An Accounting
786 Words
An Accounting~
Nigel Willoughby
Jorendon
Walter called his council together. His summons arrived at Silveroak while Nigel slept the day away. Deighton, Cleland, Langdon, and one of the sheep were already gathered. Walter idly tapped his finger on the arm of his throne. He glanced up as Nigel entered.
“You’re late.”
“I beg pardon, Your Majesty. A matter at home unavoidably delayed me.” Nigel bowed low.
“I’m sure it did. I hear you’re newly wed, old man.”
Nigel examined the floor for a moment. He straightened and gave Walter a censoring stare he’d last used when he was still shaping the boy into a king.
“You heard correctly. Lady Lucinda is my wife.”
“Lady?” Walter laughed. “Developing a fondness for the woman who warms your bed is one thing, but marrying her? Have you gone sentimental on me?”
“Perhaps so,” he said. “But she is now Lady Lucinda Willoughby of Silveroak Hall.”
Walter propped his chin on his hand, deciding whether to make this hard on him. Nigel maintained his stare. Walter blinked first.
“So she is and so says the crown,” Walter declared with a dismissive shrug. “Lady Lucinda Willoughby is to be accorded the respect due the wife of a King’s Minister.”
Nigel blew out a sigh, not caring who saw his relief. He took his seat at the council table.
“I’ll have Eleanor invite her to tea. Perhaps your wife can share some expert advice. I still seem to be in need of an heir.” Walter smirked and leaned back in his throne. “General Cleland, you have a complaint to bring before the council.”
“I do, Your Majesty.” Cleland collected his papers and approached the dais. “The night before last, the Beacon took an armed guard to the Laughing Mermaid brothel on Tenth Street in the Cabbagetown district. He ordered his guards to detain the women employed by the establishment. He then had the women flogged and set fire to the building.”
Cleland offered the king his stack of papers. The old soldier was showing remarkable restraint.
“These statements were taken from soldiers of Your Majesty’s Royal Army, attesting to my account. I found no record of any criminal charges being lodged against the women.” Cleland offered another tally sheet. “And the costs incurred. Three water wagons deployed to the fire. Forty-and-three off-duty soldiers to be paid. Two additional companies posted in Cabbagetown to keep the peace. Your subjects there are still somewhat…agitated.”
“No doubt.” Walter set the papers aside, unread. “Minister Langdon, you have a complaint to bring before the council.”
“I do, Your Majesty.” Langdon stood. “Four women seek reparations for disfigurement and loss of employment. Property owners adjacent to the Laughing Mermaid claim damages. Several merchants on Tenth Street request recompense for lost revenue. I totaled the claims the treasury has received thus far and calculated the negative impact on tax revenue.”
Langdon stepped forward with another tall stack of papers. Walter held up his hand.
“Give it to the Beacon. He will pay from the Church’s coffers.”
“Your Majesty,” said Deighton. “If I might address—”
“You caused considerable trouble for me, Beacon.” Walter strode purposefully from the dais and stopped before Deighton. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“A message needed sending. I chose a shout instead of a whisper.”
“What message do you think you sent, you arrogant fool?” Walter pounded the table. A cup sloshed tea onto the Beacon’s pristine white sleeve. “Whatever you intended to shout, I heard one message loud and clear. The Church rules Innis, not the King.”
Silence hovered like a storm cloud. Deighton brushed tea from his sleeve and moved the cup farther away. Porcelain met marble with a clink.
“I took no liberties with the law.” Deighton rose to face his sovereign. “I purchased the Laughing Mermaid a fortnight ago. The property was mine to dispose of as I wished. The women are subject to the discipline of their employer. So says the law.”
This was no impulsive act of fervor. This was a bid for control.
“Setting a fire in the city is arson,” said Nigel. “Discipline dispensed without cause is assault. Your Holiness is subject to the king’s law. And to his judgment.”
Nigel paused. Surely the man he’d made king could see the threat to his kingdom. Walter saw, and Walter went on the offense.
“Beacon, I find your conduct distasteful. Your overreach of authority borders on treason. I rescind any discretion granted you to mete out punishment, including over your own. If you light so much as a candle outside your cathedral, I will have you arrested.”
“You cannot—”
“I can and I will,” Walter cut him off brusquely. “Push me another inch, and I will have you removed as Beacon.”
A bit later than would have been wise, Deighton chose to hold his tongue.
“You are dismissed from my council. Another from the Blessed Fellowship will replace you as the voice of the Faith.”
“Your Majesty, you misunderstand.”
“I understand all too well. You forgot your duty to your king.”
“My first duty is to God.”
“Then we are at odds, Beacon, for my first duty is to the realm. The realm you seem intent on disrupting at every turn. Leave now. And tread carefully.”
Chapter 51
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