Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [5]
"And what is it that you don't like about them?"
"We don't like anything about them," said Lady Herrin. "Surely, my lord-"she said these last two words with a fair amount of sarcasm-"even you can understand that we merchants can't make a living if the crown keeps taking all of our profits."
The king looked over Lady Herrin and her hired bodyguards. Her robes were made from the finest spun silk, accented with gold filigree. Her hair, gray and thinning as it was, was adorned with tiny gemstones. Her fingers dripped with gold and platinum rings. Even her guards were accessorized-golden, fitted chest plates with ornate inscriptions and magical protective wards.
"I can see by the state of your dress that times are hard." He sat back. "I'm sure every copper you can save will help you bring food home for your children."
Lady Herrin narrowed her eyes and lifted her hand to begin another of her finger-shaking tirades, when the doors to the outer chamber burst open, and a unit of the King's Magistrates stormed in. They had with them a pudgy man in robes whose hands were tied behind his back.
"What is this interruption?" said Lady Herrin, distracted from her initial thought.
The king stood, grateful for the turn of events. "You want to know why you are charged tariffs on the goods you import and sell in Erlkazar?" He pointed at the Magistrates' prisoner. "It's so we can apprehend men like this. Men who prey upon you and your fellow merchants. Men who break the laws of the realm and make this a less-than-safe place to live and do business." It was the king's turn to cross his arms. "Without those tariffs, there wouldn't be a marketplace to sell in, or safe -roads to transport goods on, or even regular commerce. You should be happy to pay for such things, and thankful for the comfortable living you have made out of them."
"Your Magistrates are hurting that man," she said. "I demand that you release him at once."
King Korox narrowed his eyes. "This is my audience chamber, and I am the king." He took a step closer, leaning over the merchant with his superior height. "You do not demand anything from me."
A soft hand pulled on his arm, urging him away from Lady Herrin.
Furious for the interruption, King Korox's face burned red, and he spun around intent on giving someone a piece of his mind. But he stopped dead away, and his fury disappeared, replaced with a sense of ease.
"Perhaps, Father, you should continue the conversation about tariffs at another time." Princess Mariko pulled the king back and urged him toward his throne, then stepped into the space he had just vacated. "I'm sure you understand, Lady Herrin. The king has pressing business with the Magistrates right now."
The king smiled at his daughter. "Yes, Lady Herrin. You'll excuse me." The king walked past his throne, touching Whitman on his shoulder as he passed. "Send for Quinn. I'll need him when we question Pello Tasca."
The scribe nodded. "Yes, my lord."
"But what about the tariffs?" shouted Lady Herrin after the retreating king.
"There will be plenty of time for the two of us to go around and around about your latest issue, I'm sure," replied the king. "Remind me on your next visit."
The king continued past the row of pillars to the curved outer wall of his circular audience chamber. At the far end, right next to a statue of Ondeth Obarskyr, lay the door to his private reading chambers. Picking up a candle from a table beside the entrance, he opened the door and left the public domain, entering his sanctuary.
The king's reading room was dark, lit by only a pair of windows high up on the north wall. The moon's light came in through the glass, reflecting in grotesque, elongated shapes along the opposite side of the chamber. Though he loved his time alone-especially time with his history books that recounted tales of previous wars-his hectic schedule didn't allow him that luxury very often. Thus his reading room was often left dark.
Halfway across the room, his candle sputtered out.