Chosen of the Endless One [Kingdom Building]

The morning dragged on, seemingly lasting what felt like eternity. Rain lashed the manor shutters, turning the yet-to-be-planted gardens to mud. I spent the day holed up in the steward's office with Edward, poring over the ledgers of House Plimgus. To my disgust, these people were still not using double-entry bookkeeping. It was a disgrace and an insult to have everyone in Vaspar using it but my own barons not.

Ok, maybe I wouldn't have been so grumpy about it if it weren't so hard to interpret. I had tried to do it with just Edward and me — kind of a surprise inspection — but the way these numbers were done, it was taking forever.

I called for the steward of the house. He was an older gentleman. Like all the stewards I had ever met, he was as stiff as a freshly pressed shirt. I wonder if they used extra-heavy starch on stewards like they do clothes at the dry cleaners.

"Steward, what is the meaning of this?" I said while holding up one of the "ledgers". Acting like its mere existence was a personal affront to me. I was trying to pretend to be the arrogant, stuck-up noble he was used to.

He looked at me in confusion.

"I specifically requested that my barons use proper notation in their bookkeeping method. However, not only do I find the bookkeeping abysmal, but also that the new number system has not been used. Explain yourself."

When I first came to this world, I would have politely explained to this man the benefits of the new bookkeeping method and asked that he switch. Now, though, I realized that although that might work with some people, the culture was such that others needed to be just told what to do. Power was the language they understood. This steward had it ingrained in him that a noble should make demands, not requests, and that if I did otherwise, I would lose respect.

The steward executed a perfect bow, hands clasped before him. "Forgive this humble servant. You did indeed request such a thing, but the lady of the house said that changing everything was foolish and that she would continue to do things the same way they have always been done."

I narrowed my eyes. "So she, not you, kept the books?"

"Yes, my lord. She had little trust in the competency of others, especially in matters of bookkeeping," he said, a hint of embarrassment coloring his voice. Apparently, this was a sensitive topic for him. But I guess that made sense; he was a steward after all. Doubting his competency was a great insult.

I leaned back in my chair and thought for a moment. I was unsure whether to keep this man. He may be a spy for another noble. However, I saw no reason not to educate him before I kicked him out. "Edward," I said, rising. "I want you to teach this man proper math and bookkeeping, and then I expect all reports that have been collected since Plimgus arrived to be rewritten in North Cove's standard accounting format. Every entry. Every receipt."

"As you wish, my lord," Edward said dryly. He was probably not looking forward to babysitting this man while all the work was done.

I turned my gaze back to the steward. "This will be an evaluation of the skills your baroness says you are lacking."

The man bowed again, deeper this time.

Next, I walked the manor's grounds. A lot could be said about a person by how they kept their home and what they put in it. The house was immaculate. Not a single cobweb or speck of mold. The study was not the only opulent room of the manor. Well, opulent by North Cove standards. I have been to merchant homes in the cities that were more opulent than anything here.

After examining the insides, I went on a stroll around the outside. The rain had eased to a steady drizzle by then. I had a thick cloak to keep off the rain, and as I walked, I thought about how I might be able to make an umbrella. Water dripped from the eaves, pattering against the cobbled path. It was desolate at the moment, but I could see preparations for spring planting underway. The bushes that had lost their leaves would soon be sprouting new ones.

The reports Edward had gathered showed a very well-run home. The staff had no complaints, at least none they dared speak of. I still found it odd that the commoners did not complain about how they were treated. I guess it is all a matter of expectations. This is how they expect their lives to be. Being looked down upon and ignored by nobles was just the norm. Living off scraps while those who had power threw lavish parties was just par for the course.

So as long as they weren't beaten and got two meals a day, they felt there was nothing to complain about.

In general, I believe this manor would be an excellent place for Fredrick to set up shop. He had a few heavy plows, and I could rent him some of mine once my own fields were planted. The manor and surrounding village sat on rich soil, and with the new plows, it would probably produce better than the Bicman barony.

Speaking of Fredrick, he found out from Edward that I had just turned 18, and nearly choked to death on his drink while laughing. He couldn't believe that I had been running not only my barony, but also my county illegally. By the law, I should've had a regent.

I think his exact phrase was "Only in such a backwater could you get away with something this ridiculous. The fact that you are freakishly huge certainly helps."

Then he went on to demand that we celebrate my "20th birthday". Why my 20th birthday? Because there were certainly spies here who would be reporting back everything that happened in this manner to someone outside the county. No need to let everyone else know that I had been running this place illegally.

I actually thought it was a great idea and sent a message back to Bicman via one of the pigeons I brought, so Benjamin could start spreading that falsehood. I didn't want my enemies to have leverage against me. I am sure in the future it might be looked into, maybe there was a census in Vaspar or something, but I was coming to realize record keeping was not done with any sort of efficiency. If it came up, I could claim my parents were too lazy to report my birth for the first two years of my life and didn't want to get in trouble when they finally did report it.

Somehow, Fredrick convinced me to practice my swordplay with him. It was a disaster. I left the courtyard bruised and limping like an old man. So I retreated to a steaming bath, where I plotted how I might get even.

There was a feast waiting for me as I entered the dining hall. I really did like this hall. It was always warm and full of light. Long tables were set with glazed hams, roast goose, pickled eggs, and rolls drizzled with honey. A tureen of thick stew steamed beside a wheel of soft cheese. I even heard there'd be Yarismash for dessert. It was actually a recipe of the Karr. A sour yogurt laced with honey. It was strangely addictive.

There was, however, one seat that was empty.

The Baroness had not yet arrived. I wasn't too surprised she didn't want to dine with the enemy and celebrate my birthday, but that really wasn't an excuse when it was your count's birthday. Not that I cared, but people would consider it an insult. I sent someone to go invite her. After a few minutes, however, one of the guards came in with a solemn expression on his face, approached the tables, and bent down, whispering in my ear. "We forced the door open after there was no response and found the lady dead on her bed. A dagger piercing her heart."

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I had threatened her that she must write a confession, or I would not spare her family. Instead, she took her own life. What type of mother would condemn her own children like that? Even the possibility of having her children saved should have moved her to confess. Unless…

"Did she leave a letter?"

The man looked uncomfortable."Yes. I… I read it. I apologize. I didn't realize what it was until I started reading. It was… not flattering."

Despite his hesitance, he handed me a piece of parchment.

Not flattering was an extreme understatement. Calling me the son of a whore was probably the least insulting thing. A whole page of vile insults ending with the hope that I would experience a slow agonizing death."

I shook my head and handed it to Fredrick. In a disappointed tone, I said. "I really thought she would give in. I can't believe she wrote such a letter without any concern for what I would do to her children."

Frederick sat there and read the letter in silence. It took much more time than I did.

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Then he looked up and said, "No, Amos. She gave you exactly what you needed, but no more."

He smirked. "She just thought you were smarter than you actually are."

I grunted. "I'd challenge you to a duel for that if I hadn't just been beaten into the dirt by you a few hours ago. What am I missing?"

I leaned back to read over the letter.

"This line right here in the center. Your promises are as worthless as your lands. I will not betray those who hold the true power."

I frowned. "Still missing it. What does that have to do with anything?"

"If telling you anything would be betrayal, then that means someone is working against your county in the matter of the raid. It was meant to appear as part of the rant. A slip-up due to her anger. She confesses that she has loyalties to someone who is in opposition to you, but at the same time, when the letter is spread back to the courts, people are less likely to come after her children for her betrayal."

I sat back, processing his words.

"So I can send this to the king, pointing out her 'error' caused by her grief and rage. She has kept her promise to me, hoping that I would spare her family and that the council would not kill her family for her mistake. Then she kills herself to prove her dedication to the council."

He nodded slowly. "Clever woman. So the next question is, what will you do with the family?"

I sighed. What indeed.

******

This was going to be awkward. Not the worst audience I'd ever held, but certainly in the top five. I sat on the dais in the high-backed chair reserved for lords of the manor. It felt too tall, stiff at the spine, and polished to an obnoxious shine. Maybe it was just my discomfort with the upcoming situation and watching the frightened women before me. In front of me were the remaining family members of Plimgus. The oldest was Rufus's wife, holding an infant boy that was only a month or two old, clutched tight to her chest. Her face was dour, and her eyes bore holes in the floor. Her two young daughters stood beside her, not seeming to understand the significance of this meeting.

And then there was Saran.

The youngest daughter of Lord Plimgus. Kevin's sister.

When I first met them, I had mistaken her for his wife, given how close they always were to each other. I'd later realized she was just a younger sister trying to anchor herself to the only person in the household who treated her like she mattered.

She stood slightly to the side as if she could hide by not being directly in front of me. She was withdrawn, her hands knotted together at her waist. Her chin was tucked low, hiding her face beneath a curtain of dark hair. She was doing her best not to tremble.

I took a breath and began.

"Natalie, you are the wife of Rufus, late heir to the barony of Plimgus and possible kinslayer."

She didn't flinch.

"I am in a quandary about what to do with you. Your son is heir by right but would need a regent. The fact that you are a merchant's daughter means that by noble law, you cannot be regent."

Still no reaction. Her arms only tightened slightly around the child.

"If Kevin were here, I might consider arranging a marriage between you and him. It would consolidate the title and solve this mess. I'm doing everything in my power to retrieve those taken by the Rabiss—if we succeed, he may return within six months."

That earned a reaction. Her nose wrinkled ever so slightly. A grimace. Apparently, Kevin wasn't high on her list of marital prospects.

I continued, "If that is not acceptable, then there may be another Plimgus out there who would work. Unless you have an alternate idea I haven't thought of."

Her eyes shifted to look at her sister-in-law, Saran. Then up to me. "My lord, I have no doubt that you will find my late husband guilty of kinslaying and more. I want to go home."

I leaned back slightly. That caught me off guard. Was she seriously wanting to go back to her father's house?

"Are you abdicating on behalf of your son?"

Her lips trembled, but her tone was firm. "As the wife of a traitor, the only hope for me is to flee. My father will accept me back, and my life was happier before the marriage."

"There is no guarantee your life will be better once you return, and your son will resent you for abdicating on his behalf."

She met my gaze then, and I saw a mix of fear and sadness on her face. "Any regent you assign would have no use for my family, and we would soon be killed, so that whoever you assign would gain the barony. I cannot rely on the possibility that you will be able to retrieve my brother-in-law. I just ask that a portion of my dowry be returned to me."

I cast a glance at Fredrick, who had been leaning against one of the hall's stone walls, out of the way, bearing witness to the events. He gave an almost imperceptible nod.

I gave a half-hearted sigh. "Very well. I will have the steward of the house show me your wedding contract and decide on what would be a fair amount to return to you. I believe half is acceptable, but I need a further investigation of Plimgus's finances."

Natalie said nothing, but a faint look of relief flickered in her eyes.

"Also, you will have to write a full confession about what was going on in the Plimgus household. Remember that your children's lives depend on it."

Her face paled, but she managed to get out a weak, "It shall be as you say."

Frankly, I was glad this had turned out so well. I had to tread carefully. I could not have just taken the title of Baron away from the family. Only the duke or king could do that. I had really been hoping to marry her to Kevin, who would have been easy to handle. This was better, though. If I could get Kevin back before another person was found by the duke to take the barony then I would have someone I could persuade to be my ally. His brother had sold him out, and I was the one who rescued him. He would be in my debt, and I would have the Barony of Plimgus back under my control.

I nodded and turned my attention to Saran. "Now, Saran. What to do with you?" As soon as she heard her name, she immediately tensed, like a rabbit ready to flee. And with good reason. I could do away with her, and then the barony would be easier to assign to whomever I wanted.

I let my words hang in the air like the sword of Damocles before I continued. "Sending you to your grandfather would be the best option, I think. This would put you far away from any ensuing chaos that is soon to happen here due to the demise of your father. Of course, you would only be allowed to go if you shared all you know of the goings on in this house."

Again, I paused. This time, I was waiting for her to speak. Silence settled over the room, and over the course of the next few minutes, I was sorely tempted to break it. Even Natalie glanced over at her, concerned. But I waited.

Finally, in a voice no louder than a soft winter breeze, she said, "Are you… truly planning to bring my brother back?"

Again, this was not the direction I expected this conversation to go. I saw something flicker behind her eyes—hope, maybe, or fear of false hope.

"I give you my word as a count that everyone we lost will be brought back if at all possible. This is on the condition that I can come to a suitable agreement with the Rabiss that does not put my county at risk."

Again, the world seemed to stand still as she made her decision. Her lips parted, then closed, then opened again.

"For my brother's safe return, I will tell you all I know. However, I don't have much to tell. I swear, Kevin and I were not involved in anything, but I did occasionally overhear things that I should not have. I also wish to stay here until my brother returns."

I really should ask Fredrick how he felt about it since he would be running the place, but the bruises from our last sparring match still ached, and my pride demanded petty vengeance.

"Very well." I said, "I agree to these terms. Frederick, I entrust her to your care. Treat her with all the respect her station deserves."

I caught Fredrick's look of surprise and gave him a malicious grin.

Fredrick came to his senses and said, "You—"

I cut him off with a raised hand.

"Oh, and as the acting lord of this barony, make the arrangements for Natalie's departure."

Revenge is best served cold, but in this case, it was warm with the added benefit of forcing my friend into babysitting duty.

As soon as the great hall emptied and the doors shut behind the last servant, Fredrick spun on me like a drawn bowstring and finally let loose.

"You can't be serious," he said, stepping closer. His voice was low but sharp. "She is the daughter of a man who was working for the council. You cannot trust her."

"Are you afraid of a girl?" I said mockingly.

He snorted. Folding his arms, he said, "You know what I mean, Amos. Don't play stupid."

"Fine, but let's use a room that is a little more private," I said as I stood and started walking towards the exit.

A few minutes later, we arrived in my room, where I quickly shut the door. While I went and sat down, Fredrick leaned against the door dramatically. "Ok, my friend, this is where the espionage comes in," I said, clapping my hands together. "Well, actually, it may not be espionage, but it is kind of sneaky, so we can call it espionage just for fun."

Frederick looked at me like I had two heads.

"Stay with me," I said, moving across the room and dragging a chair closer. "We're going to test Saran's loyalties. And maybe we'll catch a few council agents along the way."

This piqued his interest. "OK, I'm listening."

"First, we get her confession. Then, we ask her to list anyone she suspects of working with her father."

He nodded slightly. "So far, not terrible."

"Then," I continued, "You build trust. Make her think she's won you over. You let her in on a secret. Say you have a contact in the village. Someone who passes information to you."

Fredrick tilted his head. "You want me to lie to her about a spy I have?"

"Yes!" I said, standing up in excitement, "Then here's the clever part. You ask her to help. Tell her to approach someone she suspects, and tell them she overheard your code word. Something like…" I waved my hand vaguely, "...'dog.' No, that's awful. Something better. But the point is—she feeds them a word that you give her."

He blinked. "And then what?"

"She tells them that they should pick up the information from the drop and get it back to her," I said, now pacing in excited strides. "But! You also give her a second code word. Tell her—offhandedly—that the real code word is 'Jarvis.' Then we see what happens."

Fredrick rubbed the bridge of his nose, then tugged at his earlobe. That must be a nervous tic. I will watch for that when I introduce poker.

"This sounds really convoluted," he said.

"It's perfect," I said, spreading my arms dramatically. "If she tells no one? Then she doesn't trust us, or doesn't know anyone in the network. If she uses the first code word, we've caught a spy, and she's helping us. If someone shows up using the second code word—'Jarvis'—then she tried to trick us and pass along actual intel."

"Have you been driven insane, or have you always been this crazy?"

"I think you mean brilliant," I said.

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Right. Brilliant."

He moved toward the writing desk and pulled out a chair. "Let's sit down and come up with a real plan."

"Hey, this is a real plan," I said, flopping into the opposite chair. "And don't pretend you aren't impressed."

"Oh, I'm impressed," he muttered. "I just can't tell if it's by your imagination or your complete disregard for common sense."

"Both," I said with a confident grin. "Definitely both."