The Champion's Companion Ch. 11

"That also sounds like a good idea." Kaarthen said, thinking nearly the same thing. The prince won't be messed up the whole time. Perhaps Princess Ruegin will chase him back into his shell but Marcos will use him just the same and enjoy the silence.

Kaarthen, Jilleta, Marcos, Mara, Princess Nossin all went and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. They retreated to the parlor after dinner and Mara and Jilleta had a very exciting game. Princess Nossin rediscovered her intimacy with Marcos sitting in his lap. His hands slid up and down her still body as she lay against him.

Princess Ruegin finally came in smelling like citrus fruit. She loudly exclaimed her happiness again. It seemed she would be happy the rest of the trip. She called up a tall somber butler.

"Bring in the champagne let's mark the day!" She called and plopped down on the sofa. She seemed really happy like she just avoided a disastrous marriage.

"Is he up yet?" She asked with only the slightest concern.

"No." Kaarthen said quietly.

The princess hugged herself and rolled around on the sofa.

"This is much better than I could have hoped. I only wish we were in Mavvus. The Queen would have him shelved. His title will be waived, precluded, discontinued. He'd be that curious guy with an attendant nurse everyone sees by the fountain in the morning. How perfect." She said sagging back, her eye's were glittery and unseeing as she looked up into the heavens.

When the champagne arrived, Princess Ruegin stirred up the party making sure everyone drank. After champagne, they tasted the strong whiskey imported from Dar Delis. The women were quite drunk within a few hours. Kaarthen and Mara slept off the drink in their chairs. Princess Nossin also slept in the parlor with Princess Ruegin and her Hjordis.

Marcos was as drunk as anyone. He pulled Jilleta into a room with himself. He almost destroyed the curtains jerking a tie from the drapes.

"Come, Come ear pretty." He said. Marcos was that energetic type of drunk that bar owners, and waitresses rightly feared. He stood on wobbly legs, shoulders hunched, head drooping, with spittle decorating a cheek.

Jilleta stupidly thought she had a chance against him since she was sober. She kept an eye on him but once he got a solid grip on her, she was appalled at his speed.

He jumped upon her and tied her hands. The professional bodyguard was quite stunned as to how tightly and quickly she was subdued. He had somehow tied her hands behind her back as she faced him struggling. With amazing dexterity, he dropped her pants, and pulled them off her feet with her boots. She toppled over unable to stand under his hasty assault and several knives that had been stashed fell out on the floor.

"On your feet, on your feet then." He said standing over her before falling to sit on the footbench at the end of the bed.

"Back up, come here." Marcos said before sliding his hands up either side of her right thigh. She jumped as his hands touched her. The warmth of his hands was unnerving with the cool air on her bare skin. She felt so naked despite all the armor and weapons she had above her waist. The knives she carried might as well have been out of the room.

She felt her own shameful moisture as his thumb hooked into her body.

"Look at yourselves," Marcos slurred. "Getting all wet."

She squeaked and tried to turn and he slapped her ass. The surprise shocked her and made her gasp. Her pussy and ass instinctively flexed.

"Yep one of those just likes Augussi huh?" He said and stood. "Don't worry I'm good at this."

He pushed her forward a few steps to the paneled wall. She almost panicked as to whatever those words could mean. She tried a final time to wriggle a hand up or around. Marcos pushed her head forward and pulled her hips back.

"You're dripping girlie, the maid will find out." He said and brought something velvety up to her pussy. Looking down she could see the braided coils of the other curtain tie. It was a rope of silky golden threads braided with a tasseled end.

"You got anything to say?" He said leaning bodily against her as he ran the velvety rope along her body. His hip dug between her cheeks he seemed to be pushing against her and testing her to move.

"Please be gentle, Milord." She uttered finally. She had more to say but her mouth couldn't catch the right words.

He harrumphed and moved off her. The swish of moving air caught her by surprise and she knew something was happening. The loud slap was only equaled by her surprise by the very leather like feel of a strap.

Marcos stood behind her and watched her. She jiggled around for a moment. He knew what not to do until she was ready, but everyone is sick in their own special way. He swatted her again on the side of the cheek. He gave her more strikes across the sides of her thighs and top of her ass. The bottom of her cheeks and inside her thighs he left alone.

"Look at yourselves." Marcos repeated. He by now had stripped his robe and leather blouse. "I should fuck you shouldn't I? Have you had enough?" He breathed and pulled his pants open. "Well speak!"

"Milord, whatever you wish." Was her resigned reply.

Marcos backed up and stroked himself harder. His cock was ready. He popped her one last time with a stroke up between her legs and across her pussy then shot forward into her as she lurched. He penetrated her as she dropped down in the middle of her shout. Without any pause, he launched into a full stroke shafting that bounced her helplessly off his cock along the wall.

Holding her up, Marcos let her flop helplessly against the wall as she wailed. "This will teach you won't it pretty? Shaking all over my cock and dragging your face all over the wall. Your nasty aren't you? Cumming all over my cock. I bet you got hot standing with your naughty bits out. That little session earlier let you feel really naughty huh?" Marcos paused as she screamed a release and deflated onto him.

"Off to bed with you. You feel comfortable on my cock? You should, I still haven't come yet. Let's go to bed. I'll let you get some rest." Marcos said keeping her up on his cock and they turned and walked like a two headed animal towards the bed.

He threw her down before him. Jilleta panicked a moment trying to get eyes on him. Her pussy burned as she realized he was looking at her exposed bottom. "Lay on your stomach that's a good girl. You might enjoy this eh?" Marcos moved into her in a relentless rut for what felt like hours. The drinking had kept him hard for longer than Jilleta could stand. She came more than a few times, and had fallen asleep under him exhausted. Her pussy finally just swelled shut and Marcos was eventually pushed out unrelieved.

The morning came early for the group.

Princess Ruegin was awakened by the grey stone-faced maid. She found the sun had come up and the day was already moving. "Argh, Lady Kaarthen where is Lord Panthi I must be off soon. Please give him my compliments and pass that as the hour moves to ten I want to be off to the east warehouses."

"Yes highness I can do that." Kaarthen replied.

Mara got up and like a hound tracked Marcos down to their messy bedroom.

"Master the hour is late. Princess Ruegin gives her compliments and wishes to be off to the east warehouses at the end of the next hour." She said waking him.

"Find Ein and have them prepare the prince. Then return and help me with the bath." Marcos grumbled rolling over exposing Jilleta.

Under him, Jilleta groaned. "Milord, could I perhaps be released? Milady will also need to be freshened for the day."

Marcos looked down at her shocked and wordlessly unbound her.

"Do you remember last night? Was I too rough?" He asked as she worked her arms to get the blood flowing.

"Yes Milord, I did not drink. Your hands were expert and very pleasing. I do like how we have the privacy for these things. You were pleasantly rough. Nothing a proper stretch won't fix I enjoyed the night Milord." She blushed and bowed before departing.

"Everything is prepared Master I shall attend to your bath." Mara said coming in. She bathed him quickly and efficiently. He stood bathed, dressed, and ready to go back to sleep in the foyer at ten. Ein, Rinis, and Prince Carthin also stood ready.

"Good morning prince. You look truly haggard didn't you sleep last night?" Marcos quipped.

The prince shivered. "The faces and the blood. I tried to stop it but I couldn't, I just couldn't."

"Prince Monto will stand straight and dignified." Rinis quietly stated from behind him. "Prince Monto learned well last night what is needed to be better."

"Yes you did Monto." Princess Ruegin said gliding into the room. She had changed into a purple and white riding dress with a leather tabard. The tabard bore the sigil of the enthroned crown in purple, white and gold thread.

"Today you will be annotating the quality of rice and grain at the granary. I will be inspecting the various collection points on the edges and outside the city. Work hard and we may have an early day Monto." Princess Ruegin and her ubiquitous Hjordis stepped out the door.

Arriving moments later the carriage took them slowly through the city. Even on just the second day of harvest, the city in some places was noticeably more crowded.

The day was quick just as Princess Ruegin noted. Unlike her previous plan, they were prepared and accounted for after only a week and a half. The quiet prince had worked his tasks by Ein's direction and Rinis' ceaseless cajoling. They worked well together and were shuffled by Marcos throughout the city.

"Well, almost four days early. We'll be able to get back in time see my sister head off for her speech during the festival." Princess Ruegin noted over her brandy. They all sat in the parlor. Marcos felt quietly satisfied watching Mara again play Jilleta. Kaarthen relaxed on a sofa next to Mara. Ein and Rinis quietly had taken the prince to his room.

"What will you do first when you get back Lord Panthi?" The princess asked.

Marcos shrugged and stretched. "Highness, I will likely leave for Sellis. The prince perhaps may join. His family has begun to create a monster. I must make sure it never comes out of its cage."

Princess Ruegin snorted. "What has the stupid prince's horse-fucking family done?"

"They are centralizing their economy, which never goes well. They are allowing 'Guilds' economic powers absent the authority of the crown or senate. The 'Guilds' control prices but they make the largest profits from their foreign competitors. They sell as much as they can and try to annex them when the sales stop. The royals and nobles are also transferring their wealth into the 'Guild' with every purchase. Eventually, they may have a revolt as their 'Guilds' realize the power imbalance. Perhaps I am wrong, I want to see it for my self." Marcos summarized.

Princess Ruegin nodded and tried to remember. "That's been done before I remember stories of..."

"Gyptheria, the trade empire. Eventually, it led to a local then regional war. Gyptheria's enemies including Menthino drained its currency reserves like a cyst. The 'Guilds' of Sellis have another problem. Since they don't profit by taxes on trade eventually they'll have to raise taxes somewhere. If they have war this will only speed up their problems, as royals can't pay for the army, perhaps they'll allow the guild to create an army, guild trade ceases, profits fall, without revenue coming from without, or nobles spending from within, their economy crashes."

"But not before the guild's army steps in to throw off the nobles once and for all." The shrewd princess noted

Marcos nodded. "At the very least."

"Master, Misses, the carriage for the journey back is prepared." The grey maid said appearing.

The group headed down to the carriage. It was the largest carriage they rode in so far. All ten fit very comfortably. They saw for the last time of the visit the swelling city nearly full of people. The Harvest festival's preparations were already started.

"We should be glad of the rumors of a cold winter, the farmers came in way ahead of schedule." Princess Ruegin noted absently looking out.

"Sister Saliss will harvest the souls this year." Princess Nossin added looking out.

Princess Ruegin snapped over to look at her. "Is there anything else you see?" Princess Ruegin asked quickly.

"No, we will be fine while they take the boy away." Princess Nossin said turning to the quiet prince. "He will return and be a problem as a man." She got up and sat in Marcos' lap and closed her eyes leaning into him.

"Damn." Princess Ruegin said pulling out her spectacles.

The ride back was quiet. Marcos cuddled harmlessly with Princess Nossin. Jilleta watched with trepidation. The ride was easier since the current took them back with only slight interruption as the tide came in. The boatmen kept them on the opposite side of the canal. They allowed the barge to cruise silently.

The group pulled past Tilin in the early morning. They arrived finally in Mavvus in the late afternoon.

They said their good-byes, and Marcos, Kaarthen, and her girls moved back towards the north tower. They were greeted by Sune, Aliss, and Salenne.

"How was the journey Master? We are surprised you returned so soon." Aliss asked.

"Did I interrupt anything?" Marcos chuckled.

"Of course not Master, nothing could be more important than news of your arrival. Augussi is preparing a report of some significance in the library for you. She has reports coming in from all over the west." Salenne noted tilting her head.

"Then I will go to her. You women all look lovely perhaps Ein can tell you of our trip. I will unfortunately be leaving again soon. But I cannot have too many disturbances, we will have dinner and I would love to see you all again." Marcos said quickly

"Yes, Master." They said together with a small curtsie.

Marcos and Kaarthen entered the tower and went to the back of the library and found Augussi in the map room looking down on the world.

"What news have you received?" Marcos asked.

"Master, it is as insidious as you have noticed." Augussi replied.

Marcos moved over to a seat. "Oh? Well let's start with the 'Guilds' first."

Augussi nodded. "Yes, Master. Here in Menthino we use guilds for large complicated tasks involving many skills. Shipbuilding for instance needs carpenters, architects, rope handlers, navigators, and experienced sailors to make a worthy vessel." She described "Our guilds work together so that someone can simply contract for a ship and it can then be designed and created in the guild's dry-dock. That is the limit. Our guilds don't control industries just products. A man with time, materials, and fair amount of luck can build his own boat. Lots of fishermen actually do." She paused.

"Sellis has a similar system. Their shipbuilder's guilds are quite large from when they were an island up until sometime in the last cycle. They allowed them to control the industry. When the waters pulled back Sellis went from a fortified island city-state in a shallow bay to being surrounded by semi-arid flat sandy soil that doesn't grow anything but grass very well." Augussi moved the map showing a compressed city in waving emerald fields. From above they could see the old coastline that curved around the city on one side. Dots of horse herds grazed peacefully in the midday sun. Few yellow dirt roads streaked around. Most carried tiny carriages and carts moving along slowly. "They adapted and raised horses with imported grains. It was sheer coincidence they made horses their new focus industry. The king at the time happened to like them."

She zoomed in on a narrow crowded road. Along it, a strip of tall four and five story buildings stood clumped tightly together.

"Because their society started on an island, the city uses oddly converted nautical units of measure. On land, the units of measure they use are miniscule. The building codes where also not converted or changed. So, they primarily build in tall stone and plaster buildings. This created another large guild that dominated the industry. People can't build a home with just their family or a couple men with a cart like in rural areas in most places. Their specialized code requires a cadre of stonemasons, laborers, plaster mixers, and again architects. Because horses are a main industry the lands are mostly for their use." Augussi finished.

"So that brings us to what their doing now?"

"Yes. The 'Treaty of Passive Powers' was signed because they felt Menthino was a threat. You likely engineered that consensus so they would sign it, despite, knowing they would be boxed in by their own hand. The treaty was a strategic one for peace. It reads they can expand with their population but they couldn't invade the towns or cities of their neighbors." Augussi said pulling a long roll of copy paper and holding it up. "The treaty goes on to state that they can include others by confederation only if done voluntarily."

"That was also intentional." Marcos remarked. "They would have had to make major social changes to become attractive to their neighbors."

"Sellis sits in a great location with high naval walls and is surrounded by open easy terrain that won't feed invaders for dozens of miles in every direction. The guilds were the ones that noticed they could help the neighbors. They helped build taller better granaries, walls, docks, and all the other things they specialize in."

"Then someone got the idea to incorporate their neighbors." Marcos finished.

"Yes, Master, it was an economic seduction. The Guilds were for a time over worked and they could charge handsome prices. They announced that for those who joined with Sellis and sent a representative to the senate they wouldn't charge taxes to the crown."

"So the Crown gets less money but appears to gain power."

"Yes, Master. I wanted to see if the crown had any control or possession of the guilds but nothing until recently."

"What happened?"

"Their Crown bought a fifth of the property of all guilds. But they did it with the stroke of a pen revoking their charter making them wards of the crown." Augussi noted moving over to a map table on wheels. "They did it around the time the prince left."

"Who is the heir now?"

"No one, it would go to a cousin around the king's age. However, the royals are very young, thirty-six years old. No problems starting again, but no announcement." Augussi noted.

"So let me see then, these guilds do most of the work, organize and build the cities, control prices, they don't pay the crown, and they receive money from everyone and everything."

"Yes, Master. they also don't spend money among themselves. They issue credits to their workers. Apparently, few land owning nobles charge and receive rent from them. They also have a shadow government that parallels the Senate." Augussi added.

Marcos leaned back. "Take in all this money as they obey the crown, force cities to fall in by sucking them dry and replacing their currency. But they don't spend the money even on themselves so then the only resources are abroad."

"That's it Master, a trade empire gobbling up the western region up and down the coast."

Arcos looked down on the city thoughtfully. "Someone is hording money and subjugating everyone in the pursuit. Who's in charge?" He said looking up.

"Guild leaders are hard to find. There are chiefs in their fields. No real leaders are visible. Apparently, they are run similar to a senate, but break apart when needed and have smaller councils too. The Guild house they all meet in is extremely private. Our network doesn't have a house in the city or palace of Sellis. Dar Delis admits they have Sister's in the city. I got the feeling our inquiry caught them unawares."

Marcos shrugged. "Then I'll have to look for the expensively dressed person with a lot of imported stuff. Are there any nobles or visible people against them?"