asked for silence and bade the nobles and the representatives of the communities to take their prearranged places. The nobility right of the aisle, the commoners left. When they were all seated, an expectant buzz began to fill the hall. After about a quarter of an hour, two trumpeters of the cavalry entered and sounded their horns.

“All rise,” a herald shouted.

Everybody stood up and when the ruckus had died down somewhat, Anaxantis entered the room, walking briskly down the aisle, followed by his personal guard and ten pages.

“His royal highness, prince Anaxantis, lord governor of the Northern Marches, regent of Landemere,” the herald intoned.

While Anaxantis sat down in his throne-like chair, his guards took position left and right, slightly behind him and the pages likewise fanned out, slightly before him. Arranulf and Obyann stood nearest the throne. Sir Eckfred who sat very visibly on the first row, prodded both his neighbors and pointed excitedly at his son, who did his best to ignore him. At last, when his sire began to wave at him, he shot him an angry look.

When about a hundred cavaliers, fully armed and led by their general, started to enter the hall, all heads turned in their direction. The soldiers spread evenly out against the walls, behind the benches. The representatives of the people didn't seem too distressed, but many a noble began to glance furtively around him. Some looked with questioning eyes at Anaxantis.

“My lords, my lords, please don't be alarmed”, he said calmly. “That is just my personal guard.”

All heads turned again when they heard the big doors close. They were just in time to see that the entrance hall was also teeming with armed soldiers.

Tomar began the proceedings by a long, tedious explanation of how the Mukthars had always looked upon the Northern Marches as their favorite hunting grounds. How time upon time they had invaded the province and plundered it mercilessly, leaving in their wake nothing but death and destruction, and how everything pointed to the near certainty of this happening again and again.

One by one some carefully selected and duly coached Dermolhean citizens, who had witnessed the previous invasion, told their horror stories in grueling details. When they had done, general Iftang Busskal explained how the kingdom was threatened in the south and the small Army of the North was really all they could hope for to protect them. After which he demonstrated amply that it wouldn't be strong enough by far to even slow down the barbarians.

By now some of the representatives of the people and most of the nobles began to fidget nervously upon their benches.

Tomar again took the floor and held up both his arms.

“This doesn't look pretty, we know, my lords, gentlemen, but we are lucky enough to have a dynamic lord governor. As head of his administration I have had the distinct honor to work closely with him, and I can assure you that his highness will leave nothing undone to prevent the barbarians to inflict their damage upon us again. Of course, to accomplish that, his lordship must have the necessary means and that is precisely why we are here. We want to raise a militia of about seven to eight thousand men. To recruit, equip, train and feed them, in short to keep them in the field, we have estimated the total cost between thirty two and thirty six thousand and six hundred rioghal.”

He paused for dramatic effect. A subdued rumbling sound was heard as the attendants gave whispered comments to their neighbors.

“As the tribute would be calculated by the same criteria as the normal taxes it is easy to give you an estimate. The tribute would amount to one twentieth of what you pay the Royal Treasury yearly. I am sure you'll agree that is a very reasonable price to assure your safety.”

He looked around.

“If there are any questions?”

As prearranged the lord mayor of Dermolhea stood up.

“Permit me, as host of this assembly, to thank his royal highness for the great care with which he executes his office of lord governor. I think I speak in the name off all the representatives of the free communities, when I say that we are very grateful for the concern he has for our safety. I'm sure we can all agree that the prospect of having an armed force, dedicated to the defense of the province of Amiratha, is an alluring one. Nevertheless, considering that we already pay a not insignificant amount by way of taxes to the Royal Treasury, the proposed tribute seems rather elevated.”

Tomar, who didn't know that Anaxantis had requested Uppam Fraleck to ask this specific question, started to answer.

“Thank you, master Parmingh,” Anaxantis interrupted him, “but I will answer that myself.”

He looked at the representatives of the people, but didn't stand up.

“I must ask you not to confound the Royal Taxes with this tribute. In contrast with the former, the latter won't leave Amiratha. Think about it. Which of the greater cities, and even the smaller townships, hasn't a problem with crime? You all do. Crime that usually is the result of poverty. The Amirathan Militia will give a gainful employment to at least seven thousand men. You might even consider, for lesser offenses, to give the condemned criminal a choice between imprisonment or taking service in the Militia. I'm sure the vast majority will choose this far more appealing option. Try to imagine what all this will mean for your cities and towns. Less crime, means less city guards and less prisoners to guard and feed. And, of course, less damage. A substantial economy, I would think. Instead you get people who are paid and who will send part of that pay home to their family, who, in their turn, will spend that money locally on food, housing and other necessities. The rest of their pay, they will undoubtedly spend wherever they are stationed in Amiratha. Furthermore, the Militia will need weapons, uniforms, tents, food, carts and all kind of materials, which will all be bought in the province. I think you will agree with me that all these factors together will make for a better standard of living and a more vibrant local economy. Which in its turn will make for a higher revenue in city taxes. In fact, my administration has calculated that more than three quarters of every rioghal will return to your coffers within six months.”

There followed many other questions, mostly about minor details of the proposal, which were answered by Tomar. The more questions were asked, the more it became clear that the representatives of the people weren't questioning the tribute itself anymore, but the finer points of its implementation. The principle of it seemed to have been accepted.

After the last intervention, Uppam Fraleck stood up again and looked at his colleagues. Then he turned to Anaxantis.

“I think your highness has made an exhaustively argued and impressive case, so without further ado, I will put the proposal to the vote.”

With that he turned around to face his colleague representatives.

“All those in favor, please raise your hand.”

The lord mayor of Dermolhea had done his work of preparing the representatives very thoroughly, and almost to a man they raised their arms.

“I'm happy to report, your highness, that the ayes have it as far as your loyal free communities are concerned.”

Before he had good and well sat down, one of the nobles at the other side of the aisle had stood up.

“That is all very well for the commoners, your highness, but I fail to see what we, the nobility, have to gain from this proposal.”

Anaxantis turned slowly towards the speaker and raised his eyebrows.

“Does your grace mean to say that in some miraculous way the duchy of Yondar is spared from crime and poverty?”

“No, of course not, your highness, but we have our ways to—”

“Well then,” Anaxantis interrupted him, “there you have your answer. But, more importantly, your grace seems to forget that it is the obligation of the nobility to assist in the defense of the realm. In fact, the law of the land clearly states that it is your sacred duty to answer the call for help of the king in person with as many men as your demesne can muster. What goes for the king, goes for his representative. Which happens to be me.”

He stood up and looked down the rows of nobles, before fixating the duke of Yondar again.

“I will exempt every noble House from that duty, on condition that my proposal is accepted. Furthermore, those of you who have more adult sons than they know what to do with, should consider sending them to the Militia. I assure you that, upon proven ability, they will be given a commission as officer.”

He let his words sink in for a few moments.

“Of course, my lords, the decision is completely yours. However, should you choose to vote down my entirely reasonable, fair and even moderate proposal, you leave me no other choice than to enforce the law. Don't believe for one second that because my predecessors never have done so, that I will not either. On the contrary, I will see it as my duty to visit each and every demesne in person, accompanied by my personal guard.”