Michael
The steward began to scribble on a piece of paper while consulting a small book and conferred with the Master of Trade Radiel Barca sitting next to him. After a few minutes, he finally revealed his estimation at which Michael scoffed. He then noted multiple places where the steward had been too generous and also pointed out that one had to put the expenses into the calculations.
What followed were two hours of back and forth between Count Gretten, Radiel Barca, and Michael while they tried to get an estimation that everyone could agree to be reasonable. It only took a few minutes until no one else was able to keep up with their bickering, so they turned their wait into an impromptu council meeting for general affairs.
When they finally finished, they were all unhappy with the result, Michael thought that the cost of establishing the whole infrastructure was too low, Count Gretten said that the estimation of the revenue must be too low, and Radiel Barca was generally unhappy with the predicted tariffs on trade. All in all, they had reached a good result if everyone was unhappy.
After they had finished their presentation on the estimation, Michael couldn’t help but smirk at the pale expression on Zen’s face as he glanced at the predicted costs.
“This can’t be right, this is enough to bankrupt a whole duchy easily, we can’t afford that right,” he said with searching glances at his vassals.
“Yes, that is what it would cost if we wanted to get enough money to follow through with your plans in the next five to ten years,” Count Gretten admitted hesitantly.
“And here, this has the same estimation in revenue as Lord Rowan’s estimate for the mountains staying with him, but the costs are much higher,” Zen continued confused.
Zen’s knowledge of business basics is lacking, Michael realized, not very surprising to be honest, I doubt that King Johann put much value on that.
It still indicated that he didn’t quite realize what kind of a task he was trying to take from Michael, making a whole mountain range profitable was a monumental task that he was probably planning to just hand off. Michael took note of this for later.
“Developing the mountains will be more expensive for you no matter what scale,” Michael explained, “First is the distance, you will have to ship material all the way down to the mountains and back up, you could buy them in Reen but that still leaves the transport back into your lands. Secondly, you will have to relocate workers and soldiers into the mountains, build more housing, and improve vast stretches of roads up to your duchy Regia. Those are just a few points and most of them are more expensive for you because Regia is a few days of travel farther than Reen.”
“Couldn’t we just buy the stuff from Reen and recruit workers there? That would benefit you too right,” Zen asked.
“That would be difficult, buying the material would be the lesser problem even if prices might get a little higher when the merchants have the ability to increase the prices because of the long supply line we would have to endure if we didn’t buy from them. The bigger problem is finding the workforce, as in your lands most of the citizens of Reen and Emall are serfs, so we can’t just recruit them, that means we would have to buy them their freedom, which also increases costs and could lead to bad blood with the local nobility,” Radiel said with a strangely happy expression.
“You didn’t tell me that this endeavor was such an expensive one,” Zen said to his steward who looked not even a little bit guilty.
“It might be expensive, but these costs are heavily front-loaded, sure we will have to pay a little bit more than Lord Michael to supply our operation later on, but the revenue will easily pay back the costs in a couple of years.”
Zen looked less than happy, he had always been more of the idea-finding person and less the fine details enthusiast, so Michael wasn’t surprised that the young king hadn’t bothered working through the complexities of funding. He had probably been content with his steward assuring him that it was financially sound, which to his credit it was but just not as fast as Zen would like. Michael intended to continue striking into that gap and see if he could blow the whole idea wide open with this.
“You can’t forget that we were forced to place the compensation for House Rowan’s effort in clearing the mountains at the actual cost because we couldn’t agree on any value, which I still find very unreasonable. I am sure that you, Your Majesty, will agree with me that repossessing the mountains and merely paying my house back the money it cost to take them is not right, considering the lives that were lost and the risk we took,” Michael said with a stern expression.
Zen looked at the piece of paper that had the compensation written down and began massaging his temple. “Of course, we can’t just take the mountains without any reward.”
“How much do you have in mind? Twice what we put in or does thrice sound better? If I am allowed to be honest it would have to be more than that to blunt the bad taste this repossession is leaving on my tongue,” Michael pressed, Zen looked more miserable with every word, Michael knew exactly what kind of number was on that piece of paper and even thrice of that was not a small sum.
“Lord Rowan, you are still speaking to the king. Watch your words,” Duke Wulfen said in a threatening tone.
Zen waved him off and said with a sour expression, “It’s alright, he is not wrong. I am essentially trying to rob him of a treasure that could fund his lands for years to come.”
“Even with these costs it will still be a great influx of funds into the royal treasury, it might not throw much profit in the next two or three years, but the revenue will only rise while the costs will go down,” Count Gretten pressed, he was surely noticing that the was losing the king.
Michael could see that Duke Wulfen also wasn’t pleased with the development, which showed in only the slightest hint of emotion on his face, he seemingly resigned himself that he couldn’t get everything he wanted here and had to make concessions to keep his plan from sinking.
“We can cut some costs by selling the materials in Reen and Emall in the early years, this will cut transportation costs and we can circle that money straight back into the development. This should help reduce the strain this endeavor will put on our finances in the first year. This will also help Lord Rowan through the trade and strengthen our south,” Duke Wulfen said, and Zen brightened up a little bit.
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Michael wouldn’t let it slip though, sure having the materials being sold on his land would mean a great influx of funds through tariffs and taxes, which is why Duke Wulfen certainly didn’t want this, but having Zen think that this was too expensive to do in the first place was just much better.
“It would make it more feasible true, but it would still be a loss in revenue. Why diminish the effects that the mountains can have just to have control over it if you can leave it with a trustworthy vassal that can use it more efficiently,” Michael countered.
A back-and-forth ensued between Michael and Duke Wallsten on one side and Duke Wulfen and Count Gretten on the other which got more heated by the minute, more between the two counts than the cool-headed dukes.
Bickering about who could use the resources better was followed by arguing about the amount of compensation for House Rowan until they got to the point that Count Gretten questioned Michael’s competence and Michael shot back that they would have to deduct a percentage of the earnings estimate due to corruption if the king wanted to give a noble the task of overseeing his mining projects.
The two dukes had to step in at this point to prevent Michael and Count Gretten from making the argument even more personal in front of the king.
“How about we take a little break? I see that you are in this with your heart, but we can’t have emotions running hot here, we are not enemies,” Zen said with an admonishing gaze to Michael and Count Gretten who both had the decency to look embarrassed.
They left the meeting room and many of them entered in a large sitting room next to the council chamber to get some food and drink. After getting a stern talking to from Duke Wallsten about the virtues of keeping one’s calm, Michael sat in an armchair that was much too big for him and nibbled at the bread that a servant had brought him.
He was sitting alone with most of the king’s side of the council having left shortly after for their own chambers and only Duke Wallsten and Greeich sitting on the other side of the room fully immersed in their conversation. The last other person present was the Archpriest Patheros who was currently approaching Michael.
Michael rose respectfully as the man approached and bowed. “Your eminence, what can I help you with?”
They both sat down before the man spoke but when he did, he did it with a warm smile. “Oh, it is not so much what you can help me with but much rather what I can help you with, Lord Rowan.”
A shudder went down Michael’s spine as the smooth words rolled over him. He couldn’t quite tell why but he already had a bad feeling about the conversation.
“And what would that be,” Michael asked and did his best to mimic the smile that the priest was giving him.
“The church‘s word carries a lot of weight in court and my support would do much to bring you a favorable outcome in these negotiations,” the priest replied.
“Duke Wallsten and I would very much appreciate your support, your eminence,” Michael said suspiciously, “What do you expect for this endorsement?”
“You catch on quickly. That reinforces what I have heard and seen, you are quite a unique specimen, Lord Rowan,” he spoke in a slow and controlled manner, weighing every word before saying it.
“I wonder what you have heard about me and how much of that you believe,” Michael countered.
“You are referring to Father Albion, yes? I have to say he is telling quite the troubling tale which I am not sure of for now.” A threat so thinly veiled; most people of influence could easily ignore the ramblings of a mere priest but if an Archpriest were to support that opinion, then it would be harder to ignore.
“I do not enjoy the dancing of politics, never have. Let’s agree to get to the point of this conversation and make our threats without a polite smile,” Michael replied very undiplomatically. His temper had not cooled down since the meeting yet and the fact that he was sure that he was going to be blackmailed in just a few moments didn’t help his mood any.
The Archpriest didn’t seem to be overly offended by this though and simply leaned back in his chair dropping the polite smile. “You are your father’s son that much is obvious. Being able to drop the facade once in a while can be very relaxing but I have to say that I do enjoy the dance that is politics. It takes a certain kind of finesse that often can surpass the raw power of an individual which elevates those with a high intellect over those with privilege.”
Michael decided to ignore the implied insult and simply waited for the man to get to the point. Patheros noticed Michael’s disinterest and smirked.
“You don’t seem too interested in this kind of philosophical discussion; I expected you to subscribe to that idea after hearing about your tendency to favor talent over birth.”
“I tend to focus my interests on subjects that improve the lives of my people rather than my own personal power,” Michael stated plainly.
“What a pretty construct to dress your ambitions in. It does make you seem more benevolent I have to admit. The thing that I can’t tell is if you believe what you are saying to be true or if you are mature enough to know how to work your reputation.” Patheros tapped his chin in a thoughtful motion but kept his eyes firmly on Michael.
“The duty of a ruler is to care for his subjects, I am merely following a path that is seemingly forgotten all too easily. People that lust for power don’t care which position they have to take and what principles they have to warp to gain what they want,” Michael shot back.
“Interesting. You either truly believe that or you are a very very good liar,” Patheros noted with a fascinated expression.
Michael sighed at the priest and then huffed, “Could we get to the point, please? I don’t see any value in this discussion of my beliefs.”
“Discussions of other’s beliefs is my day's work,” the Archpriest remarked but dropped the subject. “Then let us come to the reason I have come. You want my support, and I am willing to give it to you.”
“When did I ...,” Michael started to protest but Patheros simply continued talking.
“Of course, nothing in the world is free, I am not going to sugarcoat it as you asked me not to. I have a couple of things that I would like in exchange for the church’s support. First, the church will receive a tenth of the revenue of the mines as donations, second, you will build a cathedral in Reen in the next twenty years, and lastly, I will appoint a new court priest to Reen to serve on your council. Do not worry it won’t be someone like Father Albion.”
Patheros looked at Michael with a business-like expression as he laid out his demands, none of them were too severe, and even with ten percent deducted from the revenue it would still be an unbelievable boon to retain the mines which the Archpriest’s help would make much more likely.
“I do have a perfectly fine court priestess already,” Michael said carefully and watched Patheros’s reaction, but he was stone-faced.
“Sister Sola is not trained for this position. She is merely a member of the Order of Purity after all. She was never meant to be in charge of a congregation,” Patheros scoffed and this time a lot of emotion filled his voice. “You need a proper court priest to give you counsel on what is the path of righteousness.”
A spy to tell you all my plans, you mean, Michael thought sourly and shook his head before answering. “I will not exchange Sola for someone I neither know nor trust.”
“This term is non-negotiable, I am afraid. It is my duty as Archpriest to ensure the safety of my charge’s souls and placing trustworthy court priests around the country is the only way to make this work.”
Michael scowled internally; he had hoped that Patheros had only included it to spy on him in the hopes that Michael wouldn’t notice but he seemed very dead set on getting someone into Michael’s council.
“You are right, Your Eminence, this is non-negotiable. I will not replace Sister Sola and you can’t accept her, so this negotiation is sadly doomed to fail,” Michael concluded with a polite smile, not showing his internal annoyance. He could have lived with the other conditions, but he wouldn’t throw his trusted retainers away so easily and of course not invite a spy into his inner circle.
“At least I now know that you actually meant what you said before about caring for your people, or you just don’t want to deal with the church,” Patheros said with a slight smile and then turned around to walk away. He stopped just a few steps away from Michael and then turned around to give him a thoughtful glance.
“I was wondering how you frightened Father Albion this much. I was guessing that he had just lost his marbles but now I am not so sure anymore.” Patheros turned away from him after these words and left a concerned Michael in his wake.