Broker - CH2 - (Patreon)

Alex grunted and tried again.

Struggling with the bar of metal in one hand and the back of a knife in the other.

He was fighting with himself as much as he did the tool, he wasn’t even sure if he was doing it right.

“You’re not doing it right,” Leah said as she appeared on the opposite side of him.

Her sudden appearance startled him, causing him drop what he thought was the flint straight into the tinder pile.

“Considering I’ve been trying at this for about an hour, I imagined I was,” Alex muttered.

Fishing the flint out of the pile he gestured at it.

“Care to help me out then? Because at this rate you might as well kill me. I have no idea where I am, what’s going on, or even how to survive out here. I’m no woodsman.

“I’m a glorified desk jockey,” Alex said angrily.

“You’re… not wrong. I did send you off rather abruptly, but I’ll not apologize for that. Nothing stands between my husband and I.”

“Oh? And where is he then. I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“He’s asleep. He spent some time with each of us and then passed out. Now, as to being here, you’re right. I normally wouldn’t.

“But you already sent a soul my way in the first day. That felt like something worth rewarding for having been here less time than it took to take a crap.

“Oh, and be sure to dig the crystal out of your pack and put it somewhere safe. It’s already quite black so you’re paid up for the month,” she said. “And because you did so well, I’ll provide you with some guidance.

“Head south. Reach the city of Brit. Announce yourself as Alexander Brit, and the rest will be solved for you. Don’t worry about not knowing anyone. I’ll fill in the blanks as needed.”

Alex sighed, nodding his head. At least he had a direction now.

“Great. Any chance you could-” he stopped when he realized she was already gone.

“-help me with the fire,” he finished.

Grumbling to no one, he gave up on it and got as comfortable as he could.

He just hoped it wasn’t going to get cold tonight.

“That’d be great. Freeze to death before I even know what the hell is going on.”

***

Up ahead were two guards dressed in what looked like rigid leather armor. Alex really wasn’t quite sure since, well, he knew very little about arms and armaments.

They appeared to be outfitted in what he could only assume was the local colors and expectation of guards.

Behind them was a rather large wooden palisade. It stretched for quite a while. Between two large wooden towers was an open gate.

Inside that gate lay what looked like something he’d seen in any number of fantasy movies.

Houses, people, streets, it all looked like a documentary.

Well, so long as you added about ten pounds of dirt to everyone and everything.

It looked rather unhealthy.

With any luck, we can get this squared away, and I can maybe get some information. Maybe a shower and a clean set of clothes.

Not completely impossible though, given that my family name is the same as the city… I imagine I might be in the leading family.

Son of the… whatever… maybe? Nephew? Son-in-law? Cousin?

“Stop right there. Declare yourself,” said the guard when Alex got close enough.

Taking a breath, Alex looked to the guard who’d confronted him.

“I’m Alexan-”

“Count Brit! You’re safe!” said the other guard, bowing to him immediately.

Apparently I’m a count. The count?

Sounds like they didn’t know where I was.

The first guard who’d challenged him bowed immediately after the second.

We can use this. If we’re the count, and we control everyone, could we support a Leah is the one to swear on type of campaign? Let’s get everything set up on the assumption that yes, we can, and go from there.

And then-

Before Alex had time to react, a contingent of soldiers broke out of a door from the tower he hadn’t noticed. Freezing up like a deer in headlights, Alex didn’t move as they rushed towards him.

They formed up around him, and then closed in, pressing him tight between them.

Those guards at Alex’s sides secured him, and suddenly he was being hustled into the city.

People were shoved out of the way. The soldiers were moving at a pretty fast pace, Alex more or less being carried along at this point.

Houses that resembled hovels went by quickly.

Replaced by houses that were clearly elevated in station. The buildings kept growing ever larger as he was rushed along, Alex couldn’t help but wonder at the obvious disparity.

Having classes is a positive thing I would say. It’s the gap between that makes the problems.

The disparity.

Racing him up along a boulevard, he finally had an idea of where they were taking him. At the end of the boulevard was what he could only mentally label as a castle wall.

It was a large impressive thing made of stone. Towers were dotted all along it’s length and were very clearly manned.

No sooner than they rushed him up to the gate entrance, than the guards fell away.

A new set of guards, dressed in chain mail and simple metal breastplates, took the place of the first set. Alex was pressed in tightly to the center, and whisked away, ever deeper into the city.

Not fighting, or even considering resisting, Alex did his best to not be a burden.

He was fairly certain they were doing this out of fear for his safety, but one never made it without having a healthy amount of caution.

In no time at all, Alex found himself in what was clearly a keep. A stone monstrosity that rose up in a secured location in interior of the middle of the wall.

Not bothering to keep up with what was going on, Alex only paid attention when the guards suddenly peeled away from him.

Standing in a richly appointed bedroom he watched as maids and servants scurried out the door. The guards all bowed, and exited as quickly as they’d rushed him in.

All was silent as Alex was suddenly alone in what he assumed was his bedroom.

Laid out on the bed was a set of clothes, and on the table was fresh fruit and cheese.

“Uh…” Alex said, doing a brief inspection of the room. “Hello?”

No one was there.

Frowning, Alex went over to the clothing that’d been laid out and lifted the tunic up. Turning slightly he saw himself in the mirror for the first time.

A green eyed, and brown haired, Alex Brit stared back at him. Alex was apparently young in years. Perhaps in mid twenties to early thirties. Despite looking disheveled, he was clearly handsome and had a good physique, if without muscle.

Before he could do anything more than that the door swung open and several men came in.

“Count Brit!” said the older gentleman in the center, bowing as soon as he spoke.

Walter Ciril, chamberlain.

The information came from nowhere and just popped up in his thoughts.

What? Is this what she was talking about?

“Count,” said the man on Walter’s left, dressed in full armor. He bowed as deeply as Walter, if hesitating for only a second.

Maxwell Bench, city commander.

The man on Walter’s right bowed, saying nothing.

Frederick Wills, envoy to the king.

Alright… I’m guessing these three must be responsible for the city when I’m gone. Otherwise why would they rush to see me?

Temporary council of Brit. Enacted by the envoy to govern the city in the count’s absence. No other living members of the Brit family exist.

Ok, handy for the information to just provide itself. It’d be nice if it was in advance but… whatever.

“Greetings, Walter, Maxwell, Frederick. I apologize in advance but I’m afraid… I took a blow to the head. Some of my memories, and even my thoughts, are a bit fuzzy,” Alex said, trying to get ahead of any strangeness they would notice about him.

“Of course, Count,” Walter said, as all three men stood up. “No man could undergo what you did and come out the same. I’m sure.”

The envoy gave him a predatory smile.

“We’re simply glad to have you back, count,” said Frederick.

Uh huh. You were probably hoping to benefit from this. You may not have been responsible, but you’re still a problem.

“Sir, my sincerest apologies. This is entirely my fault,” Maxwell said, bowing again, and then falling to a knee.

Kidnapping and capture of Alexander Brit was due to Alexander Brit’s illegal gambling activities.

Of course it was. Because only a person willing to bargain their soul to Leah would be part of a deal like this. So… I’m not a good person I imagine.

That’s fine.

“Ah, no, Max,” Alex said, shortening the man’s name. “It wasn’t. This was my fault. And I’ve learned from my mistakes this time. It’ll not happen again, and I plan on making sure this is the last time you will ever be put in this position.”

Max lifted his head and stared hard at Alex.

Walter looked rather confused himself. He opened his mouth only to close it again.

“I mean it. I know this was my own fault, and it’ll be the last related to that,” Alex said, giving them a smile.

I can do this. It’s just like managing a company from the top. Not a big deal.

We just have to keep everything in line for the CEO, and the board.

“I’d like to put several meetings together today,” Alex continued before anyone could respond. “I’d like to have our accounts audited. I have a sudden need to know where everything is, and how much of it we have.

“After that, I’d like to have a performance review for everyone in the keep itself. Then to the inner-courtyard. And after that, everyone we’re paying for in the city.

“I imagine it’ll be a good time for a payscale evaluation to make sure we’re at market value.”

Good time for a loyalty check.

Loyalty to the Count is insured by an allegiance oath, that brings death and loss of one’s soul upon being broken. The soul is sent to whoever is sworn on the allegiance oath.

All those sworn will wear a pin that holds their oath on their lapel or collar, and is in the crest of they are sworn to.

Pins can be determined as genuine by simply touching it.

Huh. Reacts to my thoughts too, huh? Unnerving.

A bit too convenient for my own liking. Or my paranoia. Or both.

But… that makes it easier I suppose as far as loyalty goes. Don’t have to worry about internal politics.

Max stood up slowly, his armor rattling as he did so. Walter and Frederick were both wearing shocked faces.

Now that Alex looked, Max and Walter were both wearing a pin on their collars. The design on both was a square with a blue background. On that field of blue was a slash from one corner to another in black, and across the middle was a raven.

The one on Frederick’s was different, and was a purple square that held a golden crown.

Guessing the blue raven is me, and the crown is the king.

What else would matter to a medeval city?

Food and trade probably. This is more than likely a silver and gold standard, right?

No paper currency.

“At the same time, we’ll need to evaluate our trade. Both incoming and outgoing. This is doubly so for taxes and tariffs.

“And lastly, but probably not least, food. I’d really like to get a handle on where we are with production, consumption, and forecasted harvest numbers.

“Admittedly that’ll be weak given that we don’t control the weather, but it’s worth doing if at least to have a gauge to work off of.”

Max, Walter, and Frederick, were all motionless.

Unspeaking.

“Is there a problem with any of those requests?” Alex asked, looking from one to another.

Frederick cleared his throat and held out a pin to him.

“Here is your allegiance pin, I think it would be good for you to fasten it back to your collar. It was sent to us with your ransom letter,” the envoy said.

Alex nodded his head and took the pin from the man and held it up in his hand.

“As you like,” Alex said, then turned and fastened it to the collar of the shirt laid out for him. Getting it fastened in place, he pulled the clothes he was wearing off, and got into the clothes laid out for him.

Alex had led a full life, and stripping down to his under shorts in front of three men didn’t disturb him in the least.

Having to do this for some of those cute female doctors every year was more embarrassing. Always ended up with the young ones with no experience with our health plan.

In no time at all, he was dressed in the new clothes, and idly fingered the pin, turning to the envoy.

They’re nervous by my change in personality.

That’s fine. We’ll blame this all on my ordeal, and that I’ve grown into my title.

Reaching up he pressed his fingers to the pin on his collar.

“I, Alex Brit, remain a faithful retainer to the one true and only king, but I’ll no longer be blind to my own duties. Anything else you’d have me take care of? Or can we move on to my requests?” Alex asked. 

All three men waited, as if expecting something to happen to Alex.

“If you three aren’t up to the task, I don’t have any other choice but to start looking for-”

“No, no, sire. I can take care of everything you’ve asked,” Walter said, hurrying forward two steps and bowing deeply again.

“My liege,” Max said, bowing as well. “I’ll not fail.”

“Great. Now, Fred, can I call you Fred? I want to talk about the laws of the land versus the laws of the County, and where I can institute some new policies,” Alex said, walking over to a table.

He pulled out a chair and sat down. With a smile for Fred, he gestured to a nearby chair.

Now to find out how much leeway we truly have.

***

Alex stared out the window of his bedroom.

It’d been a month since he’d entered the city.

He’d been surprised with how quickly he adapted to a life that was fairly medieval.

Everyone chalked up his change in personality, needs, and desires, down to what happened with him. Alex would be the last person to dissuade them of that belief as well.

In the same period of time, he’d gotten a full run down on everything that was ongoing in his lands.

The long and the short of it was, Alex had been the major contributing factor to the County losing money. His domain was rather successful on food and trade alone.

This was mostly owed to his father. Policies and procedures had been set down to encourage growth, development, and self improvement.

Now, farmers owned their own lands and had invested heavily in their development. Merchants ran and owned companies that operated directly out of Brit.

The roads were patrolled at no expense to the people, and merchants were taxed at a level that was enough to stimulate trade, but to still fill the treasury.

After his talk with Fred, Alex found that crown law only worked for things that needed the kings attention. Luckily for Alex, the king concerned himself with little outside of his personal pleasantries and treachery.

On top of that, Alex was the only ranked member of the peerage in all of Brit.

Which meant that almost everything having to do with the County of Brit, was the domain of the Count of Brit.

Alex had immediately moved to decrease the power and influence of the envoy. He removed him from anything and everything that wasn’t commissioned or put in place by the king, and leveraged a buy out of all the man’s interests and businesses.

As if sensing the dramatic change in the situation, Fred had immediately put in a request to Alex to return to the capital. Of course Alex agreed to that immediately.

Alex imagined the man would be asking for a transfer to another city.

And that had been the end of any concerns of internal politics.

Sighing, he wondered how to bring about a situation where he could leverage deals made to Leah. In the casual conversations he’d had with people, Leah was viewed with extreme distrust, and distaste.

Those who swore on her, were viewed as unclean, and possibly evil.

Quite the difficulty there. It means that any deals I make, have to be done in such a way that secrecy can be guaranteed.

Glancing down to the multifaceted crystal in his hand, he couldn’t help but frown.

The whole thing fit in his palm. It had been dark as ink the day previous, and now was as clear as glass. The monthly debt was now in effect.

Unfortunately Alex had no idea how to cut a deal with anyone, either.

“Is that it?” asked the peasant woman in his bed.

“Yeah, you’re done. Keep to the oath Marta or lose your life and soul,” Alex said, reminding her of the agreement she swore to.

“Of course. Your gold bought your secret as well as me,” Marta said.

Alex didn’t bother to turn around and look at her. She’d whored herself out to him for two gold coins.

To him, it was less than they probably spent on his breakfast. He knew to her it was more than she could hope to earn in a year.

Most women didn’t hold professions, and those who did, received pay in food or barter, rather than coin.

“I’d be willing to do this again another time,” Marta the whore said.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Keep to the story. Leave,” Alex said, flicking a hand over his shoulder.

He’d found her wanting to apply for a job as a maid earlier in the day.

Struck by a sudden idea, and offering her a chance to make more than she ever could as a maid, he’d propositioned her. He figured having a woman sell herself for coin, and swear it on Leah, might fill in a bit of the crystal.

The crystal appeared as clear as it had earlier, without even a shadow of change.

Apparently having a whore sell herself did little to nothing. Is it because Marta had no value? Because she was willing to do it without a worry?

It was something to consider for sure. Deals may have more intrinsic value that he’d originally banked on.

At least I got laid.

Pity she was awful.