Ethan smiled widely as he rode around the base of a half-built watchtower and Alfwin Valley, and the Stone at the other end of it, opened up before him bathed in the light of the summertime noon sun.

  The Valley itself opened up as he rode slowly onward. Herders moved their massive flocks slowly northward across the already waist-high grasses while Timberman worked the forest that hugged the edge of the glass-like lake with several fishing boats plying their trade on its surface.

  The massive beavers were puttering about the lake shore and the timber dams extending outward into it. Somewhat bothered by the heavy traffic in the valley bottom, but protected as they were from hunting or harm, it was merely caution, not outright fear. In time, they might even grow accustomed to human company.

  For whatever good that would do.

  They rode onward at the slow, steady pace set by the ten wagons rolling along behind him. For a time at least.

  “Bring them in for me Sir James? Someone is no doubt expecting me.”

  “Expecting? You mean your Lady is going to be spitting mad that you left her behind?”

  “Someone had to watch the keep.” He offered, if somewhat insincerely. He wasn’t fool enough to gloat, not out loud at least. But the situation wasn’t without irony. All that bother about him taking risks and now growing ever heavier with an heir, all that overprotectiveness had transferred to her. And transferred with a vengeance.

  But he wasn’t gloating.

  Not at all.

  “Sure, My Lord. You just tell yourself that. But go ahead, I’ll handle the convoy.”

  Ethan nodded, then caught James’ eye, then Miro and Leo’s after that. “Meet me in the Council chambers an hour and a half before supper. Grab Sir Conner and Sir Andrew, if he isn’t off playing with the Aetherhorns again.” He waited a half beat for their accents, then spurred his mount forward, bracketed by four Lancers.

  They quickly covered the remaining valley floor and the dirt track masquerading as a road before veering to the west and the sloped stone road cut into the hillside. It wasn’t a gentle slope, not with the entrance to the keep being some 80 feet up, but with 300 feet or so to rise over, it was manageable.

  Even for the wagons if with the help of ropes and winches. And a lot of hands to pull them.

  Halfway up the ramp Ethan's eye was caught by the practicing troops below. Or rather the still boyish man who was leading a set of new Hastati through the standard drill.

  Now there was an idea. “Squire Adelbert.” He pulsed Golden Order to let his voice sound easily, and without raising his voice, in the helmet ears over a hundred feet away. “Join me in the Council room in an hour. No, make that two.”

  The figure broke away long enough to bow in his direction before returning to the drills. Ethan nodded quietly, but without slowing his pace. He may have gained an enemy for taking the lad on, but damn him if he wasn’t worth it.

  Smart, charismatic and a skilled warrior already. A born leader, if he could just get out of his own way long enough to reclaim it.

  He waved a hand easily at a decade of Archers manning a half-built stone fortification on top of the Stone and overlooking the long-uncovered expanse of the ramp-like road. They hit the top of it and with a wave passed the lowered drawbridge and the four Hastati standing guard atop it and two of whom were already pushing the iron-bound hardwood gate open.

  Ethan gave an easy wave in response to their salutes and hopped from his mount just inside, handing the reins to a still short of breath page and slapping the lad on the shoulder in thanks before striding forward into the keep with a will.

  He slowed for a few steps to let his bodyguards catch up, his hand automatically checking that his gladius was loose in its sheath. Then he was back to full speed, offering greetings as he moved down the still busy tunnel. Labori and Craftsman hard at work carrying food, finished gear and weapons into the store rooms or carrying raw resources back out to feed the ever-hungry shops.

  He took a quick right, waving at another four-man guard detail, two Hastati and two Bowmen as they opened yet another iron-bound door, having seen him coming from the large barred windows that filled the double doors' upper half.

  He ignored the Bir’Ding Gate, a line of hopefuls waiting in front of it under the watchful eye of the rest of the guard decade, and turned left and down a set of steep stairs into the great hall itself. Waving a dozen secretaries pouring over scrolls and moving beads on their abaci in a constant, and rather unpleasant, rap tapping to stay seated and continue about their business.

  He had eyes only for the lady sitting above them at the high table; her slightly protruding stomach snagged his eyes, and his heart to be sure, before the eyes rose again to the smiling face above them. Unsurprised of course, the scouts would have warned her most of an hour ago.

  Or they had better.

  If they’d missed a ten-wagon convoy headed by 25 heavy cavalry and trailing two hundred gob-smacked adventures, they’d have a future mucking out stables and scrubbing floors. With well-striped backs!

  He’d check to be sure later, but it wasn’t likely.

  “Welcome home My Lord.” She offered easily in a bright, cheerful voice. “At last.” She offered a moment later, in a considerably less cheerful tone. He hid a grin, moving forward quickly down the length of the 60-foot chamber at a pace that was just barely possible to be called a walk.

  He moved around the end of the table and swept in to pluck her hand free and place a kiss on the back of it. “It is good to be home, My Lady.” He grinned, “At last.”

  She snorted, then gave the room around her a cautious glance. He followed her eyes to the scribes who were carefully not paying attention to them. Very carefully. And most obviously. Even Rainer, sitting to her right, sported a half-hidden smile. He gave the man a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning back to his glowing wife. “Would you care to retire with me, My Lady? And Rainer, we will need you in the council chambers in two hours.”

  “Of course My Lord.” He offered with a fist to chest salute as Ermina Rose from her chair with what one might consider haste.

  Ethan offered her an arm and a grin. Pausing only long enough for her to leave instructions for the scribes before sweeping through the doorway behind the table. Leaving his trailing Lancers behind to feast at the high table, still well stocked from lunch. Dried meats and what looked like a light white cheese that made him almost want to delay.

  Almost.

  With Ermina on his arm he passed down a narrow hall and several doors before moving through the 5th such and into a roughly furnished room, if one that showed a great deal of care.

  Ethan’s eyes were glowing somewhat as Ermina turned in front of him, unhappiness obvious in the mulish set of her lips. “You leave me–“ She began but he didn’t give her time to gather steam, stepping forward to take her into his arms and dropping a kiss on those angry lips.

  A kiss that was quickly returned as one type of heat turned to another and he kicked the door shut behind them.

  ___

  There was a rap at the doorway and Ethan looked up from an animated conversation with Ermina and Rainer. He waved them both back into their chair then stood from the large round table, its top and sides covered in Blake's elaborate traceries of enchantment and moved over to the barred doorway. Moving a wooden window slide out of the way to check, then removing the bar and inviting Adelbert into the sanctum.

  And sliding the bar back into place behind him. “Take a chair, Squire.”

  “Ah, am I to scribe for you My Lord.”

  “No, I’ve seen your penmanship.”

  “Pot meet kettle.” Ermina offered in a singing sotto voice. Ethan simply grinned. A man couldn’t be great at everything and for all that, his letters were quite readable. They just lacked the aristocratic flourishes that hers held.

  Adelbert’s had those flourishes. Artistic ones even. So artistic that it defied legibility! Though he was working on it.

  “Then..?” The boy offered, confused.

  Ethan gave him a gimlet stare, considering for a moment, then gave up on subtlety. “A moment of stupidity did not unmake a lifetime of training, nir-Baron.” The boy flinched at the reminder, but Ethan continued without hesitation or false sympathy. “No one can take that away.”

  “My father-“

  “No!” Ethan slashed a hand in negation. “He removed your right to the title. Not the training that came with it, nor the mind behind that skill and if you will just use that gods given gift, you will never want for placement!” He was half roaring by the end of that. He stopped, taking a deep breath and giving the boy an exhausted glance.

  “Quit feeling sorry for yourself and rise above your mistakes. I’d not bother if you weren’t capable. Now, what is the standard wage of the Labori. Those working directly for their lord.”

  “Room, board and 2 suits of clothing a year.” He muttered, his face drawn up as he pondered on Ethan’s words.

  “Tier 1 Armsmen?” Ethan shot back, not giving him time to think.

  “A silver a day plus room and basic board, Half again as much for Cavalry.” Basic board meant about half their needs in staples only and the men would pay their own way into both bulk and taste.

  “Tier 2?”

  “Three to five silvers plus nicer rooms and still basic board, and again half again as much for cavalry.”

  “Do you see?” Ethan smiled at the now flustered almost-man. “Now sit down and add that agile young mind to our conversation. Because we have a few differences of opinion here.” He pointed to Rainer.

  “Yes My Lord, My Lady. The squire indeed knows the common knowledge of baronies. But the wage model of cities is often more effective.”

  Ethan waved him onward, though he had his doubts. “Six to eight coppers a day for a Labori, A silver four for a tier 1 armsmen and an additional silver on top of your tier 2 base wage. And in exchange outside of a campaign, they have to pay for their own room and board.”

  Ermina was leaning back with a sardonic smile, her slightly mussed hair making him want to reach over and fix it. He restrained the impulse and returned his attention to the slender Steward.

  “-basic board can lead to unhappiness. But allowing men to choose, and pay for their own victuals and accommodations will cost you less and leave them more satisfied in the doing.”

  “And how,” Ethan broke in with a frown, “do you expect to get the best of both worlds? Pay less for happier troops?”

  “Well, forgive the crudity My Lord, but most men are fools. It's an unfortunate fact that the medicine they choose will taste better than the one forced upon them. Even when it’s the wrong medicine.”

  Ethan stared at him for a few more moments. It had the flavor of truth to it… but not a truth he particularly liked. “I don’t see that working here. If for no other reason then I expect our armsmen to be out on maneuvers as often as not. And with the winters here being what they are, having wintering rights in the heated expanse of the stone, and room to roam about, is going to be quite valuable.”

  Ermina nodded gently. “More than just valuable My Lord, it might be the easiest way to work in taxation. Paying every year to guarantee wintering rights. And yet, I don’t think Master Rainer’s suggestion is completely wrong either. Having a bit of coin to spend will help goods to move to where they are needed.”

  “I don’t deny that. For that matter, a bit of coin here and there might let them save up for a spear and a bit of better leather armor. Enough to fend off any beasts or monsters that leak through the lines. It sets a bad precedent to simply give such away.” Ethan returned as Adelbert shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

  “You plan to let everyone buy a weapon and armor, My Lord?” The squire asked cautiously.

  “Yes. Men take better care of gear that they own, and it's not so cheap that I’m willing to give away. Not even the low-end leathers our shops are currently turning out.”

  “Everyone?” he repeated with emphasis. “That, well, that will violate the noble compact My Lord.”

  “In the Riverlander? Of a certainty. Might get my keep sieged.” Ermina gave a sharp, definitive nod.

  “But the Great Forest seemed less restrictive that way. Especially in the more exposed territories.”

  “No My Lord.” His voice apologetic, but with no give in it. “Basics may not own edged weapons. Not in the Riverlands, Not in the Forest and not anywhere else. There is some leeway for tools.” He allowed “But for anything else, they should belong to you, or one of your liegemen and be dispensed to your levies when and as they are called up.”

  Ethan sighed, leaning back. “And if the ‘armor’ is just leather clothing? And the pitchfork happens to have one tine?”

  The boy hesitated, then shrugged. “With the amount of hide you have here and the temperatures, thick leather clothing would probably pass inspection. But spears are not pitchforks. My Lord, playing with this line can and will make you enemies. And for little gain. It’s not worth it.”

  “More surviving Labori is not little.”

  His squire gave him a doubting look. “That’s what your Alpine Hunters and Armsmen are for.”

  Ermina’s eyes were glued to him, that sardonic smile still on her face. She had said as much before… but it was just damn foolish!

  Ethan sighed. “We don’t have so many guards that we can be picky. Do you see an alternative Squire?”

  “Yes.”

  Ethan froze, turning back to him. “You do?”

  “Yes, Freeholders My Lord. Sometimes called Yeomenry.”

  “Ahh. That would indeed work.” Ermina chimed in as Rainer nodded along.

  Ethan glanced at them doubtfully. “Will someone fill me in then?”

  “Basics can’t own the weapons My Lord.” Rainer offered. “But they can be part of a household. And as long as the Householder is at least a common class, and has a lifetime living that includes land, he qualifies as your liegeman. He can and must equip sufficient men to pay his scutage.”

  Ahh. “Land is required? What about shopkeepers?”

  All three shook their heads. “No My Lord.” Adelbert offered. “The basics working in shops or town industries may be part of the town militia, but the shopkeepers may not equip them. A shopkeeper is not a true landowner. Not your liegeman.”

  Adelbert considered the question for a moment, the continued. “Also, I imagine Alderman find it easier to maintain order when each shopkeeper doesn’t have his own coterie at hand to participate in commercial competition.”

  That did make a degree of sense, Ethan supposed, but it might get a bit dicey if an invasion slipped past the outer defenses before the armories could distribute their contents.

  “Alright. I can live with that and it feeds into what I wanted your, all of your, help with. Miro’s, and Leo’s, successful return has given us enough currency to get an actual marketplace going. And that means its time to establish wages, yes, but also livings. Most valuable being resource nodes within core reach. But manual holds extending beyond that, and considering how many more nodes we might get when the core advances we’ll want to be careful giving away the close in manual farms as well.”

  He glanced down at the lit gen on the table top, the telltale light of another percent advanced during his two-week absence. Exactly when and due to what was still a bit blurry, but they did have a list of rifts, of various sizes, closed.

  It was at least something.

  “You have some ideas already then.” Ermina stated rather than asking.

  “Some. Not what you are thinking no doubt. Not a name for every resource, but a set of priorities. Loyalty must be rewarded. That means the best go to long term Bandsman families.” Ermina frowned slightly, but both Rainer and Adelbert nodded with an ‘of course’ expression. “Though I will throw a bone to the best of the newcomers as a way of encouraging excellence.” Ermina smiled at him. He did listen.

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  “Beyond that though, much of the livings will, by default, go to newcomers.”

  “How so My Lord?” Rainer asked, surprised.

  “The Hunters. We can combine the collection of meat, furs and defense into one by scattering hunting lodges around the valleys. With delineated areas of responsibility and hunting rights between them.”

  “That will make you quite popular My Lord… But such a gift should not be given lightly, else it can easily become like your owned versus lent arms. Ill-maintained and unvalued.”

  “Indeed. Are such livings usually sold?”

  Ermina waved a hand back and forth. “It’s a popular way to grant land to retired soldiers, or for deeds of valor. But lifetime grants, not strictly hereditary. Their heirs might be offered first right to buy, but its not a given. Loyalty must be rewarded, but in the end of the day, the Holder must have the strength and skill to hold his lands.”

  Ethan nodded, tapping at the table. The Hunters would not have the coin to pay. Not at first. Nor had they done enough service to be offered the lands as a gift. And yet he needed them in those positions. It was a problem.

  “My Lord?” Adelbert interrupted his thoughts.

  “Yes?”

  “Along with livings, you will need to work out common rights. May a household graze their sheep with your herds on common pasturage? Have they forage rights for berries or herbs? May they gather branches in your forests and how much timber might they be entitled to and from where? It’s not just wages. Rights and favors are equally key.”

  Ethan shared a knowing glance with Ermina. “Will you still tell me you are incapable of good advice, my squire? You are correct, and Ermina has been working on exactly that for months now. But funny you should mention both rights and forage.”

  He pulled the leather purse from around his neck and poured the class stone out into his hand tapping into his connection with the core to project the blue screen above the table.

  “We have some decisions to make and a price to pay.”

  ___

  KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

  Ethan hid a smile as the Council door boomed under what had to be Guile's boisterous blows. He started to rise, but Adelbert beat him to it, rushing and managing to give Ethan a half-affronted look in the process.

  Alright, alright. It was a squirely sort of task. Ethan glanced back downward, carefully arranging several open scrolls in front of him, then leaned back, rubbing at the tension in his neck and shoulders. Another pair of hands pushed his away as Ermina reached from his right and began to knead them for him.

  "Thank you My Lady," he offered softly, his lips twisting upward suggestively. "I'll make sure to, hmm, return the favor. Later."

  She blushed slightly but didn't stop. He raised a hand and laid it on top of hers for a moment. Glancing down at several hours of their work, made possible by several months of hers. The first scroll bore a fluted legend: Right of Commons. With large bold prompts spaced out beneath it. Pasture, Estovers, Venery, Piscary, Pannage, Forage and Gleaning.

  He gave each of the sections a final glance, hoping that they'd accounted for the future needs, as changing such rights once granted would cause a great deal of resentment.

  He glanced up, nodding as Guile lead the way, dropping into a chair with a deceptive lightness for such a large man. Followed by Conner, Miro, James, Andrew and finally Leo drawing up the rear.

  His full council, as he'd started to consider them.

  "Welcome home Ethan." Conner offered, quickly echoed by the rest.

  "Me? better to welcome Miro and Leo back. And after succeeding beyond our hopes too!"

  "And we have." Andrew offered with a smile. "But I don't mind doing it twice." He reached over and slapped Leo companionably on his shoulder.

  "Make that three times at least." Ermina offered. "Welcome home, to both of you! But we will need to have a more formal welcome at supper." Leo shrugged uncomfortably while Miro simply smiled, then, digging into a bag hanging from a shoulder strap, retrieved a scroll marked with the heraldry of Rivervald and passed it to Ermina.

  She glanced at it for a moment, then regretfully set it aside.

  "Seeing as the lass has a letter, do you want to do this later?" Conner asked, shifting a bit uncomfortably in his seat as he looked with no love at the table half-filled with scrolls.

  "No, this shouldn't wait. We just need-" Knock, knock, knock. a considerably softer noise rang out from the eastern door to the room. Blake soon made his way inside to a round of greetings as Adelbert secured the door behind him.

  "Now we can start." Ethan gestured down to the topmost unrolled scroll. "We survived the first winter, the lean months of spring and passed our first major harvest." If a smaller one of mustard greens, early turnips, peas, cabbage and fava beans. "It's time to move from survival measures and into a more standard fief management of livings, scutage, wages and the rights of common."

  Blake looked at him somewhat doubtfully, giving the door he'd entered through with a longing glance but didn't interrupt. Guile was much less subtle about his lack of interest, but again not even he chose to break the short moment of silence.

  Ethan glanced at them, and sighed. "Look, it may seem boring." A slight cough from Leo brought a smile to his face. "Fine, it may be boring! But it's absolutely necessary. The longest serving Bandsman families will have their Loyalty rewarded, securing their support, possibly for generations. Taxes, obligations and responsibilities have to be assessed and a process for continuing to reward excellence, loyalty and valor established for the future. You can't have a stable fief without these. Nor a stable Band." He reminded them.

  "And you've worked all that out?" Andrew asked, looking at the piles of scrolls with some apprehension.

  "My Lady and Rainer between them worked out a great deal of the background. Adelbert here was quite useful as a contrast as well. Giving us the views of the Capital, the Riverlands and the Forest. And of course, being of the Mountains and not of those regions, we needed to further adjust it to our situation."

  Adelbert's shoulders moved slightly, then with a certain light in his eyes leaned forward. "While yet remaining within custom and noble propriety."

  "Exactly."

  "And that means?" Conner asked, scratching at his jaw.

  "It means finding ways to arm more of the Basics and Commons without overstepping." Rainer offered. "It means establishing what natural resources belong to the baronetcy and what may be freely, if wisely, harvested. It means a massive amount of work that we-" He gestured to Ermina, Ethan, Adelbert and himself, "-did our best to shield you from."

  "And I thank you for that!" Blake muttered under his breath to a round of chuckles.

  "Still," Ethan broke in before the merriment and small talk could derail the conversation, "this will affect all of you. You will need to read it, and if you have opinions or issues, they must be addressed. It was not easy to lay this out. Nor is it free of social costs. But changing it later will be ten times as expensive."

  "How so Ethan?"

  "Because, Conner, I know few better ways to piss-"

  Ermina barked "Language!" in an affronted voice. He kissed the back of her hand but otherwise didn't slow. "-a man off then to give him something, then promptly take it away."

  "So what are we giving?" Andrew asked.

  Ethan tapped the scroll before him. "The full details are here, but in summary my subjects of all classes in good standing may;”

  “Pasturage. They may graze a small number of animals with the Baronetcy’s herds and on the common lands.”

  “Estovers, they may collect fallen branches from any forest and a set amount of standing timber.”

  “Venery, they may hunt non-protected beasts and fowl with reason and within common areas.”

  “Piscary, they may take fish from rivers and streams with reason, but not the Lake as that is a Fisherman Living I plan to grant.”

  “Pannage, they may turn pigs, chickens or such like loose to fatten up in the forest in the fall.”

  “Forage, they may harvest the rushes, thatch, bracken, non-claimed berries and any of the common herbs from the copper lists. The silver list may be harvested from common lands after paying a portion.”

  “Gleaning. For those who fall on hard times, they may glean the fields after harvest."

  They stared at him for a moment. "That's a lot." Guile offered, his eyes half crossed.

  "Not really." Ermina broke in. "Aside from the restrictions on herbs, and rather generous venery grant for hunting, it is fairly standard."

  "And that is more of a reality of self-protection than a hunting grant?" Miro asked.

  "Yes." Ethan agreed. "Common grounds will be mostly valley bottom, meadows and anything sufficiently far away. Closer in-" he moved the first scroll aside, and pulled one two below it out. A rough map of the surrounding mountains with trails lightly etched in and with three dozen x's scattered about them. "-we plan to grant hunting and herbing lodges, and territory around them, as livings."

  "What does such a living entail?" James broke in.

  Ranier pulled an additional scroll free and offered it over. "A right to harvest the lands on behalf of the lord and take a large share in the process. The obligation to contain or cull dangerous beasts that may live or pass through those lands and to provide scutage in leu of some taxes. That is, they are obligated to supply equipped and trained levies for the Lord and receive a remittance of taxes for doing so."

  "Levies?" Conner offered with a disgusted look.

  "It's necessary, Sir Conner." Adlebert offered respectfully. "If not for the reasons you might think. It's not legal for Basics to own edged weapons or armor and yet, it is not safe for them to travel beyond the valley bottom-"

  "And not always there." Leo muttered.

  "-without such. By treating them as prospective levies, and having the holder of the living technically own the equipment, it falls back within the customary rights and privileges."

  "Hmmm." He grunted, leaning back and thinking that over. And knowing the man, they let him. Waiting a full minute while the man chewed slowly on the idea. At last he spoke again. "A Dog as pretends to be a wolf might become one. If we're going to claim them as levies, then we might as well do it right. Inspect both training and gear. Regularly."

  "Done." Ethan offered, finding no fault in his logic. "Pick a slow time of year, maybe winter, and do some additional formation training under our own trainers. Maybe arrange maneuvers or regular call-ups for practice."

  Rainer, glancing around and seeing no objections, carefully added a few lines to the scroll. "I left off the details, My Lord. Simply stating that both equipment and training must meet the Lord's standards and the men made available for training a set two weeks a year. It is expected that failing to meet scutage requirements will invalidate the tax remittance. You will have to do so on occasion to."

  Ethan nodded. There was no rule made that didn’t have men who broke it. There would always be someone who fucked around and pushed lines. And it was often his job to make sure they found out the costs of such. As for details, if things went well and their industrial base continued to advance, those standards would rise apace. No reason to tie them to a soon-to-be-outdated standard.

  "So is that all then?" Leo asked. Making as if to stand with a gleam in his eye.

  "No." Ermina refuted with an unamused glance. "Unless you want to ignore the right of Armiger."

  Leo made a point of sitting and leaning back in his chair. Ermina snorted at his provocation but continued. "Room in the barracks, basic board, medium justice-" That would be who can rule on or against them. Low was Alderman, mayors and reeves, the administrative staff of a fief. Medium required a noble to officiate. High was the justice between nobles, and required a higher noble to officiate. "and access, if not free access, to the good Magister’s healing." A not minor benefit to be sure. Ethan glanced sideways at his brother, whose face was stuck between pride and regret.

  "How not free?" Guile surprisingly interjected. He shrugged under the open-eyed stares. "A good pit focuses on skill, not blood baths, but mistakes do happen. I'd like to know how much should be set aside."

  "Depends on use, or rather misuse." Blake barked. "I've only so much time, I'll not make money on Bandsman, or I guess armsmen now, but neither will I spend all my time on healing rituals."

  Ethan nodded gravely. "We've discussed it. Wounds caused by foolish negligence will be charged the full market price for such." Guile winced. That was not a cheap price. Not at all. "For more common injuries, each Century will be allotted a base amount of healing. Beyond that they will need to organize a collection or leave it to the individual."

  "A bit rough on a man to pay such." Leo offered cautiously.

  "And between Blake and I we can choose to offer loans, and when appropriate, to forgive such. But it can't become a habit. Nor an expectation." Ethan responded firmly.

  The knights present nodded at that. Familiarity breeds contempt. Even when it was a lifesaving grace.

  Ermina waited, and seeing no further interjections, continued. "All the rights of common of course, a wage of 1 silver a day-" a good portion of which would be spent on improved food and wine "-for tier 1's. Four silvers for Tier 2s and an additional two for mounts. The standard Bandsman loot sharing will remain as well." That meant one part in eight was his as captain, or Noble now, whether he was there or not. One part in four was for the Officer in charge. Another one in four to be split among all officers. Knights, Centurions or Decurions according to their rank. And the remaining three parts in eight to be split among the men present. According to tier with additional shares granted for valor.

  "You didn't mention wine ration." Conner offered.

  "We did not." Ethan broke in. "We can't make appreciable quantities and can't guarantee a supply. I hope a robust trade with the Forest will take care of our lack, but promising it and not being able to pay would cause considerable resentment. Better to let the men buy, and we will try to keep the price reasonable."

  "That may not always be possible." Ermina cautioned. "Especially as the supply gets low."

  He shrugged. There wasn't much, besides trying to lay in a larger supply, that he could do about that.

  "It'll do." Conner interjected. "Sos long as we don't drink a pitcher dry at the high table while those below go without."

  Indeed not.

  "The Basics-" Ermina broke in once that concern too died down. "-as work for the Baronetcy directly, will be granted room, basic board, low justice, rights of common and a wage of three coppers a day." No mention of loot or healing of course, though it wouldn't stop Blake from lending a bit of charity should he feel like it. And he probably would.

  "The Common are a slightly more troublesome manner. No room, nor board are theirs by right. Nor is there a standard wage. To each according to his wisdom and effort. And the price of wintering in the Stone, room and board included, will be set in the spring of each year, in coin or goods." Enough time for each to save up for it, they hoped and he wasn't looking forward to the first time he had to reject someone.

  "How much this year?" Miro chimed in.

  "120 silver is the base price we've set on." She winced. "But as we are starting the pay quite late, we will have to drop that by at least a third this year."

  "That's still quite steep..."

  "Four months of feeding, housing and warmth. Months that we hope will still find them some measure of employment in industry, herd management or winter hunting." Ermina pointed out. It was not a low price. That Ethan could agree with. But the service offered was not cheap either. But with the improved clothing, knowledge, levels and such, many more should be able to move about, and work, outside in the coming winter.

  "Still, we might want to offer breaks on that price. Especially in bad years."

  "Of course." Ermina nodded. "That too is the responsibility of a noble. And one that can grant us a great deal of goodwill if used wisely. And cause considerable unrest if not."

  "And in the meantime," Ethan broke in, "we will accept payment in goods, and depending on the needs, at above market prices."

  Miro nodded. "I do like it in principle. It's much easier to pay a fee for a visible good than a tax for unmentioned services. Even when those services are protection, cleanliness and access to stability. But what kind of livings will you offer that they will make that amount of coin?"

  Ethan pulled several scrolls aside then handed her two from near the bottom. The first showed the shops and services inside the Stone with a list of names attached. the second was another rough numbered map with its own list of names. "Buildings built on resource nodes here and a list of long-term Bandsman families that we plan to grant them to."

  Almost all had at least one, and usually multiple, members serving as Armsmen. Each would need to recruit a set of Labori and Craftsman to take into their households, and arrange funding for a number of large, possibly expensive purchases. From tools, seeds and traps to weapons and armor. It would not be an easy thing to set up. Even with the buildings and nodes already in use. Especially if they lacked the Class to make best use of such. He could already see the marriages of daughters arranged to capture such needed talent.

  That or hiring such. But with as much land available, if considerably poorer and less secure land, in the valleys between Alfwin and Promise, convincing a skilled Commoner to hire on instead of founding his own would be difficult.

  Then again, considering the start-up costs, it might work for a few years.

  James read through the names over her shoulder, then snorted and pointed to one. "Ol' Shaffers? You're going to grant a living to that swine?"

  Ethan hid a sigh. "You still haven't forgiven him? He was drunk!"

  "And his fat mouth nearly cost us a gold in contract violations! He should have been broken to a baggage boy or stall mucker!"

  "He took a spear for Andrew at Halcase." Conner pointed out tiredly. And not for the first time. James just grumbled.

  "If it makes you feel better. As the owner of a Copse, his loose lips may flatter as much as the please without saying anything of import."

  "It does." James allowed. "But it would cause even less if he was scrubbing floors."

  Eyes rolled all around, but no one bothered to argue with him, nor did he make more than a token effort to have the man's name removed from the list.

  Leo tapped on the table drawing all eyes to him and the scroll showing the hunter’s lodges in his hand. "The core livings for loyalty. But between shops and lodges, what have these men done to deserve it?"

  Rainer sighed, glancing at Ethan for permission before answering him. "Not enough." He raised a hand in half-surrender. "It's not what we would like, but to defend the valleys we need the lodges manned. To allow the Basics employed in such to be armed and armored it cannot be a temporary living.”

  He held the scouts eye, waiting for a reluctant but firm nod before continuing. “Inside the stone, to keep goods flowing, we need the most talented classers in those shops. This can be temporary but men work harder when they have a stake in the results. A long-term stake.”

  “But don't misunderstand. Neither are free. The livings are to be offered at a price to those listed and will leave the new owner in debt for a decade or so to pay off the cost." Ethan grimaced at that. There was no choice; none had the coin to pay what such was worth. But he drew the line and usury. There would be no fees, no interest as the foul money lenders called it, on his grants.

  Leo stared at them for a moment. Then shrugged. "How much? For a lodge?"

  "I take my Guidance from the Emperor," Ethan stated, "may his light shine on us!"

  "May his light shine on us!” they echoed.

  "That's why the lodges aren't numbered. After most of a year crawling through the hills and finding game trails and wild herb patches, we'll let them bid. Within limits, it will do us no good to let them bankrupt themselves, but let them prove their wisdom in the choice. Give them a few points for demonstrated skills or acts of valor, and let them buy some more points for silver. Estimate the yearly income from the livings and peg the starting price at 5 years of that."

  "Only five? That is quite generous." Miro offered.

  "For an established living, sure." Ermina disagreed. "But for one they will have to tame themselves? Even the lodges themselves are currently unbuilt. It's not an unreasonable price."

  "But we will help build them." Ethan offered. "I don't see them being finished by winter if we don't. Nor warm enough to be useful."

  "Will they stay in them instead of the Stone?" Andrew asked.

  "It would save them coin. If at the expense of comfort." Miro returned, somewhat doubtfully.

  "And training." Conner offered. "Might not want to allow that."

  Ethan shrugged. "I'd prefer not to deny men the option. Especially as we will need a permanent presence at Promise."

  The room seemed to freeze for a moment, as eyes darted back and forth. Ethan grinned at them. As if he didn't know!

  "Yes, oh ye of little faith. These livings can and will include all of you! But while I fully intend to offer it, I don't think the current options, besides Promise, are fit for a knight."

  "Then who gets Promise?" Guile asked with a wicked grin.

  "Who wants it?" Ethan fired back. "It's going to be a right cold post at first. And without the blessing of a core it may remain that way for a long time. Not to mention front seats for the coming conflicts."

  "You're really selling it now." Conner snorted, leaning back and waving the other, younger knights ahead. "I'd prefer some warmth for these old bones."

  "And access to the training grounds and rooms." Andrew pointed out bluntly.

  "That too." The older man admitted with a grin and zero shame.

  "Andrew?" Ethan offered with a smile. Not that he expected him to take it. Maybe before he fell in love with the Aetherhorns, but not now.

  "Not for me."

  Ethan bypassed Guile. If he wanted it, he’d not shy away from asking.

  "James? Leo?"

  The two men looked at one another. Then with a smile, if one only visible to those who'd long known him, Leo raised his hands, one flat and palm up, the other a fist tapping against it three times.

  Ethan lost it. Nearly falling from his chair in a blast of laughter that was echoed by his knights, leaving the two ladies, Rainer and Adelbert staring at them as if they were mad.

  "Rock, paper, scissors? For a fief?" James managed at last. "Only you Leo."

  The scout shrugged, his hands still tapping rhythmically together. "No Leo. I'll not flip a coin for it either." James offered, still laughing. "But if you don't mind a delay Ethan, I'll discuss it with him, and my lovely wife, and get back to you."

  Ethan glanced at Leo, and, receiving another assenting shrug, agreed.

  "That leaves us with just one more matter." Ethan offered. Pulling the same old leather purse free and showing them the class stone and its blue screen. "Payment, rights and obligations for adventurers."