“I hope not to be too long, but one never knows…”
“We’ll be here, sir.”
Quaeryt strode toward the door, almost stumbling as his left boot heel caught the top riser of the three stone steps leading to the entry. He caught himself, opened the door, and stepped into a small and low-ceilinged entry hall.
The clerk seated behind a narrow table in the middle of the hall looked up as Quaeryt walked toward him. His eyes widened as he took in the uniform and Quaeryt. “Sir?”
“Commander Quaeryt. I’m also Minister of Administration and Supply for Lord Bhayar. I’m here to see Factor Chaekyr.”
“Is he … expecting you?”
“I hope not, but he will wish to see me.” Quaeryt projected a sense of authority.
“I will tell him you’re here, sir.” The clerk rose and headed for the door at the right side of the hall, through which he disappeared after opening and closing it barely enough to squeeze through.
Quaeryt waited, not terribly long, but enough to observe a fly making several circuits around the table that the clerk had hastily vacated, before the clerk returned.
“Factor Chaekyr will be happy to see you, sir.”
Happy? I think not. “Thank you.” Quaeryt nodded and made his way to the door that had been left just slightly ajar, stepping through it, and closing it behind himself.
Chaekyr D’Factorius had dark brown wavy hair, pale and watery green eyes, and a full square-cut beard of a shade redder than his hair. He looked to be roughly ten years older than Quaeryt as he rose from behind a broad and empty polished wooden desk that was likely older than Quaeryt.
“What can I do for you, Commander? Or is it ‘Minister’?”
“It’s both, but ‘Commander’ will do for now. I’m here to discuss the price of flour and other supplies.” Quaeryt gestured for Chaekyr to sit, then sat down in the left chair of the two facing the head of the factors’ council of Variana.
Chaekyr frowned. “I don’t see what that has to do with me. Prices are set by each individual factor, not by the council.”
“Once … I would have thought that as well.” Quaeryt smiled politely. “I doubt you know this, but I served as the princeps to Governor Straesyr of Tilbor. The princeps deals with matters of commerce. Then I was appointed governor of Montagne. The war came along, and Lord Bhayar needed my talents in that fashion. Recently, Lady Vaelora and I concluded a mission to Khel. Along the way, we encountered, shall we say, a misunderstanding about grain and flour shipments from Laaryn, and I had to investigate how prices were set…” Quaeryt looked directly at Chaekyr. “Now, I find, as was the case in Laaryn, that every factor who supplies grain and flour, as well as other items, sets his price at exactly the same level as any other factor, and that price is far higher than it was before or during the war. Some of that, obviously, occurs because we are farther from last year’s harvest. That, I understand. A gold and two silvers for a barrel of flour, I don’t. Especially when it appears that others pay lower prices.” That was a calculated guess on Quaeryt’s part, but it fit the patterns he’d seen.
“I cannot tell others at what price…”
“Head factor…” Quaeryt said mildly, but projecting authority. “I am merely suggesting that those factors who attempt to obtain excessive prices for goods traded at lower prices to those besides Lord Bhayar’s forces are acting most unwisely, particularly since it appears most likely Lord Bhayar and his successors will be ruling Variana for many, many years.”
“What do you expect of me, Commander?”
“Expect? From what I have thus far seen of factors here … very little. But … if a chief factor were wise, truly wise, he might explain to other factors that pursuing excessive gains in the short run might lead to changes that they would find most … unsatisfactory in the long run. And if prices remain high, it is possible that the long run will arrive rather soon.”
“I still do not see…”
Quaeryt smiled again, tired as he was of the game. “As Minister of Administration and Supply for Bovaria, with Lord Bhayar’s approval, I can issue laws affecting commerce and trade. I would prefer not to. Lord Bhayar would also prefer that, but that preference will change if he finds that his forces are paying higher prices than others. The laws will change, and those who break the laws will find themselves broken. There is at least one factor in Laaryn sentenced to death for his failures. Now … it would seem that such unpleasantness is unnecessary … unless greed cannot be restrained by your factors.”
Chaekyr took out a large white kerchief and blotted his forehead. “Rather warm in here, I find.”
“It could be much warmer.”
“I take your point, Commander. You understand that I can only pass on your words.”
“I do indeed. I also understand that the chief factor can be most persuasive … or he would not be chief factor.”
“Not always so persuasive, I fear, as some think.”
“That is also true.” Quaeryt shrugged. “But replacing a chief factor who offers good counsel with one who would refuse to see what well might occur would suggest that greater … oversight of the factors might well be necessary.” He extended a sheet of paper. “This is a listing of those factors who provided identical prices to Lord Bhayar’s forces. We would not be so concerned about the fact that the prices were similar, because prices in trade do tend to gather around the same level … but when they are identical and excessive for but one buyer…”
“I see your point, Commander, and I will endeavor to convey that to the factors in question … as well as others.”
“For now … I can ask no more. I look forward to your success.” Quaeryt smiled a last time, then rose, nodding to Chaekyr before turning and leaving.
On the ride back to the Chateau Regis, Quaeryt shook his head more than once in thinking over his meeting with Chaekyr. While he’d been more diplomatic in dealing with the chief factor than he had been in Montagne, he had no doubts that he’d come across as less than tactful to the politely slimy factors of Variana. How can you be tactful to men whose only god is not the Nameless but the pursuit of golds at any cost to anyone but themselves? Without a resort to force on your part, or the threat of it, nothing will change their conduct and practices.
* * *
Quaeryt had barely dismounted in the courtyard of the Chateau Regis when an older ranker limped forward toward him.
“Commander, sir … Lord Bhayar would see you immediately in his study.”
“Thank you. I’m on my way.” Now what?
For the first time in weeks, Quaeryt actually found Bhayar seated behind his desk. The lord motioned for Quaeryt to sit down.
“You requested me?”
“Where were you? With the imagers?”
“No. I was meeting with the chief factor of the factors’ council of Variana about excessive prices charged to Deucalon by local factors.”
“And?”
“I was more diplomatic. I suggested that he might persuade the factors to be reasonable, but that you have little patience for greed at the expense of your forces.”
“If he doesn’t?”
“I’ll have to be more direct.”
Bhayar nodded. “There’s a High Holder’s widow who wants to see me. It’s something about inheritances and the like. See if you can resolve it. She’s in the small audience room.”
“Along the lines we discussed?”
“Just don’t go farther.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.” Bhayar waved Quaeryt away.
Quaeryt made his way across the hall and down two doors, where another ranker opened the door for him.
“Good afternoon, Commander.” The ranker inclined his head.