Still pretty much background. The real 'playing' won't beging until Barbarossa shows up at the gates of the City.
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Well I've tried to write an interlude piece that explains what has happened for a two year period....and I HATE it. It's awful! So I have to go back to the drawing board and do something else. It's just not up to the standards of this story and I refuse to post dreck. So it might take a bit longer now. Because it has to be good enough for you all to read and I have to like it, too! So maybe later today...if I am not interrrupted by small children and the wife.
Luck is with me....Finally finished the update. Much better than the first one I wrote. Here it is...
Friday Night: May 5, 1178
Eagle Aerie
Leonides sat down at the head of the large oaken table with a sigh. It had taken him nearly two full years to manage it but he now had a core group of supporters and friends who believed as fervently as he did about the course of the empire.
His one time warder and now second in command, Matteo sat at the other end of the table conferring with Celeste and Anna. Augustine was on the left side conferring with Cosmo and Lia. Ariana sat upon his immediate left while Marika sat on his right.
“All right,” Leonides said softly,” Let’s get this started, shall we?”
“Right,” Matteo agreed, sitting back comfortably.
“What is the first order of business?” Celeste inquired.
“As you can see,” Leonides waved his arm at the large and ornate room,” The purchase of this estate is finished. I own it free and clear.”
“Is that really the first order of business?” Celeste frowned.
“Yes,” Ariana nodded,” This is going to be Eagle headquarters. We’ll keep our records stored here along with our maps and planning details. All in one place. We’ve scattered about for too long.”
Augustine grimaced,” It’s about time, too. It’s played merry hob trying to keep my end of things running smoothly without a central location to store my notes. They’ve been over at the Prince’s, my place and over yonder for far too long. I suppose I have an office?”
“With clerks,” Ariana assured him,” Which brings us to your area of responsibility.”
He nodded vigorously, his wispy beard floating serenely,” The last Jewish smith has arrived from Damascus.”
“Are you certain they are all Jewish?” Matteo demanded.
“Absolutely,” Augustine smiled,” Our factor there spent months watching them all to determine that very fact. Oh, and making certain they were skilled enough for our purposes.”
“Are the facilities large enough for our needs?” Celeste inquired.
“Ample enough,” the wispy bearded man shrugged,” We purchased options for the buildings nearby if we need to expand our operations.”
“How are the new smiths working out with those from Firenze?” Leonides spoke up suddenly.
“Quite well,” Augustine grinned openly,” The smiths couldn’t care less what religion a person is. They care more about skills, actually.”
“Excellent,” Leonides nodded,” What about the supply of iron and coal?”
“We’ve amassed a large stockpile in the warehouses,” Lia’s voice was soft and honey flavored,” I’ve been making sure we’ll be receiving ample supplies from now on. I had to switch suppliers twice in the last month, but I believe our problems in that area are now resolved.”
“Would it be more prudent to purchase the supplier outright?” Cosmo drank deeply from his cup of watered wine.
“No,” Matteo decided,” We’re already stretched relatively thin as it is. We’re frightening the Blues and the Greens enough, cornering more of the supply will only exacerbate the problem further. Let’s not get into a fight we can’t win, shall we?”
“Fair enough,” Cosmo nodded,” I thought it might make things easier for us in the long run.”
“It would,” Celeste agreed,” But for now we need to be a little more circumspect.”
“Especially since Leonides has basically ruined the Count,” Marika twirled a strand of black hair around her index finger idly.
“He has only himself to blame,” Lia smirked.
“Enough,” Leonides growled,” We’ll get to the Count and Oranthes soon enough. Next item of business?”
Cosmo looked at his documents and cleared his throat,” Our employment referral business is going well. We’ve gotten a large enough number of merchants and other businessmen signed up to contracts to ensure our pool of workers have places to go each week.”
“Well done, Cosmo,” Matteo bowed slightly in his seat,” I wasn’t certain this idea would actually work, but you have fulfilled the faith Leonides has put in you.”
“Thank you,” Cosmo colored slightly,” I’m still working on a few things to try and expand our reach beyond the City proper.”
“Do you really think that is necessary?” Augustine inquired, brow furrowed.
“Yes,” Leonides responded quickly,” This has to go beyond the City. If it doesn’t than we are wasting our time.”
“It’s only been two years,” Augustine reminded them all,” We’ll need more time to truly pervade the entire empire.”
“True,” Ariana agreed,” But best if we don’t slack off in the doing of it.”
Augustine raised his hands in surrender,” I’ll back off on this for now.”
Ariana swiped an errant lock of hair from her eyes,” The Hippodrome.”
Every eye turned to her in expectation.
“As you are aware over the past year the wagering system has changed,” she went on,” Now it is only by faction and the white and red factions have been squeezed out, leaving only the blues and greens.”
All around the table frowned and nodded slowly.
“Leonides has continued to build upon his initial success there,” She continued briskly,” More than half of the people there now wait to see how he will bet before doing so themselves. This has caused an unfortunate side effect though.”
“Which is what?” Celeste shuffled her own documents absently.
“The Count has raised interest rates on those who have outstanding loans with him,” Ariana grimaced,” It’s causing a ripple effect that we did not foresee.”
“What can we do about it?” Matteo frowned fiercely.
“I’m not sure,” Ariana hesitated,” If this continues it will very likely create a super noble class. One that is so wealthy that other nobles cannot be considered their equals. Quite a few indebted nobles are already feeling the pinch so much that they are selling off property as fast as they can.”
“Hence our purchase of this estate,” Leonides interrupted,” I think we can help here.”
“How?” Ariana demanded.
“We start offering loans at much lower interest rates,” he informed them,” We buy out the loans from the Count and alleviate the stresses the nobility is currently experiencing.”
“You won’t gain any friends by doing this,” Celeste shook her head,” The older set will hate you further, and those in debt will likely resent owing a young fellow. Even with lower interest rates.”
“Do you have a better suggestion?” Leonides’ left eyebrow arched in query.
“No,” Celeste shook her head again, sadly.
“Do we have the funds to really do this?” Ariana looked at Marika.
Marika was busy looking at her own papers, peering at them intently,” Yes and no.”
“Meaning?” Matteo glowered at her.
“Initially, we do,” she shot back,” However, depending how successful this new venture becomes we could find ourselves dangerously depleted of funds.”
Everyone around the table frowned, deep in thought. Leonides stood up and began pacing around the room, ignoring the chipped frescoes on the walls.
“Celeste,” he spoke suddenly.
“Leonides?”
“Will there be any useful good relations out of doing this?” he asked her.
“Some,” she admitted,” But there will always be those resentful of being debtors.”
Matteo nodded,” Agreed. But is there another way we can pull in more money to make certain we will not run low of money?”
“Not really,” Marika sighed,” Our biggest contributions come from Leonides wagering at the hippodrome.”
“What about the horse farm?” Ariana inquired with a slight smile.
“Half of that belongs to the Prince,” Marika reminded her,” Plus we don’t have enough stock there to be any good. Unless you want to sell it all off and take a loss in one way to offset the other?”
Ariana grimaced,” Never mind.”
“What about increasing the size of the wagers?” Augustine asked.
“We’ve strayed from my report,” Ariana sighed,” But there has been a cap put on the size of wagers. Which is why our resources from that quarter have begun shrinking slightly.”
“Aren’t we making a profit from our employment agency?” Celeste asked.
“Somewhat,” Marika admitted,” But Cosmo has been plugging that back into the business to expand it.”
Leonides stopped pacing and faced them,” We’ll start slowly. We’ll offer the low interest loans to those who are most beset first.”
Marika nodded slowly,” That could work.”
“You’ll have to make a list of those people,” Leonides reminded her.
She frowned,” I’m stretched as it is, Leonides.”
“Which is why you now have clerks,” he reminded her,” You don’t have to do it all alone anymore.”
She brightened,” That is true. I’d forgotten that.”
Matteo rapped the table,” Next!”
Lia sighed,” Our efforts to force the crown and the court to realize the dangerous erosion of Frankish power in the Levant have so far come to naught.”
“Why?” Matteo asked.
”The leper king has managed to keep the Saracens from swallowing his kingdom,” she replied.
“He’s still alive?” Augustine gaped.
“For now,” she frowned,” Although I have received just today a disturbing report that he might just be on his deathbed.”
“That is not good news,” Leonides rubbed his moustaches furiously,” Is there anything we can do?”
“Do you have an army?” Matteo said with bitter sarcasm.
“You know I don’t,” Leonides chided him.
“Then it is only a matter of time before Saladin takes the country,” Celeste observed sadly,” The Kingdom of Jerusalem will be thrown into chaos by his death.”
“Indeed,” Leonides agreed sadly,” I suppose we will just have to try harder to convince the Emperor and the court that something must be done.”
“He’s afraid,” Celeste said suddenly,” He won’t send troops to help. He’s afraid of the power of the Arabs and of the Rum.”
“They are just across the strait,” Lia said primly.
“But he has to think further than just right here in the City,” Augustine objected.
“No, he doesn’t,” Ariana sighed,” He likes his comforts. He is getting old now and wants nothing more than the hand off the reins of power with the empire no further eroded than it is.”
“He’s afraid that if he tries further adventures that we’ll lose more territory,” Cosmo grimaced.
“I’m not certain that he is not wrong,” Marika spoke up,” The treasury is dangerously low. The factions are too busy fighting each other to pay any attention to things outside the City, let alone beyond the imperial borders.”
“The emperor refuse to listen to us,” Celeste groaned,” We’ve been effectively locked out.”
Leonides grimaced,” God, this is hard.”
“You have the grand master plan,” Matteo reminded him.
“I didn’t realize how hard it would all be,” he sighed gustily,” Why don’t we pick this up again at the next meeting?”
“Sounds good to me,” Augustine stifled a yawn,” Did you arrange for guards for this place?”
“Yes,” Leonides responded absently,” My weapons teacher hired men he knew he could trust.”
“Good enough for me,” Matteo helped Celeste to her feet,” We’ll see you tomorrow at the races?”
”Of course,” Ariana answered,” Marika, you will have our initial coins for wagering ready?”
“Already done,” She stood up and stretched,” These seats need cushions.”
“Cushions would make us too comfortable,” Leonides reminded her,” We all agreed.”
“I know,” she nodded.
“Augustine,” Lia cooed,” Would you walk me home?”
“I’d be delighted,” he smiled.
Cosmo hurried out as well, leaving Ariana and Leonides alone in the now empty chamber.
Friday Night: May 5, 1178
Eagle Aerie
Leonides sat down at the head of the large oaken table with a sigh. It had taken him nearly two full years to manage it but he now had a core group of supporters and friends who believed as fervently as he did about the course of the empire.
His one time warder and now second in command, Matteo sat at the other end of the table conferring with Celeste and Anna. Augustine was on the left side conferring with Cosmo and Lia. Ariana sat upon his immediate left while Marika sat on his right.
“All right,” Leonides said softly,” Let’s get this started, shall we?”
“Right,” Matteo agreed, sitting back comfortably.
“What is the first order of business?” Celeste inquired.
“As you can see,” Leonides waved his arm at the large and ornate room,” The purchase of this estate is finished. I own it free and clear.”
“Is that really the first order of business?” Celeste frowned.
“Yes,” Ariana nodded,” This is going to be Eagle headquarters. We’ll keep our records stored here along with our maps and planning details. All in one place. We’ve scattered about for too long.”
Augustine grimaced,” It’s about time, too. It’s played merry hob trying to keep my end of things running smoothly without a central location to store my notes. They’ve been over at the Prince’s, my place and over yonder for far too long. I suppose I have an office?”
“With clerks,” Ariana assured him,” Which brings us to your area of responsibility.”
He nodded vigorously, his wispy beard floating serenely,” The last Jewish smith has arrived from Damascus.”
“Are you certain they are all Jewish?” Matteo demanded.
“Absolutely,” Augustine smiled,” Our factor there spent months watching them all to determine that very fact. Oh, and making certain they were skilled enough for our purposes.”
“Are the facilities large enough for our needs?” Celeste inquired.
“Ample enough,” the wispy bearded man shrugged,” We purchased options for the buildings nearby if we need to expand our operations.”
“How are the new smiths working out with those from Firenze?” Leonides spoke up suddenly.
“Quite well,” Augustine grinned openly,” The smiths couldn’t care less what religion a person is. They care more about skills, actually.”
“Excellent,” Leonides nodded,” What about the supply of iron and coal?”
“We’ve amassed a large stockpile in the warehouses,” Lia’s voice was soft and honey flavored,” I’ve been making sure we’ll be receiving ample supplies from now on. I had to switch suppliers twice in the last month, but I believe our problems in that area are now resolved.”
“Would it be more prudent to purchase the supplier outright?” Cosmo drank deeply from his cup of watered wine.
“No,” Matteo decided,” We’re already stretched relatively thin as it is. We’re frightening the Blues and the Greens enough, cornering more of the supply will only exacerbate the problem further. Let’s not get into a fight we can’t win, shall we?”
“Fair enough,” Cosmo nodded,” I thought it might make things easier for us in the long run.”
“It would,” Celeste agreed,” But for now we need to be a little more circumspect.”
“Especially since Leonides has basically ruined the Count,” Marika twirled a strand of black hair around her index finger idly.
“He has only himself to blame,” Lia smirked.
“Enough,” Leonides growled,” We’ll get to the Count and Oranthes soon enough. Next item of business?”
Cosmo looked at his documents and cleared his throat,” Our employment referral business is going well. We’ve gotten a large enough number of merchants and other businessmen signed up to contracts to ensure our pool of workers have places to go each week.”
“Well done, Cosmo,” Matteo bowed slightly in his seat,” I wasn’t certain this idea would actually work, but you have fulfilled the faith Leonides has put in you.”
“Thank you,” Cosmo colored slightly,” I’m still working on a few things to try and expand our reach beyond the City proper.”
“Do you really think that is necessary?” Augustine inquired, brow furrowed.
“Yes,” Leonides responded quickly,” This has to go beyond the City. If it doesn’t than we are wasting our time.”
“It’s only been two years,” Augustine reminded them all,” We’ll need more time to truly pervade the entire empire.”
“True,” Ariana agreed,” But best if we don’t slack off in the doing of it.”
Augustine raised his hands in surrender,” I’ll back off on this for now.”
Ariana swiped an errant lock of hair from her eyes,” The Hippodrome.”
Every eye turned to her in expectation.
“As you are aware over the past year the wagering system has changed,” she went on,” Now it is only by faction and the white and red factions have been squeezed out, leaving only the blues and greens.”
All around the table frowned and nodded slowly.
“Leonides has continued to build upon his initial success there,” She continued briskly,” More than half of the people there now wait to see how he will bet before doing so themselves. This has caused an unfortunate side effect though.”
“Which is what?” Celeste shuffled her own documents absently.
“The Count has raised interest rates on those who have outstanding loans with him,” Ariana grimaced,” It’s causing a ripple effect that we did not foresee.”
“What can we do about it?” Matteo frowned fiercely.
“I’m not sure,” Ariana hesitated,” If this continues it will very likely create a super noble class. One that is so wealthy that other nobles cannot be considered their equals. Quite a few indebted nobles are already feeling the pinch so much that they are selling off property as fast as they can.”
“Hence our purchase of this estate,” Leonides interrupted,” I think we can help here.”
“How?” Ariana demanded.
“We start offering loans at much lower interest rates,” he informed them,” We buy out the loans from the Count and alleviate the stresses the nobility is currently experiencing.”
“You won’t gain any friends by doing this,” Celeste shook her head,” The older set will hate you further, and those in debt will likely resent owing a young fellow. Even with lower interest rates.”
“Do you have a better suggestion?” Leonides’ left eyebrow arched in query.
“No,” Celeste shook her head again, sadly.
“Do we have the funds to really do this?” Ariana looked at Marika.
Marika was busy looking at her own papers, peering at them intently,” Yes and no.”
“Meaning?” Matteo glowered at her.
“Initially, we do,” she shot back,” However, depending how successful this new venture becomes we could find ourselves dangerously depleted of funds.”
Everyone around the table frowned, deep in thought. Leonides stood up and began pacing around the room, ignoring the chipped frescoes on the walls.
“Celeste,” he spoke suddenly.
“Leonides?”
“Will there be any useful good relations out of doing this?” he asked her.
“Some,” she admitted,” But there will always be those resentful of being debtors.”
Matteo nodded,” Agreed. But is there another way we can pull in more money to make certain we will not run low of money?”
“Not really,” Marika sighed,” Our biggest contributions come from Leonides wagering at the hippodrome.”
“What about the horse farm?” Ariana inquired with a slight smile.
“Half of that belongs to the Prince,” Marika reminded her,” Plus we don’t have enough stock there to be any good. Unless you want to sell it all off and take a loss in one way to offset the other?”
Ariana grimaced,” Never mind.”
“What about increasing the size of the wagers?” Augustine asked.
“We’ve strayed from my report,” Ariana sighed,” But there has been a cap put on the size of wagers. Which is why our resources from that quarter have begun shrinking slightly.”
“Aren’t we making a profit from our employment agency?” Celeste asked.
“Somewhat,” Marika admitted,” But Cosmo has been plugging that back into the business to expand it.”
Leonides stopped pacing and faced them,” We’ll start slowly. We’ll offer the low interest loans to those who are most beset first.”
Marika nodded slowly,” That could work.”
“You’ll have to make a list of those people,” Leonides reminded her.
She frowned,” I’m stretched as it is, Leonides.”
“Which is why you now have clerks,” he reminded her,” You don’t have to do it all alone anymore.”
She brightened,” That is true. I’d forgotten that.”
Matteo rapped the table,” Next!”
Lia sighed,” Our efforts to force the crown and the court to realize the dangerous erosion of Frankish power in the Levant have so far come to naught.”
“Why?” Matteo asked.
”The leper king has managed to keep the Saracens from swallowing his kingdom,” she replied.
“He’s still alive?” Augustine gaped.
“For now,” she frowned,” Although I have received just today a disturbing report that he might just be on his deathbed.”
“That is not good news,” Leonides rubbed his moustaches furiously,” Is there anything we can do?”
“Do you have an army?” Matteo said with bitter sarcasm.
“You know I don’t,” Leonides chided him.
“Then it is only a matter of time before Saladin takes the country,” Celeste observed sadly,” The Kingdom of Jerusalem will be thrown into chaos by his death.”
“Indeed,” Leonides agreed sadly,” I suppose we will just have to try harder to convince the Emperor and the court that something must be done.”
“He’s afraid,” Celeste said suddenly,” He won’t send troops to help. He’s afraid of the power of the Arabs and of the Rum.”
“They are just across the strait,” Lia said primly.
“But he has to think further than just right here in the City,” Augustine objected.
“No, he doesn’t,” Ariana sighed,” He likes his comforts. He is getting old now and wants nothing more than the hand off the reins of power with the empire no further eroded than it is.”
“He’s afraid that if he tries further adventures that we’ll lose more territory,” Cosmo grimaced.
“I’m not certain that he is not wrong,” Marika spoke up,” The treasury is dangerously low. The factions are too busy fighting each other to pay any attention to things outside the City, let alone beyond the imperial borders.”
“The emperor refuse to listen to us,” Celeste groaned,” We’ve been effectively locked out.”
Leonides grimaced,” God, this is hard.”
“You have the grand master plan,” Matteo reminded him.
“I didn’t realize how hard it would all be,” he sighed gustily,” Why don’t we pick this up again at the next meeting?”
“Sounds good to me,” Augustine stifled a yawn,” Did you arrange for guards for this place?”
“Yes,” Leonides responded absently,” My weapons teacher hired men he knew he could trust.”
“Good enough for me,” Matteo helped Celeste to her feet,” We’ll see you tomorrow at the races?”
”Of course,” Ariana answered,” Marika, you will have our initial coins for wagering ready?”
“Already done,” She stood up and stretched,” These seats need cushions.”
“Cushions would make us too comfortable,” Leonides reminded her,” We all agreed.”
“I know,” she nodded.
“Augustine,” Lia cooed,” Would you walk me home?”
“I’d be delighted,” he smiled.
Cosmo hurried out as well, leaving Ariana and Leonides alone in the now empty chamber.
Well with that last line it looks like we are also going to be beginning a dynasty soon.
I just realised that I haven't posted here for a while, sorry about that Amric.
This was an intriging update.... smiths gathering and large suplies of coal and irion, is Leonides preparing to build an arm his own army
? And he's about to start "buing the nobelmen" if he keeps this up he'll soon have a good powerbase to force his will upon the court
Anyway great update Amric
This was an intriging update.... smiths gathering and large suplies of coal and irion, is Leonides preparing to build an arm his own army
? And he's about to start "buing the nobelmen" if he keeps this up he'll soon have a good powerbase to force his will upon the court Anyway great update Amric
Good to see Leonides turning into quite the businessman. I'm sure the experience he gathers here can only be good.
Amric said:
Oh my
I have a feeling that wagering on racing will take an unexpected turn
J. Passepartout - Gee you guys always keep thinking about stuff I hadn't even considered!
Rirre - True, it has been long time no see! Thanks. He's not technically 'buying' noblemen so much as giving them the opportunity to claw their way out of massive debt. As for a private army...well, I hadn't thought of that one either!
Registered - Is that a good thing?
Duke of Wellington - I certainly hope so, anyway. We'll have to see how it all turns out.
Kelvin - You could say that. Yes, you could, indeed.
All - Well my back and entire left torso has been causing me great pain this past week so I haven't gotten an update for this yet. JP saw the one for Great Detectives I posted today. I plan to have something for this story up as soon as I can.
Rirre - True, it has been long time no see! Thanks. He's not technically 'buying' noblemen so much as giving them the opportunity to claw their way out of massive debt. As for a private army...well, I hadn't thought of that one either!
Registered - Is that a good thing?
Duke of Wellington - I certainly hope so, anyway. We'll have to see how it all turns out.
Kelvin - You could say that. Yes, you could, indeed.
All - Well my back and entire left torso has been causing me great pain this past week so I haven't gotten an update for this yet. JP saw the one for Great Detectives I posted today. I plan to have something for this story up as soon as I can.
The four settled into their seats early to get a good look at the crowd entering the Hippodrome. They had their own box, one that Leonides had purchased only a few weeks before. It directly faced the Imperial box with the famous four bronze horse statues above it. Many in the crowd still wore the traditional blue and green tunics. But there were still many who wore brown. Or a smattering that wore white or red in defiance of the collapse of their respective factions.
“Looks like a good crowd today,” Matteo observed, munching on some lamb.
“Do you have to eat every time we come here?” Ariana inquired, nose wrinkled in disgust.
“I’m hungry,” he mock whined.
“You act like a pregnant woman,” Celeste smiled indulgently at him.
“Speaking of which,” Leonides spoke up,” When is the wedding?”
“In a few months,” she replied,” We still have to get the banns posted, of course. Plus all the other little details ironed out.”
“Of course,” Ariana agreed,” It all takes so much time.”
“What about you?” Matteo licked his fingers,” Has your father relented yet?”
“Weeks ago,” she confirmed,” He’s not thrilled with Leonides being an outlander. But he can’t complain about his wealth.”
“Especially since it dwarfs his own,” Celeste laughed.
“What the hell?” Leonides gaped at the scene down at the track.
“What?” Ariana gasped in surprise.
A new faction had seemingly risen to join the blue and green. A brown clad rider paced alongside the blue and green ones as though he belonged there.
“Did you do this, Matteo?” Leonides demanded.
“Not I,” Matteo looked just as nonplussed,” We agreed it would be better to break down all factions, not start a new one.”
”Then what is that?” Leonides pointed at the brown rider in fury.
“Not my idea,” Matteo protested,” I don’t know who that fellow is. Nor why he is riding in brown colors.”
“Well someone did it,” Ariana sniffed,” Could it have been Prince Theodore?”
“Absolutely not,” Leonides replied tightly,” None of the horses from our farm would be ready for such.”
“Could it be someone else on the committee?” Celeste wondered aloud.
“Of course not,” Ariana frowned, deep in thought,” They know the overall plan. It wouldn’t be a smart move. Therefore they wouldn’t go against Leonides’ wishes.”
”Then who?” Matteo demanded,” Who would dare such a thing?”
Leonides stiffened. The others noticed his gaze at a nearby box. Oranthes sat with a smug look of satisfaction on his face, surrounded by a few toadies and armed retainers.
“Oranthes,” Matteo breathed,” That snake!”
“This is disastrous,” Celeste moaned,” He’ll ruin our reputation.”
“What reputation?” Ariana snapped,” We aren’t a faction. He’s out to ruin Leonides’ reputation.”
“I’ll not stand for this,” Matteo made to rise to his feet.
“Sit down,” Leonides’ voice was soft, but razor sharp.
Matteo sat down abruptly,” Why?”
“Because this is not going to work out like he hopes,” Leonides studied the horses on the track for a moment,” Matteo, get some of our people into the crowds. Let them know not to bet on brown, no matter what.”
”What?” Celeste gaped,” What will that do?”
“Oranthes isn’t smart enough to make any of his brown entries good enough to actually win a race,” Leonides explained quickly,” Go Matteo!”
Matteo dived out the box at a run, disappearing from view almost instantly. Bets were already being placed, quite a few on the new brown entry.
“I’ll make my bet on green,” Leonides bellowed in his loudest voice,” I wouldn’t bet on that brown horse ever! It’s nearly spavined. Only a fool would enter such a beast! Thank God I had nothing to do with this!”
“How much?” the nearest wager taker inquired nervously.
“40,000 of course,” Leonides shouted just as loudly as he had before,” Green all the way this race!”
Wagers throughout the stands nearby suddenly began shifting as more and more people were informed of Leonides’ bet and statement. Still, there were plenty who bet on brown further away and didn’t have the chance to hear Leonides.
“What about them?” Celeste inquired, pointed at the further reaches of the stadium.
“They’ll lose this wager,” Leonides shrugged,” I can’t do a thing about that. Matteo will likely have people circulating by the next race.”
Oranthes glared over the crowd at Leonides and shook his fist angrily at him. Leonides just smiled beatifically and waved back amiably.
“You’re goading him,” Ariana noted.
“Of course,” Leonides nodded in agreement,” If an enemy wishes to act in an unwise manner it behooves me to help him continue to act in that manner. It makes it much easier to defeat him.”
Ariana sighed,” You and your little sayings. It would behoove you to talk like a normal person once in awhile instead of some ancient philosopher.”
“Yes, dear,” Leonides patted her arm softly,” I will try to remember that.”
“They’re about to start the race,” Celeste said, excitement in her voice.
“Rider two of the green will take the race,” Leonides said, boredom in his voice.
“Don’t you care?” Celeste asked him.
“It’s no longer a challenge,” Leonides informed her,” I just do it to keep enough cash in our coffers. Otherwise I’d stop coming to the races. There really isn’t any sport to them any more.”
The riders began jockeying for better position as the horses ran the course. The blue riders ran individually while the green riders all worked together to help their best horse win the race. As Leonides predicted, the second green rider won the race. Matteo came puffing into the box seconds later.
“What did I miss?” he gasped, taking in deep a lungful of air.
“Nothing much,” Celeste grinned,” Leonides called it again.”
“As usual,” Matteo thumped down in his seat heavily,” I’ve got men scattering into the crowd passing the word.”
“Good,” Ariana replied as Leonides languidly looked at the next group of horses being brought into the arena.
“I’ll bet on green once more!” he shouted loudly.
He wagered 80,000 this time and watched as word of his wager swept around the Hippodrome. There didn’t seem to be a single wager on the brown being placed this time. As before, the greens worked together to ensure they won the race. All in all, each race Leonides made his pick and the wager raced around the stadium on wings. Oranthes stamped out before the start of the last race, face crimson with fury. After the last race Leonides motioned over the wager taker.
”Have my winnings delivered to my home,” he commanded.
“The Prince’s Manse,” the man responded automatically,” Of course.”
“No, Eagle Aerie,” Leonides corrected,” Not too far from the other location, but closer to the cliff.”
“The old Karrionos Manse?” the man’s eyes widened.
“That’s the one,” Leonides nodded,” Monday will be soon enough.”
”Very good, sir.”
“That was too easy,” Matteo led the way out of the box.
“It won’t be next time,” Ariana shrugged,” Even an idiot like Oranthes can learn a lesson.”
“He’ll spring a few better horses for next Saturday’s races,” Celeste nodded.
“I don’t think it will matter,” Leonides smiled.
“Why?” Matteo inquired.
“Yes, what makes you think that?” Ariana chimed in.
“Because a single rider can’t win now,” Leonides informed them,” Did you notice the greens working together today?”
“Yes,” Matteo growled.
“It seemed a little unfair to me,” Celeste stepped around some litter.
“I noticed,” Ariana motioned their retinue to join them.
“The blues will start doing that as well,” Leonides predicted,” No single rider will have a chance to win now.”
“Ah,” Matteo nodded,” I see your point.”
The girls agreed silently.
“I think we’ll have to stop coming to the Hippodrome soon,” Leonides grimaced,” I think we’ve just about used it up.”
“It’s a grand cash generator,” Ariana objected.
“We’re about to make others look at us as a faction,” Leonides shrugged,” We have to pull back from there for a while. If we don’t we risk making a ‘brown’ faction a reality.”
“So many of the blues think we are anyway,” Matteo replied,” Will it really matter after all?”
“There is no way we can pull everyone into one faction,” Leonides reminded them,” We have to break all of them. Completely. No one faction can dominate. If the past 600 years haven’t taught us that, then we’re wasting our time.”
“There are those who would oppose any faction just because they can,” Celeste agreed,” Yet a completely factionless City. I can’t think of a time that has happened.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Leonides made a chopping motion with his left hand,” It must be done. An empire united, without factions, is the only way it can survive.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Ariana reminded him.
“Choir?”
“Never mind,” she sighed.
“I know you all know this,” Leonides grimaced,” It’s making the average imperial citizen understand that is so difficult.”
“We’ve got time,” Matteo patted his shoulder,” We’ll get there.”
“I hope so,” Leonides smiled bravely,” There are just times I despair of it actually happening.”
“You aren’t losing hope are you?” Ariana looked concerned.
“Not really,” Leonides responded slowly,” I just wish it would happen faster.”
“We’re getting closer,” she told him,” I can feel it.”
“I can’t,” he confided,” There still has to be a few more things done, I think.”
“Looks like a good crowd today,” Matteo observed, munching on some lamb.
“Do you have to eat every time we come here?” Ariana inquired, nose wrinkled in disgust.
“I’m hungry,” he mock whined.
“You act like a pregnant woman,” Celeste smiled indulgently at him.
“Speaking of which,” Leonides spoke up,” When is the wedding?”
“In a few months,” she replied,” We still have to get the banns posted, of course. Plus all the other little details ironed out.”
“Of course,” Ariana agreed,” It all takes so much time.”
“What about you?” Matteo licked his fingers,” Has your father relented yet?”
“Weeks ago,” she confirmed,” He’s not thrilled with Leonides being an outlander. But he can’t complain about his wealth.”
“Especially since it dwarfs his own,” Celeste laughed.
“What the hell?” Leonides gaped at the scene down at the track.
“What?” Ariana gasped in surprise.
A new faction had seemingly risen to join the blue and green. A brown clad rider paced alongside the blue and green ones as though he belonged there.
“Did you do this, Matteo?” Leonides demanded.
“Not I,” Matteo looked just as nonplussed,” We agreed it would be better to break down all factions, not start a new one.”
”Then what is that?” Leonides pointed at the brown rider in fury.
“Not my idea,” Matteo protested,” I don’t know who that fellow is. Nor why he is riding in brown colors.”
“Well someone did it,” Ariana sniffed,” Could it have been Prince Theodore?”
“Absolutely not,” Leonides replied tightly,” None of the horses from our farm would be ready for such.”
“Could it be someone else on the committee?” Celeste wondered aloud.
“Of course not,” Ariana frowned, deep in thought,” They know the overall plan. It wouldn’t be a smart move. Therefore they wouldn’t go against Leonides’ wishes.”
”Then who?” Matteo demanded,” Who would dare such a thing?”
Leonides stiffened. The others noticed his gaze at a nearby box. Oranthes sat with a smug look of satisfaction on his face, surrounded by a few toadies and armed retainers.
“Oranthes,” Matteo breathed,” That snake!”
“This is disastrous,” Celeste moaned,” He’ll ruin our reputation.”
“What reputation?” Ariana snapped,” We aren’t a faction. He’s out to ruin Leonides’ reputation.”
“I’ll not stand for this,” Matteo made to rise to his feet.
“Sit down,” Leonides’ voice was soft, but razor sharp.
Matteo sat down abruptly,” Why?”
“Because this is not going to work out like he hopes,” Leonides studied the horses on the track for a moment,” Matteo, get some of our people into the crowds. Let them know not to bet on brown, no matter what.”
”What?” Celeste gaped,” What will that do?”
“Oranthes isn’t smart enough to make any of his brown entries good enough to actually win a race,” Leonides explained quickly,” Go Matteo!”
Matteo dived out the box at a run, disappearing from view almost instantly. Bets were already being placed, quite a few on the new brown entry.
“I’ll make my bet on green,” Leonides bellowed in his loudest voice,” I wouldn’t bet on that brown horse ever! It’s nearly spavined. Only a fool would enter such a beast! Thank God I had nothing to do with this!”
“How much?” the nearest wager taker inquired nervously.
“40,000 of course,” Leonides shouted just as loudly as he had before,” Green all the way this race!”
Wagers throughout the stands nearby suddenly began shifting as more and more people were informed of Leonides’ bet and statement. Still, there were plenty who bet on brown further away and didn’t have the chance to hear Leonides.
“What about them?” Celeste inquired, pointed at the further reaches of the stadium.
“They’ll lose this wager,” Leonides shrugged,” I can’t do a thing about that. Matteo will likely have people circulating by the next race.”
Oranthes glared over the crowd at Leonides and shook his fist angrily at him. Leonides just smiled beatifically and waved back amiably.
“You’re goading him,” Ariana noted.
“Of course,” Leonides nodded in agreement,” If an enemy wishes to act in an unwise manner it behooves me to help him continue to act in that manner. It makes it much easier to defeat him.”
Ariana sighed,” You and your little sayings. It would behoove you to talk like a normal person once in awhile instead of some ancient philosopher.”
“Yes, dear,” Leonides patted her arm softly,” I will try to remember that.”
“They’re about to start the race,” Celeste said, excitement in her voice.
“Rider two of the green will take the race,” Leonides said, boredom in his voice.
“Don’t you care?” Celeste asked him.
“It’s no longer a challenge,” Leonides informed her,” I just do it to keep enough cash in our coffers. Otherwise I’d stop coming to the races. There really isn’t any sport to them any more.”
The riders began jockeying for better position as the horses ran the course. The blue riders ran individually while the green riders all worked together to help their best horse win the race. As Leonides predicted, the second green rider won the race. Matteo came puffing into the box seconds later.
“What did I miss?” he gasped, taking in deep a lungful of air.
“Nothing much,” Celeste grinned,” Leonides called it again.”
“As usual,” Matteo thumped down in his seat heavily,” I’ve got men scattering into the crowd passing the word.”
“Good,” Ariana replied as Leonides languidly looked at the next group of horses being brought into the arena.
“I’ll bet on green once more!” he shouted loudly.
He wagered 80,000 this time and watched as word of his wager swept around the Hippodrome. There didn’t seem to be a single wager on the brown being placed this time. As before, the greens worked together to ensure they won the race. All in all, each race Leonides made his pick and the wager raced around the stadium on wings. Oranthes stamped out before the start of the last race, face crimson with fury. After the last race Leonides motioned over the wager taker.
”Have my winnings delivered to my home,” he commanded.
“The Prince’s Manse,” the man responded automatically,” Of course.”
“No, Eagle Aerie,” Leonides corrected,” Not too far from the other location, but closer to the cliff.”
“The old Karrionos Manse?” the man’s eyes widened.
“That’s the one,” Leonides nodded,” Monday will be soon enough.”
”Very good, sir.”
“That was too easy,” Matteo led the way out of the box.
“It won’t be next time,” Ariana shrugged,” Even an idiot like Oranthes can learn a lesson.”
“He’ll spring a few better horses for next Saturday’s races,” Celeste nodded.
“I don’t think it will matter,” Leonides smiled.
“Why?” Matteo inquired.
“Yes, what makes you think that?” Ariana chimed in.
“Because a single rider can’t win now,” Leonides informed them,” Did you notice the greens working together today?”
“Yes,” Matteo growled.
“It seemed a little unfair to me,” Celeste stepped around some litter.
“I noticed,” Ariana motioned their retinue to join them.
“The blues will start doing that as well,” Leonides predicted,” No single rider will have a chance to win now.”
“Ah,” Matteo nodded,” I see your point.”
The girls agreed silently.
“I think we’ll have to stop coming to the Hippodrome soon,” Leonides grimaced,” I think we’ve just about used it up.”
“It’s a grand cash generator,” Ariana objected.
“We’re about to make others look at us as a faction,” Leonides shrugged,” We have to pull back from there for a while. If we don’t we risk making a ‘brown’ faction a reality.”
“So many of the blues think we are anyway,” Matteo replied,” Will it really matter after all?”
“There is no way we can pull everyone into one faction,” Leonides reminded them,” We have to break all of them. Completely. No one faction can dominate. If the past 600 years haven’t taught us that, then we’re wasting our time.”
“There are those who would oppose any faction just because they can,” Celeste agreed,” Yet a completely factionless City. I can’t think of a time that has happened.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Leonides made a chopping motion with his left hand,” It must be done. An empire united, without factions, is the only way it can survive.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Ariana reminded him.
“Choir?”
“Never mind,” she sighed.
“I know you all know this,” Leonides grimaced,” It’s making the average imperial citizen understand that is so difficult.”
“We’ve got time,” Matteo patted his shoulder,” We’ll get there.”
“I hope so,” Leonides smiled bravely,” There are just times I despair of it actually happening.”
“You aren’t losing hope are you?” Ariana looked concerned.
“Not really,” Leonides responded slowly,” I just wish it would happen faster.”
“We’re getting closer,” she told him,” I can feel it.”
“I can’t,” he confided,” There still has to be a few more things done, I think.”
Good to see Leonides confident as usual. Several mansions now belong to him . Looks like things are getting tricky in the Hippodrome.
. Looks like things are getting tricky in the Hippodrome.
So.... no more money from the racese.... oh well, all good things must come to an end, but something tells me that they won't have any (big) problems finding a new source of income. Perhaps selling some of the lower quality weapons that they produce so that their enemys think them self well armed, then when the fighting begins they'll be cut down like grass
Anyway it was a nice read as allways Amric please keep on writing.
Anyway it was a nice read as allways Amric please keep on writing.
Duke of Wellington - Tricky is an understatement... It can't all go his way without some kind of fight. Oranthes isn't done either, believe me...
Snake IV - That wasn't aimed at you. I was trying to portray a kind of curse that would be relevant for the time.
J. Passepartout - You're just hoping for a knock down drag out fight between the two of them. Leonides isn't going to scalp him......Well, not physically, anyway...
Rirre - You have a lot of confidence in a phantom army's skills... I haven't even decided what he's going to do with all that stuff. He just told me that it was something he was going to do. Who am I to argue with the Great Khan?
Vann the Red - Thanks. Apparently I had gotten a kidney infection along with the stones. But the meds seem to be working, for now.
Kelvin - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. As I wrote before, the meds for the infection seem to be working.
All - Still in background mode, of course. Things really don't start happening for the big scores until Barbarossa arrives. Plus I want to continue to show Leonides' spreading influence in the City.
It can't all go his way without some kind of fight. Oranthes isn't done either, believe me...Snake IV - That wasn't aimed at you. I was trying to portray a kind of curse that would be relevant for the time.
J. Passepartout - You're just hoping for a knock down drag out fight between the two of them. Leonides isn't going to scalp him......Well, not physically, anyway...
Rirre - You have a lot of confidence in a phantom army's skills...
I haven't even decided what he's going to do with all that stuff. He just told me that it was something he was going to do. Who am I to argue with the Great Khan?Vann the Red - Thanks. Apparently I had gotten a kidney infection along with the stones. But the meds seem to be working, for now.
Kelvin - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. As I wrote before, the meds for the infection seem to be working.
All - Still in background mode, of course. Things really don't start happening for the big scores until Barbarossa arrives. Plus I want to continue to show Leonides' spreading influence in the City.
Ack, I'm behind! Some good Hippodrome intrigue, here. I love it when you can communicate so much meaning in a few words and a look. Good stuff, Amric.
Good to hear the meds are working for you. Should be a relatively easy infection (normally) to deal with. They give you the sulfa-based meds that produce such frightening colors? ;-)
Vann
Vann
Amric said:Rirre - You have a lot of confidence in a phantom army's skills...
I was thinking more on selling them to external enemys like the turks or something, so that thay can't fight when the legions march.