Singer Sailor Merchant Mage - Chapter 138: A favour for a favour

Chapter 138: A favour for a favour

“He who will not grant a favour has no right to ask one.”

Publilius Syrus

Aleera hesitated a second before jumping into the next round of negotiations, “A healer.” I coughed surprised. I supposed it made sense but we had not discussed this. As much as I was attempting to stay hidden from the Archbishop’s direct attention it was hard not to be a part of this discussion.

“Certainly, healing is hardly a favour. We were planning on blessing the town and its people before we left as part of our duty.” He answered a little confused at the relatively minor request when he had been blocked so carefully previously.

“Not a temporary one a permanent one. Too long have we been without a healer other than what the sea washed up.” She was either referring to the criminally negligent old hag or the Priest neither of whom was originally from Wester Ponente. “Priest Aravan while respected by many has no gift for it and the lack of a Church healer has hurt our growing town and on a personal front our family deeply.” She explained referring to our history.

He paused considering the request and the political ramifications of his answer, “It is true that a pioneer island should not be without a dedicated healer. It would seem that Aravan’s placement here was a form of political penitence rather than a true and honest expansion of the horizon. It should not have happened. And although I cannot order anyone to stay I can ask it of my companions. All of whom can heal. I am sure one of them would consider staying to help.” He cautiously responded.

“If one will stay and teach then we would be willing to allow the Pilgrimage marker to be erected on Wester Levante.” Aleera left the decision up to them. If someone stayed then . . . It was a sensible way of working with an organisation as powerful as the church. Also thinking about it we did need a better form of medicine on the island be it magic or mundane. I knew the basics but not much beyond that. As our isle grew more crowded it would be important to introduce health and safety measures though how one would go about explaining them would be a somewhat challenging position from my perceived lack of experience and worldly knowledge. Such improvement could be passed off as part of Elvish culture but then I would have to explain myself to her. It would probably be best to get Grandfather to introduce them as parts of his former life that would help to elevate our family further.

“Only Wester Levante?” he questioned the singular nature of the island offered and raised his eyebrow at the implication that there would be further favours he had to trade for each marker.

“A marker for a favour,” Aleera confirmed his suspicion that she wanted 3 favours for the 3 markers he hoped to place.

“What else would you like?” he smiled unoffended and possibly amused at her attempts to extort more from him. Perhaps requesting a suitable priest was not a favour but an expectation. Maybe he had intended to do so anyway even before arriving. Knowledge is power and we knew frighteningly little about the Church of the Lodestar and its plans.

Mother interrupted here, “If a healer is staying then we would also like Priest Aravan to leave, to accompany you on your circumnavigation.” She requested his banishment if we were to be getting someone new. It wasn’t a bad idea for one less observer to watch us.

“You would ask him to abandon his post?” Archbishop Grigori blinked already aware of the disagreement between the individual and our family. But also happy to overemphasise the request as part of his haggling.

“Not abandon but a trade if you will, a priest for a priest. As a family, we have not attended the Lodestar Church while he has been leading it for seven years. If we are going to lead not just House Silversea but Wester Town as well it would be beneficial to lead more visibly. Bishop Bailie seems to be enjoying our cuisine at the least.” She pointed out his enjoyment as he continued to attack their feast. “Perhaps he would enjoy a new parish to oversee?” She suggested the rather jolly fellow down the end of the table still tucking into his plate.

“Swapping a Priest for a Bishop is quite the step up for such a small town.” He answered before adding once more, “I can but ask him not command he stay.” Not saying no but neither was he saying yes. Again, I was unsure of the method for posting priests or bishops to their new locations, but it appeared that even an Archbishop, at least according to himself, was unable to just order him around.

“While we are currently a small town we plan on growing larger. Besides as the majority landowners of Wester Ponente, Wester Levante and Little Wester, we surely span enough territory to warrant a new diocese. He would not only be the Bishop of Wester Town but something greater.” Aleera re-entered the conversation attempting to redraw not only the representation of the church but also their territory to match our expanding ward. Ward of the Western Isles had a nice ring to it and I wondered if we could upgrade our Lady and Lord titles to Duchess and Duke if we bought enough land and paid the Prince a big enough bribe. Something to ask Mercurio when he next visited, ‘How much did a Duchy cost compared to a Barony?’

“I will have to discuss it with him later. But I will attempt to be persuasive.” He agreed in principle to try and persuade him but who knew whether that would be possible or not? “Then what is the final favour for Little Wester?” he asked tentatively sounding a little apprehensive at what Aleera might ask for next.

“That when you return to the compass continent you will protect the new diocese of Wester, the Ward of the Western Isles from outside or harmful influence.” She demanded her final favour.

“Protect is a very broad remit for a single marker.” He hedged seeking a reduction and clarification of the terms he would be agreeing to. “What did you have in mind and how would you define protect?”

“You are right we are a new house. There will be people who support our expansion and there will also be people who object to our expansion. As a pioneer island, our expansion is part of the doctrine of the church. Supporting us is in line with church policy. All we would ask is that you support it and prevent other interests from interfering with our progress or actively working to harm us.” She explained what she was asking for.

“Are you aware of any specific interests that are aimed this way?” he asked for greater information on what precisely he might be aligning himself against. While we were aware of the immediate reaction to our patent of nobility we still did not know who had instigated it and whether or not it was a general order for the annihilation of any new noble or specifically targeted as it happened out here in the middle of nowhere, or maybe simply because it was related to and working against merchant Mercurio. It would have been useful to question him before his dispatching by Grandfather. But his actions unfortunately had been along the lines of shoot first ask questions later even if he most probably had used a knife to take his shot.

“We do not know of any specific parties but ‘they’ did move against us when we first received the patent of nobility.” Aleera alluded to my attempted assassination. “However, since the crown backed our position there have been no overt moves. Nevertheless, Lady Acacia advises that as we expand our spheres of influence we are more and more likely to create aggressive rivals once more,” Aleera explained. “When this happens your support alongside the crowns would be most beneficial.”

“If you don’t mind me asking which spheres of influence are you planning on expanding into?” He continued intrigued. He appeared accepting of Aleera’s lack of knowledge while digging to find the extent of it. And while we were currently unaware of any specific enemies, depending on which spheres of influence we were planning on entering that could change quickly.

“Nothing too extreme or vigorous, we only hope to consolidate our house’s position as any new house would. Politically we hope to take greater control in directing the growth of Wester Levante and Little Wester as well as Wester Ponente but we plan to move slowly on that front. They, much like our own island are fiercely independent and unlikely to respond well to direct commands.” She smiled considering our very careful approach with Wester Town so far.

“You will always arrive at better, longer-lasting results if you persuade rather than command. If you want to ensure their best efforts convince them it will result in the best outcome for them, but that is just one sphere. You mentioned spheres?” He cautiously agreed with what she was outlining and encouraged her to continue.

“Economically, we hope to trade more regularly within the three islands and even extend further afield. The merchants make far too much off our simple trades that we could organise ourselves. Closer links, quicker travel and communication should help us all to level faster and develop better products to be sold beyond our house’s current luxury products.” She outlined our next steps in building a bigger trade empire. This would not only help our house but all the other families living on the isles.

“This is an area I believe we could help more directly with. The church has deep pockets and I am aware of several Silversea exports we might be interested in purchasing for the right price.” He seemed particularly interested in this particular area of influence.

“We would of course be interested in any offers you have to make but money is not currently a concern for our expanding house. Militarily, though we would welcome any advice, weapons or metiers you might be able to provide our house with. Particularly boats which would help not only our trading but also help to begin to build a defence of our islands.” Aleera was moving rapidly through many of the ideas we had discussed together. Daydreams really without the power to complete them but she believed in striking while the iron was hot. A customer who came to you was a keen customer. Especially in a world where everything was so distant and far. Not only that but this customer had the power to provide such services. If not immediately then his words would carry equally well in a missive or letter.

The Archbishop coughed looking at the other two ladies for confirmation of the young scion’s bold plans. They nodded in agreement backing Aleera’s statements, negotiations and demands.

“Obscurity and distance defend the Silversea House well for the moment but if they are to expand the compass further and defend their expanding influence some guidance and support will be required either from the Church or other specialists that they can hire. However, so far from the capital, those are few and far between.” Lady Acacia explained further supporting Aleera’s requests.

“Three markers for three favours, the healer, trade or banishment of Aravan and the friendship of an Archbishop aspiring to be a Cardinal are all acceptable to me. They might be ambitious but I feel them appropriate. Military advice, weapons, soldiers and metiers though will cost more than a favour, they will need a material weight to procure them especially permanently or for any length of time. I am very impressed with what you have achieved here and the expansion of the compass is every clergyman’s mission but I cannot do or give you what you hope for free.” He stated his position, happy to engage, but warning that there would be a cost for such things.

“We have opened an account in the capital and much of our silver and gold is held in the Compass Bank. You could draw upon that with a letter of permission from ourselves.” She stated the simplest method knowing full well that while silver or gold were the simplest methods to pay, they were not the method that the Archbishop would find the most worthwhile or valuable.

“Silver and gold are always welcome but common enough. I would require something more specific to our current location. I hear that your deep-sea pearls are perfect for empowering weapons and worth far more than their weight in gold.” He directed the conversation to one of the goods that he wished for.

“That would possibly put us into conflict with the crown. They have requested to be able to purchase as many as we are willing to sell. If we sold all we had to the church we would lose our current friend in the capital. To do so would simply not be worth it.” She explained. This was particularly accurate if you considered that it was possibly the crown that was currently preventing any further assassination attempts.

“A friend should not cost you another, I would not ask that of you but surely you could sell the church a percentage of them at market value. Seeing as I am present you could cut out the middle man and sell directly to me without me taking a cut for transport.”

“Provisionally that would be acceptable.” She answered and we now had three buyers for our pearls, the crown, the church and Mercurio. It was enough to create a bidding war the only problem was that everyone was so far from one another no price could ever be calculated or communicated immediately. That and how could we ever organise an auction for the best price when they were all spread out so far away?

“Wonderful, what about the tiles?” He gestured to the decorative stone flooring. Pointing out another product the church might be interested in purchasing.

“Again, we already have a contract with the Elves through our Tutor, alongside several noble families in the capital, it would currently be difficult to produce them on any greater scale. Furthermore, the nobility in the capital are paying high prices for exclusivity as much as for novelty. To provide them to the church on such a scale would diminish both greatly. I feel it would be impossible to provide you with sufficient.” She explained the situation without mentioning that we were restricted to how many I could make and I already had enough on my plate.

“You are very well connected in the capital for such a new and distant noble house.” He tried a leading statement.

“As much as we can be.” She answered. Lady Acacia had clearly continued to teach Aleera extensively as this was more than we had discussed previously.

“Then why not connect to the church further?” He suggested.

“What can you give us that we can’t get elsewhere?” Aleera asked.

“You forget the order of our conversation I am happy with the favours but you are the ones that need to convince me that you have something worth what you are asking for. What do you want? & What can you offer?”

A percentage of the pearls had brought us halfway there but she was going to have to mention something else to gain his complete cooperation. “We can offer you purple,” Aleera stated. “I hear it is a secret recipe and a monopolised product. So I am sure we should be able to undercut the market price for you.”

“Indeed, it is rather expensive for a single colour, but it is what it is, and whether through design or tradition the colour now represents us.” He plucked at his cassock a purple so dark it was almost black. “We noticed some of your wares in the street market yesterday. The dye if not the cloth was exceptionally strong.” He continued interested in what we were selling.

BINGO! A method for unloading the purple that we had spent years collecting. “We would be happy to see you our stock of the dye. For a reasonable rate.” She hesitated, “How much do you spend on your purple robes?”

“I could not say for certain, it has been a long time since I worried about acquisitions. That being said selling to us would save you from putting it out on the open market which in itself forms some protection from the Aurelia Noble family which currently has a monopoly on the colour and protects it vigorously.”

“So you are not in a position to bargain for it,” Aleera asked.

“I can offer a percentage of the market rate but could not tell you what it actually costs at the moment.” He demurred. “How about 50 per cent of the market rate?”

They argued back and forth finally settling on 70 per cent of the market value. It would be sold directly to them at under-market value but it would protect us by preventing a conflict with the Aurelia family in the first place. It was not a bad outcome. The profit from selling our stock would be deposited in the Compass bank under our names and added to our accounts or spent on the boats and military might that she hoped to acquire for us.

All in all, this was a very profitable audience with the Archbishop and Lady of the house on both sides of the discussion. Meanwhile, I continued to eat and hopefully stay under the radar for a little longer. When the thirty minutes were up my skill ended and Callen’s new memories were returned to me.

. . .

As Callen’s memories returned I instantly remembered as if I had always known the conversation he had been listening into.

“Good day, I’m Bishop Bailie.” He introduced himself to father, Grandpa, and Grandfather.

“Kaius.” Father returned.

“Smit Silvertongue,” Grandpa replied.

“Arawn Silversword,” Grandfather added.

“That’s a lot of Silver if your other family goes by the same naming tradition.” Bishop Bailie chuckled.

“We liked to stay on theme,” Grandpa affirmed.

“Certainly seems to be a lot of silver flowing judging by the quality of this hall, food, decorations and the family in attendance.” He agreed.

“We have worked hard for what we have.” Grandpa Smit replied defensively.

“Never said you did not. Simply that it is shining like new silver and surprised you do not have more people interested in your sudden wealth.” Bishop Bailie raised his hands in acceptance.

“Far from the centre of things no one has noticed us yet. In fact, your audience is the first we have had the pleasure of hosting.” Grandpa Smit conceded.

“A fine audience it is indeed. Far better to be enjoying a fine meal than standing around waiting while the decisions are being made.” Bishop Bailie smiled in conciliation.

“Why take your pilgrimage now, as a Bishop?” Grandfather interrupted from the end of the table directing the question to Bishop Bailie.

“Why not?” he shrugged his shoulders answering before diving back into the food. “This is delicious.”

“Most Bishops would wait until they were Archbishops for their final lap around the compass required before applying for an Ordinal or Cardinal position.” Grandfather stated pointedly.

“Most certainly but I doubt that I will ever be one of those. The positions are limited for starters, and I am unlikely to ever have the political capital to apply for one of them.” He answered the unasked question unbothered by the prying nature of my Grandfather.

“Oh, why?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

“I came from common.” He said simply. “Balance before all is the guiding principle of the Church but that does not mean that the ties we had before entering the seminary have no effect. I was no noble before and doubt I will reach higher than Bishop.” Before tucking into another dish. He seemed happy with his lot in life despite hitting the glass ceiling of his vocation.

“Nothing wrong with coming from common.” Grandfather sympathized. “Might mean we cannot climb as high as quickly, but it also means that we have worked to get as high as we have. Nothing was ever given to us so it means we value it more.”

“That looks to be changing for this family.” He commented on our rapid growth gesturing at the heavily laden family and the extended family filling them.

“Changing but not changed. We have all worked hard to get to where we are and will fight just as hard to defend it.” Grandfather defended our growth.

“The power of money in this case pearls will only last as long as the pearls do. I heard that there are diminishing returns each year from the lake. What will you do after that?” He asked.

“I don’t worry about the money so much as the people who might come and try to take it.” He avoided answering what other plans we might have to continue our economic growth but to be fair he had honestly never been overly interested in them.

Father joined in to say, “The sea will provide.” Very confident in the fact that we continued to find new resources out to sea every time we went. Most recently the treasure chest and the sunken ship that we still had to properly explore and salvage.

“An overly optimistic attitude.” Bishop Bailie raised his eyebrows. “The sea can take just as much as it gives.”

“Still the sea is only one sail to the ship of the Silverseas. Each family here represents another line to pull us forward. Only our family has focused so much on the sea but what we have pulled from it has brought us here and we will not turn our back on it now.” He defended his optimism.

Bishop Bailie nodded his head whether in agreement or disagreement it was hard to tell. Either way, the conversation waited for a moment as the men concentrated on their meal.

. . .

I looked out over the table in front of me. The whole family seemed to be having a fine time. Our practice had proved provident. No one was unsure they knew what was expected of them. As everyone was confident in their roles it meant that they could enjoy the experience. Each member of the Lodestar church was engaged in conversation with one or two members of the family. I could overhear conversations about the islands that they had travelled through on their way to the western edge of the horizon and where they planned to go next, north.

It turned out this was the last quarter of their pilgrimage. A pilgrimage that had taken them 3 years so far and would probably take another year to complete. They were tired from travels and enjoyed the respite each island offered. The pilgrimage had started in the Northeastern Kingdom of Greco and they had made their way by boat the entire way around the compass continent. Stopping off at the coastal cities, places of interest and anywhere that could be called the edge of the horizon. It sounded fascinating listening to the different tales of Levante, Scirroco, Ostro, and Libeccio as well as the more recent isles of the Western Archipelago of Ponente.

This was the last trial for Archbishop Grigori before he could be elevated to Ordinal or Cardinal of the Lodestar church. Apparently, the Pilgrimages could take anywhere between 4 to 10 years to complete. So he was attempting to be one of the faster ones while still stopping everywhere he was required to. Part of his pilgrimage was placing markers of his course. It was a new and novel idea and no previous pilgrimage had been so consistent in making their marks. But that was not all the news they brought.

They also brought tales of sea monsters, deadly beasts of both land and sea, tales of the other races of the compass as well as humanity’s kingdoms it was all fascinating and distracting from conversations of power and influence happening at the head table. But luckily I could now divide my attention and listen in two directions at once. I wondered whether as I levelled up the skill if I would be able to listen in even more directions at the same time or whether I would merely extend the length of time I was able to do so.

As I sat back for dessert I considered the dinner a resounding success.