IX
Cerryl stood beside one of the pillars at the rear and to the left side of the Council Chamber. He looked across the expanse of white tunics and robes, though the robes were generally preferred by older mages, such as Esaak and Myral. Each of the circular pillars that flanked the sides of the Council Chamber was of white granite, fluted, and flawless, except for flecks of gold. From the top of each pillar were draped red hangings, swagged from one pillar to the next. The base of each pillar was a cube of a shimmering gold stone. Polished white marble tiles, filled with golden swirls, comprised the chamber floor. Gold oak desks and their accompanying gold oak chairs flanked the center aisle. Despite the summer heat that baked Fairhaven outside the Halls of the Mages, the chamber remained comfortable.
The High Wizard Sterol stood on the golden-shot marble dais at the eastern end of the chamber, and flanking him were the two overmages-Jeslek and Kinowin-the High Council, except that the three were always called the Council from what Cerryl could determine.
Sterol was speaking. “… Since last we assembled, many of our concerns have proved to be justified… particularly about the predatory nature of those plying trade from the Black Isle…
“Therefore, we are recommending to the Dukes of Lydiar and Hydlen, to the Council of Sligo, the Viscount of Certis, and the prefect of Gallos that they impose an additional surtax of 20 percent on goods arriving in ships bearing the flag of Hamor or the dark isle.”
“Your pardon, High Wizard,” puffed Esaak, rising from a desk in the second row. “How will that improve the revenues for the Guild?” Sterol gestured toward his left. “Overmage Kinowin can better explain that.”
“This surtax is not the best answer,” admitted Kinowin, standing at the end of the first row. “At the moment, it is the only means we have to address the problem. As all of you know, highways are costlier to build and repair than the oceans and a few ports. What has been happening more and more is that importers in Candar, especially the Sligan and Spidlarian Councils, have been taking advantage of our roads and traders. The Black Isle and occasionally Hamorian merchants have been shipping goods to ports in Candar close to our roads. They sell these goods more cheaply because they do not bear the delivery costs in full. The Guild has almost eliminated brigands in eastern Candar, at least those who prey on the highways. At times, it costs less to ship wool from Land’s End on Recluce to Lydiar than to carry it by wagon from Montgren. So… any good that must be grown, produced, or collected away from the highways…”
“Wait… you were just saying that our highways were being used against us, and now-”
“Patience, Broka… patience,” said Kinowin tiredly. “Trade is complex. Let me explain. Those who buy goods are those who have coins. Those who have coins live in the cities. The cities are either ports or connected to ports by the White highways. Recluce is a much smaller place than Candar, and the Blacks use their arts to increase production of many goods, especially wool, oilseeds, and some fruits they dry. They also produce luxury goods that would otherwise come from across the Eastern Ocean. Their weather mages see the storms upon the seas, and they lose fewer ships. For all these reasons, many of their goods are much cheaper.”
Cerryl wanted to rub his forehead. Never had he thought he would hear discussions on costs of trade in a meeting of the White mages. He turned toward the middle section of desks and caught a glimpse of Anya’s red hair. Seated to her left was Faltar, his white-blond hair standing out even more than the red of Anya’s. On Anya’s right was the dark-bearded Fydel.
Mutterings began to rise around the chamber.
“… can’t he make it simple…”
“… just send a fleet… if it’s that much trouble…”
“… send the lancers to Spidlaria and clean out their demon-damned Council…”
“Why do we even have to do anything about Recluce? All the Blacks do is sit on their island and cultivate order. Anyone who causes trouble gets thrown out-usually to our benefit.” That came from a thin gray-haired woman in the middle of the chamber, one of the many that Cerryl did not recognize.
“We’re not talking about an arms action now,” Jeslek said mildly from where he stood beside Kinowin. “Aren’t you tired of our gold going to Recluce so that the Blacks can use it to buy Bristan and Hamorian goods?”
“Their spices and wines are better and cheaper,” a heavy voice rumbled from the back.
“So is some of their cabinetry,” added another voice.
“And their wool-”
“If you can wear it, Myral!”
Abruptly the white-haired and sun-eyed Jeslek strode to the front of the dais beside Sterol. “Silence!” His eyes roved the room, chaos rising around him.
A faint smile played across Sterol’s face as he slipped off the side of the dais and down the far side of the chamber behind the pillars.
“What Kinowin is saying is,” Jeslek announced loudly, “that if we let people buy cheaper goods from Recluce traders, too many peasants and artisans in Candar will go hungry, and they won’t pay their taxes, and we’ll have trouble supporting the Guild and maintaining the highways.”
“So… what are you proposing, Jeslek?”
“Nothing major. Exactly what the High Wizard proposed. Just a 30 percent surtax on goods from Recluce.”
“Thirty percent? He said 20. I’d rather drink that red swill from Kyphros,” rumbled the bass voice.
“Precisely my point.”
“That will increase the number of smugglers.”
“We’ll use some of the money to build up the fleet to stop that.”
“And the rest? Does it go into your pocket, Jeslek?”
“Hardly. That’s up to the Council, but I’d suggest that it be split between an increased stipend for Guild members, rebuilding the square, and funding the road construction. Would anyone else like a word?”
“Won’t that just funnel more golds into Spidlar?”
“What about Sarronnyn…”
“Southwind will love that…”
Cerryl’s eyes caught the flash of red as Anya slipped from her desk and through the pillars to follow Sterol. He frowned as the two mages vanished through the archway and out toward the foyer of the main Hall. Anya and the High Wizard-he definitely didn’t like that. Leyladin had said something about Anya being there when Sterol had told her she was being sent to Lydiar. Was Anya everywhere?
“A moment,” said Kinowin. “A moment. I know that the honorable Jeslek means well, but I would suggest that an increased stipend for any mages would be unwise right now. Most of the merchants would see the surtax as going entirely to our pockets, and that would cause more unrest.”
The heavyset Myral stood and glanced around the chamber, waiting for the murmuring to subside.
Lyasa slipped up beside Cerryl. “You don’t want to sit down?”
“I can sense what’s going on better here.”
“What is going on? Besides more taxes on things from Recluce?” The dark-haired and olive-eyed mage raised her jet-black eyebrows.
“Much more,” he said in a low voice. “I just don’t know what.”
“That’s always true,” Lyasa agreed.
Both waited for Myral to speak.
Finally, the older mage coughed once, twice, and cleared his throat. “I am a few years older than most of you.” Myral waited for the subdued chuckles to subside. “And, being older, have had more time to peruse the archives and the old records.
“Every generation or so, this arises. Why?” Myral shrugged. “I could not say, save perhaps that every generation of rulers of the lands of Candar must learn anew the price for unity in trade and peace. As the overmage Kinowin has said, and as the honorable Jeslek pointed out, a surtax is not the best answer. In fact, it should not be necessary, but necessary it is, because other lands, especially that of Spidlar, feel they should not contribute to the roads and order that hold Candar together. The most permanent answer would be for us to take Spidlar, as we were forced to take Montgren so many centuries before.” Another shrug followed. “Alas, there are two other lands between our domains and those of Spidlar.”
At Myral’s woebegone look, another round of laughter filled the chamber.
“So… for the moment, I would say that it behooves us to request the surtax be levied. Then… we shall see those who are prudent and look to the future good of Candar and those who look to lining their wallets with golds, no matter how great the price their children may pay.” Myral took a sweeping bow and seated himself.
A movement caught Cerryl’s eyes, and he watched as Sterol eased his way back along the pillars on the south side of the Hall, reappearing at the side of the front of the dais, studying Jeslek.
Anya reappeared at her desk, and even from where Cerryl stood he could see the apologetic smile she flashed to Fydel and then to Faltar.
“She is good, in a sneaky way,” murmured Lyasa. “You do have a vantage point here.”
Cerryl nodded, pondering Myral’s words-words that had sounded fine. Somehow what the older mage had said disturbed Cerryl, as if something did not scree true.
Darkness, he wished he knew more.