expect this, Verice. Not even me, much less Tomsien or the Council. We've been getting reports all through the winter, of course, but I finally had to come and see for myself."
"I have not exceeded my authority," responded Demansk coldly. "And I will point out that I spent most of my own fortune equipping this fleet—without, by the by, engaging in any tax-gouging 車査定 or swindling."
"Truth to tell, I'd be a lot happier if you had. Engaged in swindling and tax-gouging, that is. That'd be . . . business as usual. Whereas this"—Jeschonyk gestured with his thumb toward the harbor; then, jerked it over his shoulder—"and, what's even worse, the popularity you've gained with the Emeralds . . ."
"The economy here is booming, Ion. Simply the normal taxes, fairly applied, bring in more than all the stupid shortsighted tax-gouging and stealing ever could."
The old man's face grew more pinched still. "That's what's really bothering me, Verice. You've not simply put together a much larger military force than anyone expected, but you've also created a real provincial base for yourself. And if most Vanberts sneer at Emeralds for being a lot of limp-wristed aesthetes and faggots, I don't. I'm old enough to have fought in the last war against the Emeralds. They're as tough as anybody, as long as someone else is giving them their orders and doesn't let their incessant bickering get out of hand."
He gave the fleet a glance. "Which, clearly, you 保険 haven't. And now, if you don't mind, let's go back inside. I'm an old man, and a thirsty one."
As they walked through the open-air archway which connected the balcony with the building proper—the mild Emerald climate required little in the way of actual doors, beyond what was needed for security and p 画像アップロード rivacy—Jeschonyk laid a cautioning hand on Demansk's arm.
"And I should tell you that Tomsien is more worried than anyone. You should know, if you don't already, that Tomsien's been doing his own amassing of forces. He's got an army assembling in his southern provinces that is twice the size of anything you can put together—even with such a huge fleet as this one."
Demansk nodded. "I expected as much." He went to a side table and poured them each a goblet of wine. There were no servants present. Then, after handing one of the goblets to Jeschonyk, took a sip from his own and added:
"Good. We'll need that army to fend off the Southrons. They'll be coming soon, Ion, don't doubt it. They're just waiting for us to be committed against the islanders. Every spy we've sent down there—you know this even better than I do, since most of them report to you first—says they're creating the largest invasion force they've ever managed to put together. That new Chief of Chiefs of theirs, Norrys, seems quite the dynamic fellow. Charismatic too, from all accounts."
Jeschonyk gave his fellow Triumvir an odd look. Part suspicion, part . . . wonder, perhaps.
"Actually," he said, clearing his throat, "my spies seem to think that it's really this sub-chief Prelotta who's the driving spirit behind it all. And he's the one, not Norrys, who's got that damned Emerald genius Gellert working for him. Him and his blasted new weapons."
Demansk shrugged. " 'New weapons' are all fine and dandy, Ion. But I don't place too much faith in them. In the end, it's still discipline and organization and numbers that count." He gestured toward the fleet in the harbor with his chin. "Not one of those ships, or its crews, is as handy at sea as any islander pirate. So what? The simplest way to deal with a clever opponent is just to bury him."
"There are a lot of Southrons, Verice," chided Jeschonyk. " 'Burying them' is not as easy as it with a relative handful of islanders."
"So? That's Tomsien's problem, isn't it? And how has he funded this great army he's collected? Not using my methods, I'm sure."
Jeschonyk looked sour. "We're getting complaints and protests filed every day in Vanbert. Have been for months. He's squeezing his provinces dry, Verice. Just as you knew he would."
Demansk shifted his shoulders. The
"I have not exceeded my authority," responded Demansk coldly. "And I will point out that I spent most of my own fortune equipping this fleet—without, by the by, engaging in any tax-gouging 車査定 or swindling."
"Truth to tell, I'd be a lot happier if you had. Engaged in swindling and tax-gouging, that is. That'd be . . . business as usual. Whereas this"—Jeschonyk gestured with his thumb toward the harbor; then, jerked it over his shoulder—"and, what's even worse, the popularity you've gained with the Emeralds . . ."
"The economy here is booming, Ion. Simply the normal taxes, fairly applied, bring in more than all the stupid shortsighted tax-gouging and stealing ever could."
The old man's face grew more pinched still. "That's what's really bothering me, Verice. You've not simply put together a much larger military force than anyone expected, but you've also created a real provincial base for yourself. And if most Vanberts sneer at Emeralds for being a lot of limp-wristed aesthetes and faggots, I don't. I'm old enough to have fought in the last war against the Emeralds. They're as tough as anybody, as long as someone else is giving them their orders and doesn't let their incessant bickering get out of hand."
He gave the fleet a glance. "Which, clearly, you 保険 haven't. And now, if you don't mind, let's go back inside. I'm an old man, and a thirsty one."
As they walked through the open-air archway which connected the balcony with the building proper—the mild Emerald climate required little in the way of actual doors, beyond what was needed for security and p 画像アップロード rivacy—Jeschonyk laid a cautioning hand on Demansk's arm.
"And I should tell you that Tomsien is more worried than anyone. You should know, if you don't already, that Tomsien's been doing his own amassing of forces. He's got an army assembling in his southern provinces that is twice the size of anything you can put together—even with such a huge fleet as this one."
Demansk nodded. "I expected as much." He went to a side table and poured them each a goblet of wine. There were no servants present. Then, after handing one of the goblets to Jeschonyk, took a sip from his own and added:
"Good. We'll need that army to fend off the Southrons. They'll be coming soon, Ion, don't doubt it. They're just waiting for us to be committed against the islanders. Every spy we've sent down there—you know this even better than I do, since most of them report to you first—says they're creating the largest invasion force they've ever managed to put together. That new Chief of Chiefs of theirs, Norrys, seems quite the dynamic fellow. Charismatic too, from all accounts."
Jeschonyk gave his fellow Triumvir an odd look. Part suspicion, part . . . wonder, perhaps.
"Actually," he said, clearing his throat, "my spies seem to think that it's really this sub-chief Prelotta who's the driving spirit behind it all. And he's the one, not Norrys, who's got that damned Emerald genius Gellert working for him. Him and his blasted new weapons."
Demansk shrugged. " 'New weapons' are all fine and dandy, Ion. But I don't place too much faith in them. In the end, it's still discipline and organization and numbers that count." He gestured toward the fleet in the harbor with his chin. "Not one of those ships, or its crews, is as handy at sea as any islander pirate. So what? The simplest way to deal with a clever opponent is just to bury him."
"There are a lot of Southrons, Verice," chided Jeschonyk. " 'Burying them' is not as easy as it with a relative handful of islanders."
"So? That's Tomsien's problem, isn't it? And how has he funded this great army he's collected? Not using my methods, I'm sure."
Jeschonyk looked sour. "We're getting complaints and protests filed every day in Vanbert. Have been for months. He's squeezing his provinces dry, Verice. Just as you knew he would."
Demansk shifted his shoulders. The