An audience with Duke Kell
He claps his hands twice loudly before he starts.
"See, we have a new steward in the making!" remarks the Duke, as
Sven orders a cupbearer to refill the goblet. The Duke nods and others are refilled too and you get you own chance to drink and salute the shields and Ossithrax tapestry.
"So you have trained in the militia at the Manse. Just odd sessions. I must see how you fare. Can you joust and ride lance or has my Son no champions to wager his honour against?" the Duke says as
Orgoth fills in a few details, mentioning the recovery of the staff earned him favour which he used in further training. The Duke expresses two interests.
Listening intently to the rites given to the fallen knights,
"They should be exhumed and laid to rest in the Cathedral crypt yet I fear that such service is beyond their bodies though their shields were borne away." He accepts that such an undertaking in the present clime would be risky and they are best left where they lay.
just as well for some bodies were burned in a funeral pyre and others taken by whoever set the Hellfire trap.
His second interest is piqued with mention of the crown and staff used by
Silas 'the Bear', Chief of the Mercians'. That
Lord Krothos covets to wield both as a representation of his authority. You can see a frown and depth of thought crossing the Duke's brow.
"This barbarian was a pagan. He did not walk in the Righteous light of St Ygg and his sceptre and rule where not forged in his truth and ways."
You catch him whispering an errand boy to summon the Bishop. Perhaps some hierarchical oversight is needed to temper the Helix church from being too lax in its pastoral and counseling ministry.
Your conversation returns back to the tapestry and you share regarding the refurbishment and the bitter trading at the auction house. Mentioning that
Ollis had expressed interest in requisitioning it in behalf of
Krothos for a fraction of the cost and the suggested levying of a tax on the sale of such capital items.
"Taxes are the lifeblood to serve the people. The Duchy is laden with many burdens and the yoke is borne by the many secure the standing army, to build the roads, smooth the bureaucracy, restore the public domains.
Yet I understand it may grind that the Duke buys your tapestry with gold from one hand and takes back with the other. While I cannot alleviate the revenue due I can at least make sure the money is not wasted upon wine and wench but upon the good people in the village."
He sends for a scribe and notes down an edict which tells
Krothos that your tax payment is going to be matched by the Crown and the amount to be spent in certain constructive ways. (For example reopening the chalk quarry as this not only supplies mining labourers work but the mineral acts as a fertiliser upon the acidic peat soil turning it more productive for crops).
He seals it with his signet ring and passes it to you, at which point you both take your leave.
you can each make any closing comment.
