The Elder Explains

The davar ran a hand through his hair, and then placed it on his waist, with the elbow out. He was unsettled by the elder's statement, but chose his words carefully.

"Who? There are lot of people involved with this. And how are they going to take care of it? If something is going on, I need to know."

The elder sighed. "I am not trying to conceal things. And I am not saying that everything is absolutely or finally settled. Here. Let's walk to the spring, and get a drink. I am getting a little thristy. And I will give you a little background as to what is going on, provided that you are discreet about it. Perhaps I should have told you more, and told it sooner, but I did not think that it would ever be a matter that would affect you, and didn't see any reason to bring it up."

As they walked to the spring, the elder started, "As you know, on the other side of the Old Frontier Road, disputes are settled by manorial justice. You and I know that there are problems with that. Manorial justice works well enough when nobody travels more then a half a league from where they are born, and the local lords can ignore or cooperate with other lords. And the king has not named a satrap over the Tenge.

"I know."

"Shaheen Agha, it is not that easy. It will take a special person to organize the Tenge, and quite frankly, if the king chose someone from inside, there would be trouble as he might be seen favoring one side over the others. If the king chose someone from the outside, then everyone would at least think about resisting. Leaving manorial justice in place ensures that the current turmoil continues, but that outright civil war does not break out.

"But," the davar said.

"But .... time does not stand still. The interior is not what it was thirty years ago, or even ten. You know as well as I do that thing are taking place there that require some way of resolving disputes between men who have grown locally powerful."

"Indeed. That is why I am trying to make an example of this crime."

"OK. Let me tell it to you straight. There is a lot of trade in exotic products going on. It is making some people rich, and helping the general prosperity. Every factor in the trade makes up the rules as he goes along. Some people want it bring more formal rules to it, for everybody, as well as some oversight. Most people do not want to see royal interference - and taxes."

"But I know that you are not trying to break the law. Right?"

"Just the reverse. I would like to help establish the law, in the cleanest way that I can. Taxes are going to come eventually - I am not trying to dodge those. But the trade is doing great things right now. That rose is an example of the fruits of trade - a little luxury that uplifts a man's spirit. Most of what is produced is good. But there is friction now, and the competition is getting cutthroat. Literally in some cases. The current state of the Tenge is bad for business."

The davar replied, "So have you gone to the king?"

"We need to. But we need to prepare things first, to make it easy for him. If he tries to impose the law without getting some of the leading factors on his side, then things could go very badly."

"For whom?"

The elder frowned, as he was surprised at the implication that he was advocating usurping the king's perogative purely for his own selfish purposes. He then replied, "For everybody. Not only for the leading traders, but for the couriers, farmers, and people associated with the trade. Not to mention that there is the possibility of a civil war if things go very badly. It would be better to get the leading factors in the Tenge in agreement before the king imposes a solution."

"That sounds like putting the cart before the horse. The king, or his satrap, set the rules."

The elder looked at him with a smirk. He responded, "I admire your belief in the obedience of the people. But, uh, let's be realistic. If the king were to appoint, uh, a Gilder say, to be satrap of the Tenge, what do you think might happen?"

The davar arched his eyebrows, and then said, "All right. So what are you trying to do, to help bring law to the interior of the Tenge? And how is this going to reassure me that I am not going to have trading companies killing each other's members in the streets of Darvazde Yepenhan?"

"I am glad that we are getting to the point. Some of the leading factors - you know some of them. Doazda, Ghermiz, Khiavan Agha ..."

"Khiavan?"

"It is not purely about riches. Khiavan's interest is philosophical."

"Go on."

"And some others, have decided to band together into an association of alchemists. They would set some rules, and impose an internal discipline. This would include a sort of guild court to resolve internal disputes. What I am hoping is that we can pursuade the majority of the alchemists to see the value of the organization, join it, and accept some form of discipline."

"A sort of unofficial satrapy."

"It would bring some organization to the Tenge. The representative of the king could build on that at some later time. There is a secret congress going on right now, to try to establish the organization."

"And they now have the power to stop the feuds?"

"You tell me. Who did the factors in the incident work for?"

"Hesht works for a variety of people - but Ghermiz was one of them."

"Good. And the others?"

"Astra is a wild card. Apparently Hesht's companion."

"I expect to hear from one of the organization's men shortly. But I can assure you that they will give complete and total cooperation. Whatever it takes to defuse the situation and resume the trade."

"Magog and Gog worked for a man named Nozh. I know a little about him. He does not seem to be the type that would be part of an association like this."

"He is not."

1. But I have talked personally with Nozh today. Tough man. But he will also give you complete cooperation. He is no fool - the crackdown is killing his trade, too.
2. That is not good news at all. He is the one man who insists on running his own affairs - with a greater passion than anyone else. He will not scruple at using violence. I would watch myself.

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