(The Dark Servant)Midnight Matters, A. Ellas [primary phonics books .txt] 📗

not here for our own amusement and pride,” Maziel said.

Rak stared at Baorik. “That man has called me a liar. I am insulted. He will either apologize to me and retract his foul-mouthed remarks, or he will meet me fairly in challenge.”

“Fair challenge in Koilatha is using a champion, High Priest,” Maziel said in a conciliatory tone. “And you will be forever fighting if you rise to Kion’s bait. Now, on to your purpose for speaking here?”

“I have destroyed the hive of the katrami flies,” said Rak, coldly. “I expect that should be worth something to you, to your farmers. If alliance is what your kingdom desires of Okyro, you will have to outlaw slavery first.”

Kion sneered, “You came crawling to

us

, demon.”

“I came to you for a simple trade agreement. Grain for silk. But your list of demands grows.”

“You are the one making demands, demon,” Kion said. “You are a threat who will drain our fair land.”

“Kion, please stop the name calling,” said Maziel. “It’s beneath you.”

“Our kingdom has used slaves since the founding,” said Peneron. “Why should we change? The system works very well.”

“And trade is good,” said Baorik.

“Slavery is wrong,” said Rak, pressing the issue. “It is evil. How can you think that denying a man his free will is right?”

“That’s stupid,” Deviol said. “Yes, let’s allow everyone to exercise their free will. Murderers and thugs will abound.”

“Most men prefer a free meal over free will,” Breavey said.

“We have our free will. We do not murder or rob.” Maziel looked pained. “Please, S’Rak, can you move on?”

“That would lead to chaos,” Peneron observed. “Aren’t you dark priests against chaos?”

“They are all of the night, evil and chaos,” Kion said. “My son is learning the pure path of the light.”

“You devalue life, and the gifts of the gods, when you put someone else in a collar,” said Rak.

“We save the lives of the starving,” Baorik said. “And many haven’t the sense to use free will.”

“You destroy lives, and families, and think nothing of it. Men and women are not mere beasts, to be bought and sold and used. Can you not see how very evil that is?”

“We are wasting our time discussing evil with a servant of evil!” Kion pounded his fist on the table. “He seeks to destroy us by undermining our country’s stability.”

“Afraid for your profits?” asked Rak. “Or afraid that if you didn’t hold the power of life and death over your servants, they would rise up and kill you in retribution for your abuses?”

“

That

thought hardly helps your cause, S’Rak,” observed Maziel.

“See? He will rouse a slave revolt and we will be slaughtered in our beds!” Kion turned to Virien. “Do something!”

“Outlawing slavery is not an option on the table,” said Virien. “Drop it, dark one.”

“Slaves can be freed, if they prove themselves worthy,” said Baorik.

The door opened and Jethain entered with the careful walk of the ill. Captain Jisten was at his heels, hovering at the prince’s elbow rather than in his usual guard position a half pace back.

“Always good to see you, Prince Jethain,” said Maziel. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” Jethain said.

Rak waited for the prince to take his seat before he answered the head of the merchants. “It is the rare slave who earns his freedom. Most are thanked by force-wedding them and chaining them to a peasant hut to toil the fields until they die of exhausted age.”

“No wonder you need grain, high and mighty one,” Breavey said. “No one to till.”

“Prince Jethain, did you look over my paper protesting the new tariff on outkingdom goods?” asked Baorik.

“Yes, I read it. We can discuss it after the envoy is done.”

“We will never finish if he prattles on and on about slavery,” Baorik grumped and pushed his chair back.

“We might lack in grain, but we have many things that you do not.” Rak nodded to Jethain in greeting.

“We didn’t come groveling to your country,” Kion said.

“I do not grovel,” snapped Rak. “If you do not want silk, herbs, or gold, then you do not need to participate in the agreement.”

“We want to talk about those things,” Baorik took on a conciliatory tone. “Perhaps we can skip to it?”

Rak inclined his head to Baorik. “We require a set rate of exchange.”

“A set rate?” Baorik looked displeased. “We told you last time that was not feasible.”

“Our trade operates on supply and demand,” said Peneron. “Why isn’t that acceptable, dark one?”

“A set rate protects both parties,” Rak replied. “From gouging.”

“Not if demand ceases, or supply fails,” Baorik pointed out.

“Considering that we are offering a rate that is advantageous to you, what is the real issue? Is it really that impossible to not charge more for your grain every time we come?” Rak looked frustrated. “If supply is low, we buy less. We are not demanding a set amount of tons of grain. We are demanding a set value on a ton of grain.”

“The rate is advantageous,” Maziel said. “I would be happy to harvest my fields for the price.”

“And the reason for hammering this out as a trade agreement is mere convenience,” Rak added. “We can order our buyers to approach individual nobles if we must. But the money offered would not be as good.”

“You’ll break the exchanges!” Baorik whined.

“The exchanges?” Rak was incredulous. “Who ever heard of buying and selling grain a year before it is even planted?”

“You would divide us, demon,” Kion said. “You can see his ill intent even now.”

Jethain gave Kion an annoyed look. “Your prejudice is well known to this council. There is no need to repeat yourself.”

“I cannot make a mule listen to me, but there is hope for the others,” Kion answered.

Jethain flicked a finger in a rude gesture. Then he said to Rak, “I understand that your people need the grain, but I can’t let you break our economy.”

“Do you know that a set rate would break your economy? It seems