“The evil was not in bread and circuses, per se, but in the willingness of the people to sell their rights as free men for full bellies and the excitement of the games which would serve to distract them from the other human hungers which bread and circuses can never appease.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
We were not planning on becoming evil but there was a certain Machiavellian thinking behind Lady Acacia’s suggestion. There would possibly be a little bit of uncertainty and unsettlement over the news that we were now a noble house and the owners of the island. Our family was large and responsible for many of the essential trades on the island. They had also been raised to the half noble status of Adals. This would be the first time that became public knowledge too. It was probably to our benefit that nothing had changed over the months that they had become so but there was always a certain resistance to change and a fear of the unknown. People liked things as they were good or bad because they were familiar with them.
“Bread and games, pearls and performances? You wish us to buy our popularity?” Grandpa Smit asked stunned by the idea.
“Can you think of a better way to introduce the fact that your family own the entirety of the island and the surrounding islands without engendering a little disgruntlement?” She asked in return.
“Does it have to be mentioned at all?” he put out the idea and policy that the family had been following so far.
“Yes. If the nobility is already buying up land on the surrounding islands towards the rest of the archipelago then it is only a matter of time before their emissaries arrive to visit for one reason or another. By then you will need to be established as the noble house of the island and preferably be popular with the populace.” She answered. “Can you think of any other ideas to help establish your house in the time we have remaining?” she questioned.
“Sounds fun.” Mercurio tried to add a little positivity to the conversation. “What were you thinking in particular?” he asked possibly sensing possible profit in the offing.
“Introducing a mini version of the Compass Kingdom Games would be a great start. There would be competitions in archery, athletics, boxing, diving, equestrian racing, fencing, marathon, rowing, sailing, swimming, and wrestling at the very least. There could be different divisions, one for women, one for men even one for children to take part in. The prize for winning first, second and third place could be a pearl.”
“That’s a lot of pearls you are planning on us giving out,” Aleera said a little unimpressed with the idea of such an extravagant expense to buy us popularity. Though to be fair the majority of them were my pearls to do with as I pleased.
“The cost of nobility. You have to not only be considerably richer than your peers you must also appear to be so. This will be a large change for your islanders to get used to.” She outlined the hidden costs of joining the nobility. We were already making minor orders to nearly every business in town as part of her belief that we had to have a stake or finger in every business.
“You mentioned bread and games. Are you expecting us to feed them as well?” Mother asked a little alarmed.
“A takeaway gesture would be nice but not entirely necessary. Most of the town is aware that you have access to exotic fruits and vegetables. The children talk about it enough that the rumours are probably larger than the reality. You don’t need to give it away for free but setting up some stalls for them to be sold at would win you more favours with your public. As well as set up future sales and interest in working here as well. The idea is to introduce Aleera and Kai as the Lord and Lady of Silversea house, Baron and Baroness of Wester Isle with as many positive experiences as possible.” She explained her thoughts on a matter that we had yet to fully consider.
“Pearls and Performances? The pearls are covered as prizes for the winners. How would the performances work?” I asked.
“You cannot hide forever. You are special, the sooner the people realise it the better. Open the games with a performance duet between the two of you. Officiate the races, maybe partake in one you are sure to win and hand out the prizes. It would be a perfect way to introduce you and your family as the new Lord and Lady of house Silversea, rulers of Wester.” She outlined her plan for the next step toward ruling the isles.
We sat in silence contemplating the ambitious nature of her plan. It would be a lot of work to set up in a short amount of time but not impossible.
“Excuse me,” Mercurio interjected into the silence. “But I thought that the young scion of the Silversea House was Callen Kai Silversea. Have I got that wrong?” Despite the conversation with its twists and turns it appeared that my growth and the slip of my name were enough to rekindle his intrigue in me.
The nature of the contemplative silence shifted into an awkward one as we considered how to answer the question. Was there an explanation other than the truth?
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“While Callen is his first name, we call him by his middle name Kai.” Aleera attempted to answer truthfully but avoid any deeper explanation.
“Uh-huh.” Mercurio did not sound convinced.
Grandfather seemed to sense his suspicion and as always cutting to the heart of the matter answered gruffly, “He is also the child that your sailor threw off the cliff.”
“He survived the fall?” Mercurio exclaimed.
“He did.” Succinct and to the point.
“But . . . how?” he asked flabbergasted.
“Magic and a little luck,” I answered for myself.
“You have magic as well as . . .” he turned to Grandpa Smit “charisma?”
“He has the noble nine stats, vitality, strength, endurance, dexterity, senses, mind, clarity, magic and charisma.” Grandpa Smit proudly outlined his grandson’s potential.
“You lied to me,” he accused.
“Not without cause. You brought an assassin to our shores. The attempt happened before you had even left sight of our cliffs.” He defended.
“I lied to the prince.” He whispered horrified.
“Not intentionally.” He shrugged.
“I’m not sure that he will see it that way.” He replied worriedly. “What about everybody else, do they know?”
“The family yes, the town no,” he answered.
“So just between us then. Named Callen, called Kai after his older brother. Okay, no need to mention this to the prince.” He muttered to himself. “I suppose that makes your height a little more sensible although I have to say you seem to grow in stops and starts.” He addressed his last comment to me.
“We have Lady Acacia to thank for my most recent growth spurt, Elvish magic and what not.” I nodded my head in thanks to our tutor.
“And what not.” He repeated uninformed but toeing the family line. “I would be happy to stay and help with your inauguration and the games.” He quickly moved on. “Provided they won’t be too long in the making. The crew would enjoy a break and a chance to win a pearl or two.” He added.
“I’m sure we could make use of your skills.” Mother answered for the family.
. . .
The next week went by in a whirlwind. Mother and I worked to create an outdoor arena the seating cut into the side of the mountain on our isle. We also created a running track around the shore of our isle. That took up the majority of our time. Aleera was working with Mercurio on the stalls he was delighted to see the extent of our produce and just a little suspicious about how some of it ended up growing here. Grandpa Smit was responsible for the notices to the town detailing the upcoming games and an announcement that was to be made then. It sounded like everyone would be taking the day off to attend attracted by the idea of free entertainment and the chance to compete and win a pearl or two. All of our extended family were roped into helping set it up. The number of people working together meant that we managed to pull it together a lot quicker.
. . .
Despite all the work we had on our plate there was one more skill that Lady Acacia insisted on teaching.
“Don’t be silly now Kai just climb up and hold on the horse will do all of the work.” She reprimanded. It seemed that the one race she felt I would be able to win was the horse racing due to the horse she had ordered and had us pay for from Mercurio. It was quick. The black stallion loomed ominously over my small stature. I was surprised that she had not gone for a pure white horse. But when asked about it she said, “You have neither the experience nor the facilities nor the stable hands and grooms yet to keep a pure white horse in the state it would need. I will teach you but for now black seemed the best choice.” Once again she arbitrarily decided on the best course of action for me, my sister and my family. It was difficult to argue with her over her decisions when we didn’t know enough to make an informed one. Still, it would have been nice to have known about what Mercurio would be bringing before he had arrived. We could have created stalls, stables and pens before their arrivals. At the moment the majority of the animals had been spread out amongst our Adals for the moment until we had their accommodation sorted out.
Bringing me back to the moment and the monster of a horse that towered above me, Grandfather lifted me and sat me in the saddle. “Just hold on tight. You’re light so you will hardly slow the horse down at all.” The flat racecourse stretched out of sight as it curved around the edge of the island. “You’ll be fine.” He said as he slapped my horse on its rear.
It raced off with me clutching to the reins and saddle tightly. Lady Acacia as always had ordered a child-sized saddle or already had one here among her belongings. I bounced up and down as I held on for dear life. I had moved at speed before either falling or sailing both of which had been exhilarating. The difference here was that it felt like the horse was in charge of our course and speed rather than me. Thankfully the sensible horse stuck to the flat course curving round the island we raced.
Ding! Horse riding (Lv1)
My riding eased a little as the system gave me a little more control over my motion and the horse's gait. We slowed from a sprint to gallop to a canter as we continued to make our way around our isle. I even began to enjoy the moment as I felt myself gain a modicum of control over the giant beast beneath me.
By the time we had completed a circuit, I had enough control to stop at the finish line.
“There you go, nothing to be afraid of. I’m sure your Grandfather can show you how to brush him down and stable him appropriately.” Lady Acacia stated. “Your race is in the bag there isn’t a horse in the three isles that could match him.
The black stallion was certainly a magnificent animal now that I looked at him without the fear of having to ride him fogging my eyes. He also represented a significant expense. His purchase was like buying a fancy car when all you needed to do was get around town and could do so by walking.
“He’ll need a name,” Grandfather said as we walked back out of the salt plains where we had raced towards our home.
“I’m no good at names but his coat is as black as the midnight sky so I’ll call him Midnight.”
“Hmph.” Grandfather snorted. “Come on. I’ll show you what to do.