Chapter 18
The Grand Audience
Before Tyroth could start asking his questions, Samalor insisted to know more of the dragon and his people, which was a fair request. But before they got to that, Samalor had some servants bring them food to eat, as he figured that both Ragnir and Tyroth would be hungry after their long trip.
It only took a few minutes before the servants returned, plates in hand, all covered with cheese, bread, roasted and dried meats, fruits and bottles of wine and ale, which they quickly placed on the table.
Tyroth couldn't deny that the food both looked and smelled delicious, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was meant to distract him. He wasn't worried about the food being poisoned or drugged, his healing ability could handle that, but if anyone thought that he could be bought with gifts and food, they were dead wrong. Still, he was hungry, and it would be rude to decline the offer.
The three sat down and began eating, all while Tyroth explained where he and the others came from, the same story that he had told Ragnir.
"My, my… that's quite some story." Samalor said, taking a sip of his wine and flipping another few pages in the DnD books that Tyroth had brought with him.
"Told you it was a special one." said Ragnir as he took a big bite of grilled chicken.
"Indeed, and I do believe that it has answered most of my questions. And I'm sure that Tyroth has some questions of his own."
"You're not wrong, and I will get straight to the point." Tyroth said. "Why do you allow slavery?"
Upon hearing that question, the others went silent and Samalor's face fell, his previously glad expression replaced by one that was sad and concerned.
"He saw some slaves being sold on the way here." said Ragnir. "We couldn't avoid it."
"That is… unfortunate." Samalor said, pinching his nose ridge.
Uncertain what to expect, Tyroth tensed, ready to defend himself if things turned ugly.
"But it cannot be helped." Samalor finally said, looking up at Tyroth again. "It is a dark blotch of shame on our kingdom, but sadly, it is also far more commonplace than it should be. It is something that I wish rid ourselves of."
"Then why haven't you?"
"I wish it was that easy, but things are… complicated."
"You see, big guy..." Ragnir cut in. "Even though Sammy is the king, he doesn't have all the power in the kingdom."
"Over the ages, this kingdom has faced many hardships, and many times we've only persevered due to certain individuals rising to the occasion. Commonly, such actions were rewarded by raising them to nobility, something that still runs in their families. Such nobles, especially those of several generations, have gathered soldiers of their own that they lend to the national army for defence, personal armies.
However, as time went on, the nobles and their forces grew, and now they stand for four fifths of Torgalia's army. If they wanted to, they could take over the nation, but as it is now, they are divided, with slightly more than half of them supporting the throne, while the rest openly oppose my rule, but still fall in line since they are not strong enough to take the power."
"And that prevents you from banning slavery?" Tyroth asked.
"In a way, yes. Ever since I inherited the throne, I have brought several changes to our kingdom, changes that have both lost me the support of some nobles, while gaining it from others. And I fear that banning slavery, as much as I would love to, would turn far more against me, possibly even enough for my opponents to try and usurp me. If that were to happen, things might become even worse than they already are."
"So that's how it is, huh?"
"Indeed. And to be fair, slavery has only been a thing for a few generations, a by-product of something that was meant to help the impoverished; indentured servitude. Anyone in dire need could 'sell' themselves to someone else, serving them in return for being cared for. It was a good idea, at least in theory, but it didn't take long before someone started to use the system for personal gain. I believe it took less than a decade before the first slaves were sold, and despite my ancestors' best efforts to root it out, slavery is still very much a fact of life. At first, they were hidden, sold on the black market, then as if they were actual 'servants', and now, they are sold in broad daylight."
"And there's nothing you can do?"
"Sadly, no. While we've tried our best, slavery is still legal, though I have managed to at least make some progress against it, even though it cost me the support of quite a few nobles. As it is right now, it possible to within the law hunt the actual slavers, those that actively capture people to sell. And those that do own slaves are required to treat them well, though I'm certain that several still don't."
"Never a dull moment when you're in charge." Ragnir sighed.
"Tell me about it." Tyroth and Samalor said at the same time, to which they both looked at each other before chuckling a little.
"It may not have been the answer you were looking for, but it is the best I can offer." Samalor continued.
"As long as you don't condone it, I guess it's… acceptable, I suppose." Tyroth said.
"I promise you, I'm doing everything I can to rid us of this menace without making things worse.
But enough about that for now, I'm sure that you have other things that you would like to discuss."
"Yes, well, where to start… there is still quite some work to be done on the village, even with all the work we've already put into it, and there will be a need to buy supplies of varying kind sooner or later."
"Understandable, and I'm certain that you can find what you need here."
"I hope so. However, there's one other thing that is more pressing. We may have taken the village as our own, but it is still a part of your kingdom, something that we were reminded of when one of your nobles arrived and demanded we swore fealty to you."
"My nobles… ah, yes, Velnak Byronir. I remember his report, and his complaints. Not entirely sure how he learned about you in the first place, though."
"That brat probably stuck his ears where they don't belong. Like always." Ragnir scoffed. "Trying to do good for his own gain."
"Regardless, we are still living on your land." Tyroth continued. "It's ultimately up to you if we are allowed to do so, and if not, we will leave, though reluctantly."
"There is no need for that." Samalor said with a kind smile. "You and your people are more than welcome to stay, either in the village or even here in Berstolia if you so wish."
"But what about taxes? It wouldn't be right for us to live off your lands without paying for it, but we don't really have any money to spare."
"Just how much do you have?"
"Around forty gold collectively, give or take."
"That's hardly enough for a single person to get by on, let alone a village with your population."
"And we're not making any kind of money either. What little we have would only trade hands with no real gain for the village as a whole. The only way for us to gain any income is if traders arrive to buy what we have produced, but all of that goes to our own survival right now."
"I see." Samalor said, holding his chin as he was deep in thought. "Well, regarding the taxes, I am willing to allow your people to not have to pay any until your society have grown strong enough to support such expenses. As for your current economical state..."
Samalor got up from the table and walked over to the bed and knelt by the side of it. With a simple motion, he opened a previously hidden compartment in the bed, and pulled out a bag the size of Tyroth's fist, which he handed to the dragon as he sat back down at the table.
"That should help."
Weighing the bag in his hand, Tyroth could hear the clinking of coins, and when he opened it his eyes went wide. Easily a hundred silvery coins, but it couldn't be that simple.
"Are these… platinum?" he asked.
"That is correct. Two hundred platinum coins."
"But isn't platinum worth ten times as much as gold?"
"Also correct."
Tyroth couldn't believe it. The king himself just gave him coins worth two thousand gold. If memory served, and the prices in the books were accurate, they could buy ten elephants with that much money.
Elephants!
And Samalor just handed that out like it was a postcard.
"This is just too much. I can't accept it."
"Nonsense. You will need the money for your village, and that is just a small token from me."
"Even so, it's not right to accept the kingdom's money just like this."
"Oh, don't worry about that. If I were to give away coin from the royal treasury, there would be an uproar without its like. No, those coins are from my personal funds, treasure that I, Ragnir and our old friends collected during our travels in the past, and I insist that you take them."
Looking back down on the bag of coins, Tyroth thought about it all for a moment before closing the bag and securing it on his belt.
"On behalf of my people, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"Hold that thought for just a moment." Samalor said, and turned to Ragnir. "You've lived with them for quite some time now, you know what they are lacking, so before our guest leaves for home, I want you to take Tyroth to the markets and purchase what they need. Food, tools, materials, medicines, animals, everything."
"You got it!"
"Wait! Hold on!" Tyroth interjected. "What's going on? I thought the money you gave me was for that purpose."
"In the future, yes, if you want to use it for that. Otherwise, feel free to spend it on whatever you want. Gifts, personal items, candy, whatever you would like."
"And I take it that these gifts are also from your personal funds." Tyroth sighed.
"Very much so, yes. And once your village has grown, we will start discussing a working economy and reasonable taxes."
"You are too kind, perhaps even too kind."
"I suppose that can be discussed. But before we're done, there is still one more thing that we need to attend." At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Ah, impeccable timing. Enter!"
"You called for me to arrive at this hour, my king." a man in fine clothes said as he entered the room, bowing deeply from before he even opened the door, and still bowing deeply as he waited for a response.
"That I did, and you arrived just on time." Samalor said. "I believe you have already met our esteemed guest, the Jarl of Mutopia, Tyroth."
"I'm afraid that you are mistaken, my king. I have never heard of such a place, much less-" the man raised his head mid-sentence, and stopped mid-sentence as well when he saw Tyroth, the eyes of both of them wide as they both recognised each other. "The half-dragon!?"
"Well, this was a surprise. Didn't think I would run into you so soon, Goldilocks." Tyroth said.
"My name is Velnak Byronir!" the man snarled, and quickly turned his attention to the king again. "My king, this… this lowly creature, cannot be allowed to remain in the castle."
"Why not? You're here after all." Ragnir cut in, and both Tyroth and Samalor had to focus not to laugh.
"Tyroth is here on my invitation," Samalor said. "and I know very well what your report said about him and his people, but both he and Ragnir here have given me reports that contradict your. As to why I summoned you here…"
Samalor turned to Tyroth.
"From what I have gathered, you and your people are the injured part of Velnak's actions, so it isn't more than right that you get to decide what punishment he should receive."
Velnak's eyes widened when he heard that, and Tyroth couldn't have suppressed the smirk that crept upon his lips if he wanted to. The dragon locked eyes with the terrified nobleman, the smirk never leaving his face as he thought long and hard.
"I have to ask, are executions something that you do here?" he asked casually, which caused Velnak's heart to skip a beat.
"It's a rare occurrence, but it does happen, though I think that is a little too extreme in this case."
"Just curious. But I do think I know a fitting punishment for him. I want him to live and work with us in Mutopia, without all the perks that he is accustomed to, for a whole year."
"As a commoner then? Yes, I can see that being a suitable punishment for his actions. A humbling experience in humility and compassion."
"But, my king…?!" Velnak interjected, only to be completely ignored.
"Then it is decided. You are to report to Mutopia before four weeks have passed, and you will work alongside them and just as hard as they do, for one whole year."
"I-I-I… yes, my king..." Velnak finally said, bowing again though not as deeply. "Now… if you would excuse me… it seems that I have a lot to prepare…"
With a final bow, Velnak left the room.
"Ha! It's going to be a treat watching that whelp get his hands dirty!" Ragnir chuckled. "He's always despised manual labour and those that perform it."
"I got a similar feeling from him back when he arrived in our village. I just hope that I don't make an enemy of his father now."
"I wouldn't worry about that." said Samalor. "Lord Larkin Byronir will most likely agree that his son could use some discipline, and what you have suggested is probably far kinder than anything he himself would do."
"I'll take your word for it." Tyroth said. "But I think it's high time that I head back to Mutopia, I've been away for far too long."
"Afraid that they'll get attacked by something?" Samalor asked.
"Exactly, and also for any mischief a certain few of them might get up to, and the problems that'll cause."
"Still, it will take at least one week to get back, and it is pretty late in the day now, so you might as well postpone your trip until tomorrow. I mean, you haven't gotten your supplies yet, and just how much trouble can they get into in just one more day."
"You don't wanna know…"
Finally got this chapter done. It took a while, especially since I had to buy a new laptop mid chapter to replace my old, failing one. However, the old one served me well for over five years, so let's all give a silent minute for good old 'Rewind'. You left some big shoes to fill for the new laptop.
...
Next time, we'll see what happens now that Tyroth is in the capitol. Maybe we'll even have a look back at Mutopia and see how they are doing.
But no promises.