The royals are a village in a cage.

Aldramodore is their keeper, raising them like precious pets. They are being bred to perfection so that one day they will be equal to the elves. That is what I know of the situation, at least. It is likely a flawed or limited understanding.

The nobility outside the castle walls have only received limited direction from those within, for as far back as all the history books can describe. The king has ever been a distant figure sitting high over us all, but perhaps through Aldramodore, I can make some requests should they suit the whims of both men.

“It is the noble families, especially those whose lands are to the north, that incited war with the northern tribes. For decades they’ve raided the norkit lands, and it is those raids that led to a unification of the tribes into a formative kingdom. It is no surprise that the first act of that kingdom was to war against us.”

Orland stands over the map, pointing out the path the northern armies used to march down into our lands.

“They swept through our kingdom, surrounding and seizing the capital, where the treaty was signed with the king. Are you familiar with what occurred at that time?”

“The royal guard, the adamant knights, held against the greater forces of the invading army. The norkit were forced into signing the treaty,” I say, staring down over the vast map. “Vampires were involved in the siege, weren’t they? It was why the army was so eager to leave?”

“Assassinations and demoralization tactics by vampires likely played a role,” Orland nods, smiling down at the maps. “Adding to that, the vast majority of the nobility retreated with their own orders of knights. The norkit were afraid that these forces would concentrate and strike their besieging army from behind. Even all that wasn’t enough on its own to justify the treaty.

“This information is not something that nobles are privy to, as your spy networks are rather focused on your peers. Merchants and criminals like us are better informed. So be aware that not all those you speak with will be aware of this.

“The freshly developed Norkit kingdom was struggling through political discord at the time. Blackhearth, their first king, was struggling against a rebellion of tribal leaders. Securing the end of the war and freeing the slaves, was a great political boon for him, and also allowed the newly returned armies to settle his internal political issues, only further cementing his position.

“Due to reorganisation within their civilisation, many of the freed slaves had no village to return to. Some followed the armies back north, others, fearful of the journey, stayed here. The commoners have little issue with the norkit people, and the nobles were kept from acting for the most part. Most of those who stayed did so less out of purposeful intent and more out of lacking options and simple indecision. By the time they gathered money and food for a journey they’d made a home here.”

“Could you explain that in a little more detail for me?” I ask. “I understand that this war was something of the noble class, but surely the commoners suffered somewhat from the invading armies. No matter how kind they were, no?”

“The invading armies were not professional armies, most of the soldiers were just villagers, and… they took sympathy on the commoners. I believe that seeing how most of them lived worse lives than villagers in the north, made them see the common class as allies in many ways. Another sort of slave beneath the terrible nobles. They still do, as a matter of fact.

“While the armies retreated, there are still agents from the north that are fomenting discord within our kingdom to ensure support of a second invasion. Even with Adlramodore’s attempts to disrupt these foreign agents, they have proven incredibly effective.”

“So, there’s going to be another war?” I ask.

“Yes,” Orland nods, quite seriously. “If you so wished, it would be possible to defect and surrender to their side. Though as a vampire it may prove more challenging, and it would be best to take shelter with Aldramodore in the royal castle.”

It certainly sounds as if there is more kindness in these invading armies than our own leaders, but then there is what Lewark told me a while ago. He holds suspicions that some of these foreign agents have slaughtered their own people when they’ve provided evidence of slavery continuing to this day.

I’m certain that there is some nuance that I’m not yet privy to that would explain the disappearances of the freed slaves, but Orland doesn’t seem aware of it. His responses when I question him on it are lacking, at least, and he doesn’t seem to be hiding anything from me.

“This is all well and good,” I say, shaking my head. “What I need is, instead, a means of supporting the refugees in their escape from this city. It is the greatest tragedy of today, and I cannot allow it to continue as it is. What is the likely hood that Aldramodore will hunt them down? The secrets to vampirism have become common knowledge, which I’m sure upsets him.”

“The knowledge has spread too far to silence it,” Orland leans over the table thoughtfully, proving that this is only his supposition. “He is not a fool. He’s already using his connections to spread false information to confuse the masses. There will be many new stories in the coming years, and he’s likely to create incidents to give credence to the lies he will spread. I suspect that he’ll release a number of strange and rare monsters that will incite rumours all on their own. It should obfuscate the truth around vampires and their weaknesses.”

I flinch, glaring down at the paper. While the suggested tactics make sense from an objective viewpoint, they are so cold and cruel. Innocent people will die for what? So that he can try to hide his secrets?

No, to protect him from potential threats.

It is still despicable.

“Then the greatest threat to life will be from lacking food,” I say.

“Shoes, as well, and water flasks. Warm clothes if the situation isn’t resolved by winter’s coming,” Orland says, “Few are prepared for this nature of travel. There will already be some dying.”

“We need merchants to deliver food, provide shoes, and water flasks,” I say, rubbing at my head. “The refugees will also need villages to settle in. There are too many refugees for the villages that aren’t at all equipped to care for them. Entirely new villages and towns will need to be prepared.”

“The merchants can be found, as long as you can supply the funds, and extra for the mercenaries they’ll need to guard them. Which combined with the travel and demand make for quite the expense.

“Most refugees, nearly fifty thousand so far, are marching along the east road, perhaps hoping to reach one of the duchies. Near twenty thousand are moving south, and ten thousand to the north. We can expect those numbers to triple in the coming days, and continue for a while after.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Even just at a guess, I would estimate that it would require 50,000 gold pieces to feed them until winter. Which doesn’t include the costs of developing new villages, which will require substantial mercenary payments to clear out monster nests.”

“That’s…” The money left in the coffers is not even a small fraction of that. Whatever father left behind uncle spent for his own leisure.

“I’ll need to gain the support of other nobles,” I say, staring down at the paper.

“You will,” Orland nods. “They are an isolated sort, and it is the reason that Semi wanted you so badly at first. You have an opportunity to reach out to these people, where none of us can.”

A sound theory in some limited sense, but it would demand that I somehow convince the nobility to give up 50,000 gold coins to save refugees whom they could not care less about. I already understand that I cannot simply beg for their support in this, they wouldn’t even laugh at me, they would think me a worthless child and ignore me entirely.

“We need to convince the nobles that this is in their interest…” I say, staring down at the paper map.

“You must be a dishonest merchant,” Orland smiles, leaning over the table. “For that, you must learn what the nobility wants, and pretend that this will give it to them. To begin with, these people leaving the city are not refugees, but servants that are leaving the city to provide the nobles with what they want.”

“But what do they want?” I ask, scratching at the wood at the edge of the table.

“That is what you need to find out,” Orland says. “Then twist the truth until it works to your advantage.”

The refugees are servants simply going to get the nobles what they desire, but what can an army of servants provide the nobility?

Many nobles want a new conflict with the Norkit kingdom, one that they wish to win, but there is no way that I can twist this situation into serving that ends.

The nobles desire riches, just as the merchants. Could they establish mines?

Perhaps, but the nobles mostly only consider such investments into lands that are their own and managed by some distant relative. It is simply how it is done.

What needs must be met to justify something different?

Something to the east, where most refugees are headed.

To the east. That is where I had hoped to go, far beyond the mountains where the king has little power or influence. Where there are riches that few can recognise, but also threats beyond understanding.

Of course, those leaving this city wouldn’t survive such a harsh trip, so it’s not as if I can simply call them frontier settlers and gain support, but there may still be something to the idea.

I trace a finger along the road to the mountains. While for the half of the map nearest to the capital there are countless villages, towns, and even a duchy, which maintain roads and trade along the route. The latter half of the map is scattered with lesser-known villages. It is not nearly as well maintained, filled with dangerous monsters, and even at the foot of the mountains there is nearly no human habitation at all. Further south there are some larger townships, but not on the slopes of the great eastern mountains themselves.

“These lands,” I say, “They’re unclaimed, the mountains as well.”

“They are, but that is partly due to the high population of monsters in the region,” Orland says. “People want to live somewhere safe, and this region doesn’t provide them that.”

“Perhaps… Monsters are valuable, are they not?” I ask. “If we were to build new towns out here, the mercenaries would be able to sell those parts. It would draw in merchants, no?”

“It would,” Orland nods, seriously. “I can see what it is that you’re thinking, but do you believe that you could garner the necessary support from the nobles? From the royals? Do you think these refugees would be willing to settle in such a dangerous place?”

“The nobles would need to see some of the profits if they are to invest,” I say. “Which means that they’d need land rights, and the right to tax them… The people are desperate enough to flee the safety of the walls, I have no concern in that regard, but the nobles…”

“Let’s return to the local issues then,” Orland says, adjusting his glasses. “I think you may find a better means of approaching this if you better understand the issues at play in this city. The most important factor to understand is that nobles have many children, far too many children.”

“Excuse me?” I ask, crossing my arms as I try to suppress my instinctive offence.

“A duke has ten sons, only one can inherit his title, the others will often be awarded lands within the duchy alongside a lesser title. They will, in turn, have many children, all gifted lesser titles and so on. Yet, this kingdom has not grown nearly enough to satisfy this expansion of the noble class. There is a reason that dead-branch marriages, of same-sex nobles producing no legitimate heirs, have become so popular. Though, that tactic has been employed much too late.

“Now, there are so many nobles, each exacting their own taxes. A merchant entering this city is expected to pay at least a dozen taxes to various nobles. One particularly ill-reputed tax gate has men from the king, a duke, a count, and a baron, all demanding their cut from each merchant that passes through. Of course, the bribes are cheaper still, and there are services to help merchants navigate the taxes of this city more affordably, but it is still an issue.”

I knew that this was bad but it is always depressing to be reminded of it.

“So, what happens when the merchants stop visiting?” I ask, looking at the numbers he’s provided for the refugees leaving the city. “Without customers, why would they?”

“What indeed?” Orland’s smile is all too happy for the chaos that I’m imagining. “I would think that the bigger monsters eat while the smaller ones suddenly start to look like food.”

“The higher nobility will draw taxes from the lesser nobility?” I ask.

“Indeed,” he nods. “I expect it to cause quite the serious conflict, especially as most knights have family connections to the lesser nobility, and the royalty seems uninterested in interfering with anything. When it turns to violence…”

When.

Not if?

“So those who see this coming, might be more willing to jump on an opportunity to escape the city, especially given the promise of new riches?” I ask. Dreading the thought of these new lands being corrupted in the same way as this city.

“Also, you must consider who would lead such an effort,” Orland says. “Even if you were capable of taking charge, and ruling such lands, it is doubtful that you would be able to gain noble support with your age and lack of experience. Not to mention that you lack in allies.”

Staring down at the table, I consider the issue again. I will need to consider my strengths and make a request from Aldramodore. What can I provide him that he would be willing to aid me in this? Can I bare to ask him? To work with him?

Will I eventually stop seeing him as the man who killed me?

He sees me as a child that he must raise, I can use that against him. That, and this issue must bother him to some extent. He was hoping to raise an army of vampires from these people…

A plan that he may not have retired…

“I will have to speak with some of my acquaintances,” I say, standing up taller and drafting some letters in the back of my mind. I must make noble friends, and I know who I can start with.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“You want us to be here for this, Tina?” My aunt says, standing tall beside her son. As much as I’d like to ridicule them, they are already superior to most of my peers, and they are not cruel in their inherent nature. “I… can I ask the grand-reeve to join us?”

“The grand-reeve?” I ask. “The same who helped us after uncle’s death? Are you considering marriage?”

She hesitates for a moment, before glancing down at her son and nodding.

“If… as long as you approve,” her words are demure, but her eyes are hard as steel. This woman has forever been a contradiction in many ways, best highlighted by the moment she struck down the husband that had mistreated her for so long. She is capable of standing up for herself, but she hesitates when against those in positions of authority.

“I would not deign to choose your partner for you,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ve heard that he is a good man, which is rare enough in this city, so I wish you the best in that endeavour. If he is to stand by your side, then yes, I would wish for him to be here as well. This meeting may affect the future of the Greystone house, and if he is to be a part of it, then he should be here.”

She nods, a pleasant smile rising on her lips as she leans back.

“I have sent an invitation to Belle, and to the other young noble women that I trust,” I say. “They should be here shortly.”

I wait by the doors, ready to invite them inside. It is time that I take my position as a noble seriously, and there is little time to waste. Already there are refugees starving in the wild, gnawing on roots.

It is unacceptable to leave things as they are. I must walk from this city with pride, and not shame.