Colors of Chaos

CLVII

CERRYL REINED UP outside the long one-story timbered building and dismounted. Two of the score of lancers did also. While the arms mage disliked the continual guard, he couldn’t argue with Lyasa, Hiser, Teras, and Suzdyal about the necessity of the precaution. Not yet, anyway.

The cold rain continued to fall around him as he stepped under the overhanging eaves that sheltered the crude plank door. Cerryl knocked and waited until the door opened.

The burly bearded factor stepped back away from the door, back into the long room with the huge vats. “Ser mage…I have done nothing…nothing wrong.” His voice was thinner and higher than Cerryl recalled.

Beside the second vat stood a younger man, also bearded, watching Cerryl with wide eyes.

“I know,” Cerryl said gently, not pressing into the building. “Unlike many factors and traders I have encountered in Spidlar. And Certis,” he added with a slight emphasis. “You are an honest man.”

“Factoring clay and fuller’s earth, one must be honest,” admitted Aliaskar.

“Might I come in?”

“Of course.” Aliaskar backed away another few cubits.

The two lancers followed Cerryl in but stepped to the side.

The mage blotted the dampness off his forehead, taking in the odor of earth and clay, then looked at the clay factor. “You have noticed that the lancers have not bothered you or the other merchants who have continued to work their businesses?”

“That is what folk say,” Aliaskar replied cautiously.

“Have they bothered you?”

“No, ser mage.”

“So long as I am here, and so long as you pay any tariffs you may owe, they will not bother you, or any who follow your example.”

“Those are fair words…”

“But you doubt them. I would also were I standing where you stand,” Cerryl admitted. “You can choose to believe me or not. Trade is what holds Candar together, and trade travels the seas, the rivers, and the roads. Without good roads, trade is less and more costly. It takes more time to reach those places without river ports or seaports.”

“That be true, mostly.”

“Fairhaven built the roads, and many have used them, but many of the wealthier traders of Certis, Spidlar, and Gallos did not wish to pay for their use of the White highways.”

“I’ve heard that some were not allowed to use those highways.”

Cerryl frowned, thinking of the lady trader who was apparently the consort of the smith Dorrin. “That also might have been true. I do not think it is so now.” Not if I can do anything about it. “That meant that the traders of Fairhaven paid more and could often not match the prices of traders who did not pay.”

Aliaskar nodded that he had heard what Cerryl said, not necessarily that he agreed.

“Yet when the Guild asked these traders of Spidlar and Certis and Gallos to pay tariffs, we were ignored or mocked. We asked again and were ignored. We tried to warn folk without killing many.”

“Like as the mountains the old wizard raised in Gallos?”

Cerryl nodded. “That encouraged the prefect of Gallos to ensure we received the tariffs. But not the Traders’ Council of Spidlar. They bought goods cheaply from the Black isle and then used the roads we built to sell those goods without even paying the tariff.” He shrugged. “In the end, we had to fight. We would rather not, and so long as the tariffs are paid there will be no fighting.”

“Your words make sense, yet many would claim that the tariffs go for luxuries of the White City.”

Cerryl laughed, harshly. “You can believe me or not, but the High Wizard of Fairhaven lives in one large room at the top of a tower. In Fairhaven, the richest merchant’s dwelling is a quarter part the size of Reylerk’s mansion. Yet we have no beggars, nor do people starve in the streets. You or anyone can travel there and see.” He paused, then added, “I was an orphan apprenticed to a scrivener, and the mages took me in. The mage Lyasa comes from no wealth or position. Nor does the overmage Kinowin.”

Aliaskar frowned, then studied Cerryl and the lancers. “I do not know. You have done what you said you would do. You have not lied-not that I know. Yet…”

Cerryl nodded. “I am not asking anything except that you think about what I have said. There is one thing more you should know. I have encouraged some of the larger factors from eastern Candar to come here and to set up their warehouses.” One-so far-but he doesn’t have to know that.

“You expect them to be more loyal?”

“No. I expect them to understand that all of eastern Candar must abide by the same tariffs and rules for trade. If this does not occur, in the end Candar will suffer.” Cerryl smiled crookedly. “Of course, that means that the factors can’t line their purses with golds that should have gone to build roads to help traders large and small.”

“I must think, ser mage,” Aliaskar said.

“That is all I ask.” Cerryl nodded a last time. “I will trouble you no more.” He inclined his head. “Good day.”

“Good day, ser mage.”

As the door closed, Cerryl caught a few words.

“…most strange, Ziersar.”

The arms mage hoped so.

After he walked through the cold drizzle and remounted, Cerryl pulled out his list, studied it, and then replaced it inside the oiled white leather jacket.

“Viskarl-charcoal factor.” Darkness…how many days will this take? Too many, but he had to convince a good portion of the remaining factors and merchants that he and Fairhaven were halfway human and not White demons, at least not all the time.