13 News from his Absence and a Discovery. (1/2)
When they arrived back at Gragon, the Baron simply said.
”We shall disperse anything any of you have to ask?”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Well, Sire I was always wondering now with the whole war think the distance between you and your Exoristoi will be larger than a hundred kilometers. As such how can you go to war? Wouldn't all of them automatically die?”
The Baron smiled and simply said.
”Well, actually it is quite simple we are going to leave our rings with our regents as such even if we and our armies are thousands of kilometers away the Exoristoi will still be fine.”
Galahad nodded and then asked.
”What if someone kills the ring bearer and steals the ring?”
The Baron shrugged and simply said.
”Every person that wears the ring is cataloged. If it is one of the Exoristoi, he will immediately die. Otherwise, the person will become a wanted criminal with his location known to the authorities thanks to the ring. While the Exoristoi remain unharmed until the ring is returned in the control of the authorities and put back into use.”
Galahad nodded and simply said.
”Alright, thanks, Sire.”
The Baron then asked again.
”Does anyone else have any queries?”
A tall stout man in his sixties simply said.
”Sire, You know I don't tend to speak a lot. But when I do I always try to say something important. What are your goals for the war? Do you want to get a lot of merits so you can be awarded a piece of the new land or do you want to get out with minimal casualties?”
The Baron thought for a moment before saying.
”Sir Adam I would prefer to get out with minimal casualties as my fief currently is doing rather well and I have no need for another one in the middle passage.”
Adam Nodded.
The Baron looked at them one by one and said.
”This seems to be it. I will call you all in three months. You may take your leaves now.”
At that note the knights split into groups the non landed ones followed Baron Monver back to Gragon while the landed ones split up with each going to their fief.
When Galahad arrived in the afternoon. He was quickly informed by his wife Katarina which was left managing the fief in his absence that a merchant was seeking an audience with him.
Galahad simply smiled and said.
”My lovely wife I am rather tired currently and I am not in a state to make policy. I would prefer if we just spent some quality time together creating an heir.”
And with that, the couple retired early for the night deciding to better spend the time discovering each other's every inch.
In the next day, Galahad gave the merchant an audience. Soon a short round man in his thirties walked inside the still rather bare bones throne room. As he arrived before Galahad the merchant deeply bowed.
Galahad then said with an authoritative tone.
”Rise mister I heard you requested an audience so what would like to ask of me.”
The merchant stood straight up and said.
”Your lordship I am the owner of the Drunken Fox Inn and would like to purchase land here to open another Inn and a brewery. I plan to bring in the people from another settlement as you don't currently have any freemen only Exoristoi and Serfs.”
Galahad eyed the man up and down before saying.
”Alright so how big is the space you want and where do you want it?”
The merchant said.
”A decently sized space close to your gates.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Alright, I would require one whole gold coin and fifty whole silver coins for the space. You will be taxed according to the number of patrons you are getting. With each patron counting for half a whole bronze coin in the case we end up with a half we will just round down. By the way, how do you plan to get it built? My men won't work in the construction effort since they have other tasks. Will you bring in outside help?”
The merchant simply responded.
”I will just hire the men when they finish constructing the temple of Ploutia.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Then shall we officialize the contract?”
The merchant nodded and just like that they wrote down the contract for the land acquisition. They then send it to the scribe's guild to officialize the purchase. The purchaser once again paid the costs for the use of the scribe guild.
After the meeting concluded. Galahad spent the rest of the day leisurely reading The Duke. At about afternoon George requested an audience Galahad quickly obliged and moments later George was before him.