10.6
In Rochford Fallow Turn began when the snow finally cleared from the fields beyond the fort’s walls.
But Kaeketeh counted spring to have arrived when the river’s ice was clear from the shores. Which came well before Fallow Turn began. Something Jewel had not realized until Paul had said he was returning to court.
Jewel had been ready to spend several more days of the winter season avoiding the revelry of Kaeketeh. But apparently when the waters were clear regular work resumed. Labor was needed for courts, temples, fishing boats, guilds and apparently most important of all the barges from Kliatbatrn burdened with goods that would pass through Kaeketeh’s waters for a fee in silver.
There had also been a winter caught stag sent on the first barge down the river. Explicitly for Jewel to enjoy as a gift from her vassal. The flesh was still frozen through by winter ice when it reached the Kitchens.
At least Jewel didn't need to manage the stocks of firewood in the keep. The staff were well practiced in that and Jewel had managed to not curse any of them.
Despite her misunderstanding the Countess had duties today.
The keep’s crier announced the first of her meetings.
“Presenting, Lord-son Simon, Of House Ogien, Second son of Lukas of Ogien. Resident of the Noble Isle of Kaeketeh.”
Jewel nodded to the scruffy man, they were alone in the Kaeketeh hall besides the crier and a scribe to take down notes. She could not spare footmen or guards for ceremony and the noble man had come alone himself straight from midtown.
He’d sent the proper missive for a meeting with Jewel that very morning.
By chance the second son of the baron of Ogien had been ahead of the other meetings.
Jewel took a breath in, he smelled freshly scrubbed with water from the north end of the river Vas and scented soaps. Lavender if she was not mistaken, which suggested he knew something of her habits even if Jewel did not recall any relevant meetings with him.
The man, almost certainly older than her by his orange tinted beard immediately took a knee on the floor before Jewel.
It was a place that was well within reach of her teeth if she lowered her neck.
That was either a sign of trust, ignorance or greater subservience.
Most of the nobles in Kaeketeh stopped shy of being in immediate biting range.
“I thank you for this audience, My Countess Jewel of House Rochford, Lady of Kaeketeh and Valasect, Shining Wyrm of Viznove.”
Jewel held her face precisely as her mother had trained her.
Dignified and above shock or surprise.
But within she felt some estimation rising of this Lord Simon.
Most of the less attentive nobles made the mistake of calling her the Countess Bathory, or otherwise favoring Elizabeth’s house over Jewel’s father when trying to spread the titles thick with courtesies.
Someone had been paying attention to the news of earlier meetings in Jewel’s court.
“State your business for the court of Viznove Lord-son Simon.”
The man kept his head lowered, his knee still bent to keep his head unnecessarily low. Jewel towered over all her subjects, they did not need to try so hard.
But the decorum was appreciated.
“I am the second son of House Ogien, but my own first born son has now survived his second winter and is healthy. With the full support of my father as head of House Ogien I am here to offer terms of betrothal between your child immaculate, Gem of Rochford and House Bathory. To wed my son Lukas the 2nd of House Ogien, upon the time that he reaches majority.”
He said all of that with a practiced voice which carried into the near empty hall.
Jewel very nearly lost her composure.
She had only just finished her own wedding barely more than a year ago!
But long practice and the need to not shame her family and the responsibility of her station kept her poised. Only the faintest fluttering twitch of her wing fingers fidgeting at the tips.
She focused on the situation, this was a proper offering and it would secure alliances. But She could still hardly even speak as Gem. And she already had a husband! But at the same time, a more secure alliance with her sworn vassals?
No, this was too much and too fast, nevermind she was not even a year into her reign.
Still to outright refuse immediately would be an insult all the same.
Jewel spoke with a tight grip on her throat and breath.
This was not the business she wanted to be dealing with on a day in court she had not even been expecting to have yesterday!
“The Court of Viznove and your Countess has heard the offer of Betrothal to bind the houses of Rochford and Ogien as one by ties of marriage. I will consider your offer with all due deliberation, Expect a response in four days time.”
He did not lift his eyes from the floor before her the entire time she spoke.
“I thank you for your consideration my Countess, I will return to hear your judgment in four days.”
And only then did he rise from his knee. Jewel noted he almost managed it without even a quiver of strain in his calves. But the tremor was there, Jewel made a mental note for when he returned in four days to insist he stand after giving the necessary gestures.
She did not want the man to suffer unduly while she refused the Ogien family’s offer.
After another bow and a departure the next meeting was announced by her crier.
“Presenting, Freewoman Slavomíra, Spinstress of the Weavers and Spinners Guild, Resident of the Noble Isle of Kaeketeh.”
Jewel did not groan, but she very much wanted to.
The Weavers and Spinners Guild had been finding every possible courteous way to ask that she march down into one of their warehouses and spin them a king’s ransom worth of ‘wyrmspun thread’ since they confirmed that Jewel was the source of the highly prized variant of Rochford wool.
It was never an outright demand, but the insistence of it was such that Jewel had been dreading ever agreeing to such ‘leisurely circles’ that had been offered despite how she might have once welcomed it.
The strong backed and silver haired woman in a heavy woolen dress and knitted shawl they had sent today looked like she was more of the same.
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“A fine first Vah Thaw to you Countess Jewel.”
The old woman did bow, but the titles given and the tone were all at the bare limits of the courtesies.
Jewel looked down at the woman before inquiring.
“What can the Court of Viznove do for you Freewoman Slavomíra? or is this on guild business?”
At least this one didn't bother to fake a smile, she had a firm line and a bright light to her eye. The look on her face matched with the scent of the woman. A hint of apprehension and fear. But determination and intensity also billowed free from her skin.
“Guild business, and of an immediately urgent sort for the good of Kaeketeh but eventually concerning the well being of all of Viznove”
Jewel caught on that, there was an intensity there. A genuine concern and tension. Jewel found herself leaning forward.
“Indeed? What grave concern do you bring for your Countess?”
Slavomíra took a visible moment to brace herself before turning her eyes to face Jewel straight on.
“Is it true that the Countess Jewel is intending to remain in Kaeketeh through onto the summer harvest festival?”
Jewel blinked a moment but nodded.
“It is so, the troubles of Kaeketeh are such I do not foresee things being resolved until at least that time. Then I shall be traveling to the Capital of the realm to affirm Viznove’s obligations as a vassal of the Realm of Cantor Reborn.”
The woman’s eyes did not leave Jewel’s.
“And this will not allow you time to return to Rochford or Valasect at all through the year? Not even for a few days?”
Jewel blinked a bit, the woman smelled worried. Almost fearful but also resigned.
“No, I do not expect it would be proper as your countess or lady to abandon the city until such that I could ensure it was secure. What is the meaning of this inquiry freewoman Slavomíra? What business does the Guild of Weavers and Spinners have with whether I visit home this year? ”
In answer the woman said something which surprised Jewel.
“Please I beg all forgiveness but if the Countess should be able to return home to her demesne in Valasect she will see to her responsibilities there and it will be as before her assumptions of the office of Countess and her seat here in Kaeketeh? Even if only for a season?”
Jewel felt greatly off balance. The guilds had so far simpered and scraped and faked pleasantries and so many other things to make her life an absolute trial until now.
But this woman was very nearly badgering Jewel with questions.
Still it was honestly better than the constant false cordiality.
“Yes, if by some star-sent miracle the people of Kaeketeh, gate town and the docks included could be assured peace. I'd enjoy a good season or two home to see to my responsibilities in Valasect.”
The woman before Jewel did not smile, there was no triumph but the scent of relief washing off her betrayed the hard face. The slightly stronger inhale through her nose suggested Jewel had somehow misstepped.
“The Weavers and Spinners guild pledges that the streets of Kaeketeh will be safe enough for your respite by Spring Seeding.”
Jewel could not maintain her composure, but the woman simply continued.
“We will see by then that even a blind babe wearing a king’s ransom in finery can walk into the darkest alley of gatetown and come out with a sweet in their cheek and a pocket full of Pfennig for the trouble.”
Jewel boggled. What was this insanity?!
“I’m sorry what?”
Slavomíra only nodded sharply.
“Expect a representative from the Merchant’s guild to meet with your captain by the end of the day to see that every resource and guard available between our businesses is put to the task. They should have plenty of escorts waiting to tend to caravans available”
Jewel gave up on all appearances of nobility, the absolute bafflement overwhelming her courtesies and position.
“No, explain, what do you want for all of this?! What does this have to do with the well being of Viznove?”
The Spinstress looked up at Jewel carefully then nodded.
“Keep the tax on Wyrmspun cloth and crafts made of it the same for the rest of this year, go home in time for the shearing in Valasect and do whatever wyrmish sorcery or pacts with the stars goes into the making of that ridiculous wool of yours countess. This is my only request.”
Jewel stared down at the woman expression slack, two guilds were willing to suddenly throw all of their support behind her in stabilizing the city so she would go home and spin?!
Not even asking that she gave them any of it.
Just go home and do something she honestly had wanted to do for most of this awful year?
The first smile Jewel had seen on the woman’s face slowly began to curl pale lips.
“The death of the Bloody Countess and your assumption of the county has thrown a panic through our lands and far beyond down the Vah. You’ve been making the finest woolen thread in all known realms for years. There are those that have come to expect it even, But for seasons every scrap of this fanciful fabric abroad is long since gone.”
The smile grew teeth, they were surprisingly sharp and predatory.
“The price has only grown as the desperate and the rich scramble for what scraps they can get. Mockeries and imitations have cropped up, garments are being harvested and seams undone to refashion those already made.”
Jewel boggled down at the woman.
“If the Countess simply returns home for a time to recover and enjoy the fine sheep stinking air and spin some of her provincial thread happily away from all these scheming idiots she finds so offensive? Well the countess could charge twice the tax on Valasect wool and every merchant in Kaeketeh could live for a decade on their profits from this year simply from knowing it was coming.”
The woman laughed.
“So a pledge for a pledge? If the Countess promises to not raise the tax on Wyrmspun Valasect wool by a single Pfennig on the Grosz for this year only I can promise you the most peaceful and secure city in the entire realm before spring ends.”
Jewel could not stop the scowl from coming to her face.
The cheating peddler woman was playing a trick.
Cheating her from the worth of wool Jewel had not even spun yet.
Sheep that had not even been shorn.
It left a nasty taste spitting and hissing in her Wyrmflame.
But Jewel sighed, it was too much to hope that when spring fully broke the peace of winter would last.
It would be years before Muriel thought that the Kaeketeh Guard could match what once was done by Bathory’s Men. The offer was a bargain that Jewel could not in good conscience refuse.
Getting two guilds backing the guard fully?
Not just performing a few raids with armed near-bandit guild members or simply patrolling the streets looking for trouble?
But proper trained guardsmen?
All for the price of Jewel returning home and otherwise doing nothing else but what she had resigned herself to having to go without? She felt like she would regret this, but the very thought that it might bring peace to the city sooner?
“I will not depart for home until the city is secure and the people, waifs included are safe and settled.”
Slavomíra nodded sharply and offered a hand up to Jewel.
“A pledge then?”
Jewel coiled and twisted until her own arm could reach and her claw could clasp around the Spinstress’ own hand.
The claws squeezing as gently as the wyrm could.
Even touching the brittle bones and thin flesh felt like it might be too much.
This woman felt like she was made of paper and twigs.
“If the guilds can deliver peace by the end of the first spring season, Viznove can wait until the next year to evaluate what a fair tithe on the sale and shipping of Wyrmspun Wool should be.”
And with that the woman turned and left even before she was dismissed!
Jewel felt a flutter of hope in her flame, but soon smothered it back.
Settling back at her place at the head of the hallway.
“Crier, call the next audience.”
She hoped she had not made a terrible mistake.
But the very thought of her home?
The chance to take a proper bath again?!
Jewel had to take it.