Sharon green brat 02, p.18
Sharon Green - Brat 02, page 18
The servant bowed and hurried away again, which let Derand continue to lead the way to the small conference room.
“I’m going to start making all kinds of lists,” Derand said to Listen, who walked beside him again. “Every idea we get will go on the main list, and that way we’ll be able to see what we’re doing - and not doing.
After the main list is done, we’ll start minor lists for all the categories. We don’t have much time before my vassals start to arrive, so we can’t afford to waste any of the time.”
“In two days the first of the kings ought to start to arrive,” Listan said, nodding. “I hate to tell all those petitioners that you won’t be holding court, but - “
“But I will be holding court, and this afternoon,” Derand corrected, walking through the doorway into the small conference room. “I decided to wait until after lunch because we had these other matters to take care of, and also because I want Seea with me. I intend to turn her loose on those petitioners to see if she can’t whittle down their numbers even a little.”
“Should you be interested in a wager, my king, I have gold that says the queen will make headway that ?
we’ve never been able to.”
Derand smiled to himself at the way Listan had carefully said “we” instead of “you.” It was Derand himself who hadn’t been able to cut down the complaints brought to him in the same easy way he cut down enemies on the field of battle, but Listan was far too smart to actually say that.
“You’d better withdraw that offer of a bet, Listan, or I’ll have you arrested for theft,” Derand answered dryly. “Of course Seea will make things better, and if she does well enough the job will be hers for good.
Eventually I may be left with nothing to do but put my feet up while reading one of the books I’ve never had time to get to. Or going fishing with you and some of the others.”
“If that’s your plan, my king, I wish you luck with it,” Listan responded with a badly swallowed grin. “I take it your primary plan is working as well as you’d hoped?”
“If you’re talking about my plan to make Seea stay with me, I’m still hoping,” Derand admitted with a sigh. “She and I are getting along better than we used to, but she still thinks I’m pretending to care about and for her. I’m afraid to think what will happen when she finds out I really do love her.”
Potry entering with the tea service saved Listan from having to say anything, a rescue that Listan was obviously very grateful for. Not that Derand blamed Listan. What did you say to a man who’d just announced that he was afraid his wife would find out he loved her?
Derand sighed to himself before asking Potry to take a cup of tea to Seea where she battled with his commanders. As soon as he poured a cup of tea for himself, Derand settled down to make that list he’d mentioned to Listan. Having to concentrate on the list let him forget about fears that most men were lucky enough not to have?
Elissia entered the small dining room to find Derand already there. He did a double-take when he saw her smile and got slowly to his feet.
“Does that smile mean what I hope it does?” he asked, using one hand to seat her beside him. “Things actually went well with my battle commanders?”
“No, things actually went rather badly, but strangely enough I enjoyed myself,” Elissia answered as she sat at the table, surprisingly speaking the truth. “I suppose I enjoyed all the nonsense because I knew it didn’t matter what those men thought of me. And it was also fun when most of them were forced to change their minds.”
“I’m delighted to hear that most of them managed the trick,” Derand said as he sat again. “How many of them didn’t?”
“Two, the minimum number necessary for maintaining an unpopular stance,” Elissia answered while reaching for the tea pitcher. “Each one supported the other’s blockheaded stubbornness, so they were both able to ignore reason. I saw Listan on the way here, and I gave him their names when he said he’s now supposed to look into what else they may be doing.”
“Good,” Derand said as servants came forward to offer various dishes. “When he has something to report, he’ll let us both know. And I hope you haven’t made plans for after lunch. I’m due to hold audience for petitioners, and I’d like you to go with me.”
“No, I haven’t made any other plans,” Elissia said slowly, suddenly curious and the least bit suspicious.
“You want me to sit and watch you hold audience?”
“Actually, I want you to participate,” the man answered, very busy with pointing out what he wanted to eat. “I know you have experience watching your father hold audience, so you may be able to figure out what I’m doing wrong. Every time I turn around there are twice or three times the number of people shouting for my attention. I want to hear about it if people are having legitimate problems, but so far I haven’t found anything but petty squabbles. Am I wrong to expect people with real problems to come forward?”
“There’s more than one answer to that question,” Elissia said, her suspicion turning into interest. “The first part ought to be answered once I see how the audience goes, but I’ll need Listan to look into a second part. That second part revolves around how people arrange to have an audience.”
Derand looked away from his filled plate long enough to give her a raised-brow glance.
“You have to be talking about the chamberlain in charge of reviewing petitions,” he said, surprise also behind his tone. “Do you think the man is using bad judgment?”
“It’s more likely that the man is taking bribes,” Elissia said, now giving more attention to her own meal. “If only those with silver or gold are allowed an
audience, of course you’ll have very little more than petty squabbles. The people with real problems probably can’t afford to pay for the privilege of appealing to you. Didn’t your father ever explain things like that to you?”
“When my father told me the facts of life he somehow left out that one,” Derand replied with a sigh. “As you can see, I have very little experience with being a king. But I’m willing to learn, so the miscreants had better enjoy themselves while they can. I now have someone to help me find them out.”
Elissia glanced at him to see that he’d gone back to eating after making that very determined statement, so she did the same. If she’d thought he meant what he’d said she would be feeling flustered, but the man was only pretending to be glad she was with him. There was nothing wrong with that, and there was even something very not wrong. She wasn’t likely to get bored waiting for their major plan to go into effect?
As soon as lunch was over, they went into the audience room. There were two thrones up on a dais the way there usually were in an audience room, but the very large chamber was more packed than any Elissia had ever seen. The chamberlain in charge of granting audiences must be rolling in wealth, but that was easily taken care of. The scribe Elissia had arranged for took his place to one side of the dais while Derand led her to the thrones.
Someone with a very loud voice announced that High King Derand and High Queen Elissia were now sitting in audience, and then there was something of a babble of surprise before the first petitioners came forward. Each of the men had brought someone to speak for him, and that was the first thing Elissia put a stop to.
“Just a moment,” Elissia said, interrupting the first man who’d begun to cite very old law supporting his patron’s stance. “I think the king would rather hear from the petitioners themselves, who will each state the problem as he sees it. But before you begin, gentlemen, be advised that your statements will be taken down by that scribe and checked on by investigators. If anything you say proves to be false, you’ll be charged with perjury and properly punished. Now, who wants to go first?”
The two patrons stood and stared openmouthed at Elissia, and then they begged to be excused so that they might gather the necessary facts to present to the king. Elissia let them go, of course, and when the dust settled there were a lot fewer people waiting to be heard.
The next people to come forward represented themselves, and the one who began an explanation of the disagreement was quickly interrupted by the other who disagreed with the way the disagreement was being presented. Elissia let the squabbling go on for no more than a moment before she called a halt.
“You’ll each take turns telling the scribe a brief description of your disagreement,” she said once a guard had rapped both men on the back of the head to gain their attention. “Again, you’d better be careful of what you present as a fact, because an investigator will look into your claims. If any of them prove false?
Well, I think you already know what will happen. And if you ever dare to start a fight in the presence of your sovereign again, I’ll personally see to it that some sense is flogged into you.”
For the second time Elissia saw widened eyes and opened mouths, especially since she’d been doing nothing to hide her anger. If these people had no idea how to act when they came in front of their king, they’d quickly learn or quickly hurt.
It took a couple of minutes to get the combatants over to the scribe, and then other names were called.
When no one stepped forward another set of names was called, but again there was no response. Name after name was called without anyone appearing, but there were still quite a few people in the audience room. Finally Elissia ran out of patience for those who’d changed their minds about bothering the king with their nonsense.
“All right, that’s enough from the prepared lists for today,” she announced, seeing that no one waited with quivering eagerness to step forward. “Is there anyone in this room who needs the king’s help but who doesn’t happen to be on the list?”
There was a surprised mutter again, but finally a man stood up and tentatively raised a hand. Elissia nodded to a guard, and the man was helped through the crowd to stand not far from the dais.
“I’m not used t’ fancy talk, ma’am, High Queen, so I hope you’ll forgive me bein’ rough,” the man got out, sounding really nervous. “All I need’s a bit more time t’ pay thet there improv’ment tax, is all, ‘cause I really gotta put in them channels in th’ fields. Don’t wanna lose all m’ crops if’n the drought comes this year.”
“Improvement tax?” Derand suddenly echoed, sitting up straight on his throne. “There’s no such thing as an improvement tax. Who told you there was?”
“Man came by ‘bout a month ago, man with fighters ridin’ with ‘im,” the farmer answered, now looking confused. “Said we gotta pay th’ tax no matter whut we do around the farm, an’ if’n we don’t we’s gonna lose th’ place. Some paid a’ready, but I ain’t got th’ silver right now - “
“All right, listen to me carefully,” Derand said, speaking softly and gently to the farmer. “There’s no such thing as an improvement tax, so someone is trying to steal from you and your neighbors. First I’ll need you to tell me who’s already lost silver to those thieves, and then I’ll send some men with you to go hunting for the miscreants. We’ll get this straightened out, so don’t you worry about it. Listan! Take this man and get someone moving on protecting the farmers.”
“Yes, my king,” Listan, who had entered a number of minutes earlier, answered immediately. He took the farmer along with him amid surprised and eager conversation from the onlookers, and once the farmer was gone Elissia saw that a woman had taken the man’s place.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty, but my parents also have a problem,” the woman said, her voice suggesting that she spoke out in spite of being really frightened. “They won’t come here themselves because they can’t afford to pay to be heard, but I thought it might be possible to speak to someone? “
“Needing to pay to be heard won’t be a problem for much longer,” Derand told the woman, obviously struggling to speak gently rather than to growl. “Tell me now why your parents wanted an audience.”
It turned out that someone wealthy was trying to force the woman’s parents to sell their property, just as had been done with others before them. Elissia sat back as the woman was questioned before being sent to the scribe, then she watched with satisfaction as a few more people came forward with legitimate concerns.
Derand had started out letting her do all the talking before he took over completely, but that was perfectly all right. She’d gotten rid of the deadwood so he could have the pleasure of actually helping people in need. If he had to put his life on the line to be king, and he did, the least he deserved was a time of this kind of enjoyment.
Other people were being pressured by the same man who was after the parents of the first woman, so Derand finally ended the audience. First he told those people left to give their names to the scribe and they’d be heard at the next audience, and then he sent fighters to arrest the man who was trying to build his own little kingdom. He also sent for the chamberlain in charge of making audience appointments, and those were two meetings Elissia really looked forward to attending?
Chapter 12
Elissia had time for only one cup of tea before the man who had until now been responsible for granting audiences was dragged into the room. He was a tall, thin man whose face suggested it usually wore a supercilious expression that was, at the moment, nowhere to be seen.
“Y-Your Majesty, I don’t understand what’s happening!” the man stuttered out when he was shoved forward to stand in front of his sovereign. “If you wanted to see me, you simply had to send word and I would have - “
“Pettard Railsley,” Derand said, making the words sound like hovering doom. “How long have you been in charge of accepting petitions for audience hearings?”
“That’s Lord Pettard, Your Majesty, and I’ve been the chamberlain in charge of audiences for more than a year now,” the man answered, letting part of what was probably usual arrogance return as he straightened his clothing. “As the audience room is always quite full, it can hardly be suggested that I’ve been derelict in my duties.”
“Who made you a lord?” Elissia put in before Derand could say anything else. “I ask only because you were so quick to correct your king.”
“It was the king’s predecessor who made me a lord, Madam,” Railsley responded stiffly, not even bothering to look directly at Elissia when he spoke. “Now, Your Majesty, as I said - “
“The correct mode of address when speaking to the High Queen is ‘Your Majesty,’” Derand interrupted, ice in his voice as well as in his stare. “And the High Queen has made an excellent point. Titles granted by my predecessor are null and void unless ratified by me, and I don’t remember confirming you as a lord.”
“Queen?” Railsley squeaked, suddenly aware of his blunder - as well as shocked over what had been said. “I apologize, Your Majesties, I had no idea - But of course I was confirmed by you, Your Majesty, right after the coronation, along with several others - “
“The only titles I confirmed were of those men who helped me in the wars,” Derand stated, still staring coldly at Railsley. “I know the names of every one of those men, and yours isn’t among them. How much have you been charging people to be allowed an audience?”
“Your Majesty, the amount is minimal and is used only to weed out those who aren’t sincerely in need of help,” Railsley protested, now sounding wounded over an unjust accusation. “The coppers are turned over to your treasury, of course, and I’ve had a strict accounting kept. I can have the scribe in charge of the accounts make a report -“
“So you hand over copper and keep the silver and gold for yourself,” Elissia drawled from where she sat holding her teacup. “What a lovely arrangement - for you.”
“I most certainly do not!” Railsley snapped, taking a moment to glare at Elissia before changing to an expression that appealed to Derand for help. “Your Majesty, I have no idea what this woman - the High Queen - has been telling you, but I assure you that it’s most certainly not true. I am a loyal subject and would never - “
“Why don’t we get some of those supposed petitioners in here and ask them how much they paid?”
Elissia interrupted to suggest, forcing herself not to laugh aloud. “If I’m imagining things, talking to the people who didn’t get their payment’s worth today ought to be enlightening.”
“I - No!” Railsley yelped when Derand’s expression suggested he was going to approve the idea of asking the petitioners. “Untrustworthy people like that will lie simply for the pleasure of seeing an innocent man accused of a crime he didn’t commit! But - what did the queen mean when she said there were petitioners who didn’t - I mean, weren’t petitioners heard today?”
“Yes, petitioners were heard today, and for the first time they had real problems,” Derand said, back to staring coldly at Railsley. “Those others just wanted to be able to say they were at court with the king, didn’t they? That’s what they paid for, the privilege of wasting the king’s time, while those who were truly in need of help were shoved aside.”
“What help peasants imagine they need is totally unimportant,” Railsley spat, gesturing away what Derand had said. “It’s those with titles and wealth who matter, those of my kind, and those who matter will never allow themselves to be ignored. It will take some doing on my part to repair whatever damage has been done, but I’ll find a way to manage it. By tomorrow everything will be back to normal - “
“No, you fool, they will not be back to what you’re idiot enough to consider normal!” Derand growled, making the stiff-necked Railsley jump and pale. “You’re under arrest, and the main charge against you will be the very ordinary crime of theft. Every copper you have to your name will be confiscated, along with whatever property you now own. When you’re finally given your freedom again you’ll be a bare-assed beggar, Railsley, one of the peasants you think so little of. But don’t expect to be welcomed by them with open arms. They have much better taste than to welcome someone like you. Guards! Get him out of here and find him a cell in the dungeons.”
Railsley began to scream and throw a tantrum, and the guards had to drag him out of the room. Elissia drank tea until the man was gone and the door to the room closed behind him, and then she shook her head.
