Working Capital

Lord Fred and the rest of the company had a problem. With Solbert departing with the renegades that had captured them on the Elaine, they were all now free, but broke. And they not only had to arrange their keep, but they had to find out where Astra was, and arrange horse (or ship) and provisions. And then they would have to find a way into the interior, past Grand Land, through or around the Four Boroughs, and to the Dolomite League. It was Checkers' guess that her homeland lay between 420 and 430 leagues, and just a little north of due east from Tupport. So the journey would require that they join one of the rare caravans to the interior, or they would have to buy or find food and shelter.

There was always a demand to haul cargo, and so Fred hauled cargo, as there was little need for warriors or heroes at this time in Tupport. Jan gutted fish at the Four Winds, a local hostel. In addition to some of the copper bits that were the small change of Tupport, he did get a chance to sleep on the floor of the large public room in the hostel for free, and stay out of the cold and rain. Sartoma managed to get a few coppers and her place in the hostel through as a maid. One would have thought that she could use her magic to avoid that, but she did not wish to advertise her ability, and she had the handicap of not knowing the primary language of the place, which limited her usefulness in the learned arts. Checkers, who could speak Barque, although with a distinct accent of Archangel's east, chose not to stay in the hostel, but rather joined the company for what was usually a modest lunch of fish and vegetables at the hostel.

Fred, Sartoma, and Jan were taking lunch on the floor, sitting cross- legged and holding zarfs with bowls of stew. It had been a week since Solbert had left.

Fred said, "I get paid tomorrow night. I will have three bits of copper, after expenses."

Jan said, "I will get five."

Sartoma replied, "I have a silver piece and two bits. So that puts us at 2 silvers even, without counting the 2 guilders that Fred has in safekeeping. Where's Checkers?"

Fred said, "She is going out exploring. She left me two bits, and a diptych and stylus that we could sell in case of need."

Sartoma said, "Is that wise? I would think that she should stay around."

Fred replied, "I let her go. She needs some time away."

Sartoma replied, "I do not know that this is the time to wander around. We are going to be here for a long time if we don't get some more money. I don't want to have to start doing dishonourable things, like stealing."

Jan said, "We have to do what we have to do. I know that you don't want to let people know of your powers, Sartoma. But those that can speak silently, or the ones that can move things without touching them, are not unheard of. The Lords of the Sea hire them, and there are probably two dozen magic users in this town, although none are as good as what I have seen you do. Maybe it would not hurt to apply that to some line of work."

Sartoma replied, "I have an idea. But I was hoping to have more working capital. I was hoping to get at least twenty pieces of silver, which is worth one of their gold sovereigns. There is little to do here but drink, eat, work, tell stories - and gamble. Those two dozen mages that you talk about, Jan? I know, that tomorrow night, after everyone gets paid, most of the men of the town - and even many of the women - will gamble on a game that they call Forty-Two, right at the courtyard of this inn."

Jan replied, "I know. I am going to be busy that day. The inn does a brisk business with meat and drink."

Fred said, "Your going to wager the twenty-two bits that we have on a game of chance?"

Sartoma replied, "Forty-two is not a game of chance. At least not the way that I am going to play it."

Jan said, "You are taking a huge risk! Those that are not mages will be furious if they suspect that you are using magical means! The mages will be especially furious. Especially the movers - and everyone in town knows who there are. They have their own game, and consider it a point of honour not to cheat those that do not have the gift."

Sartoma said, "If I haven't done anything dishonourable yet, I am not going to start now. Besides, those without the gift don't have the richest game. I intend on challenging the mages, at the Big Game."

Jan replied, "Then it is a game of chance again."

Sartoma replied, "No. It is a game of pure skill. We each try to manipulate the dice to fall in a way favourable to us. I have sized up the townsmen. They are good enough when following a magical script, but are not true mages. And besides, I strongly suspect that I am the only lady here gifted in the arcane arts. They have noticed me, but not for my ability. I should do very well."

Jan replied, "I wonder what the smallest allowable bet is?"

Sartoma said, "Could you find that out? I fear that while copper is good for most games, that silver will be required for the Big Game. And that is what we do not have."

Jan, with his knowledge of the local language, soon finds out about the Big Game.

"It is as you feared. It is a simple game. But it is at least a silver piece a throw, and can get as high as a half sovereign [10 silver] later in the night. Six dice - each person throws across a table and hits a pine board, or it doesn't count. If the total of the two throws is over 42, the first person wins. If it is under, the last person wins. If it is exactly 42, two more silver piece are added and you go again.

"Two silver is a thin reserve," said Sartoma. "Especially as there will possibly be an unusually high number of 42s."

Fred seems to think that Sartoma's plan has merit. The problem is, that at least early in the game, she had to be absolutely perfect, or they would not even have enough to eat without tapping into Astra's precious hoard of the two guilders.

Fred suggests

1. that he and Jan can use the small change and gamble against the non-mages, hoping to increase the stake.
2. that Sartoma try to pursuade one of the other mages to loan her a few silver pieces.

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