Shadow's Throne

Brother Marcus watched as the gyroscope turned and the various spheres and geometric shapes aligned themselves. Of all the forces ruling over mortal lives destiny was at times one of the simplest. Certain established patterns had bee noted, almost every man woman and child had heard tales that taught the basic fates, and travelling entertainers depended on these recognisable patterns for plays, ballads and stories. But the seers and prophets had a different outlook when it came to the paths men travelled.

Some watched the stars, or paid attention to portents and omens, some read palms, or studied the teachings found in deep meditation. But a few understood the mechanics behind the patterns and could with some calculation project the outcome of the fates before they even had chance to take shape.

The apparatus ground down to a halt and the room grew silent, the candle light was dim and made it difficult to see much of anything, but a new light shone behind Marcus’ eyes. He scurried out of the chamber and rushed towards the Abbots office calling out all the way through each corridor “The Shadow Queen’s Throne returns!”

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“I ask you who am I to hold back the bounties of far Murzurka?” Hassleway called to the crowded market “These rugs and the fine cushions won’t cost you ten stars, I won’t even charge you five stars. Do you know how much you can take these away for today madam?” Appreciative smiles and shakings of heads were all the customers could give as replies. So he continued with his patter

“I’m going let them go for three stars and a quart. And I’ll tell you what why not throw in a second set of cushions. Now that kind of deal is only available here and now. Thank you ma’am, please see my assistant Carla, she will wrap those for you.”

Sales continued until the last two cushions went for a star a piece, Hassleway watched the last customer depart and then sat on the wagon’s flat bed waiting for Carla to return from running deliveries. Counting through the takings he had enough to cover his expenses and live a little too. The market was much quieter and when the lovely Carla came back they hitched the wagon again and rode back to the inn.

“Has, with all the stocks gone are you thinking of going overseas again?”

“Well yes.” He looked to her in the wagon “You’ve been learning well these last few months, what do you think the plan is?”

“You’ve made deals with the mining authorities in Devil Chipping, and arranged passage to the empire. Are you exporting ore to the Mazurkans?”

“That’s the plan, I have orders from three of the Baronies to fulfil. The mines have had a good year. And I’ve bought all the contracts to distribute the merchant guilds take from the region.”

“Not all the ore then?”

“No Carla, after the king takes a cut, and the miners take their shares, the merchant’s guild buy the remaining stoke pile. They then offer the raw materials up for bidding and well I sank most of my savings into securing the trade rights.” He took his time to explain all this to his apprentice “Other merchants would have to buy off the miners themselves, I can just turn up to the local guild house and show my papers.”

“Ok, don’t you want the miner’s ore as well then?”

“No the Merchants share will be enough. We’ll be in Devil Chipping in a little over a week, and then we’ll be delivering to the noble houses of the empire in a few months time.”

“We?” She squealed “Really you’re going to let me go with you?”

“Of course, apprentice, you need to see commerce in action.”