Alaric Auro Dukker sat at the head of the long council table in the administrative chamber of Blackhaven Keep. The room itself had once been a war room. The walls were thick black stone quarried from the surrounding hills, and the narrow windows allowed thin bands of pale afternoon light to fall across the table. Maps of Aerthos and the Blackwood region covered one wall—some one of those about Blackhaven specifically was newly updated with red markings where damage had occurred during the recent crisis.Several chairs around the table were occupied. The mayors of the Blackwood region sat facing him.
There were twelve districts in total under House Dukker's governance, and each district was represented by a mayor chosen for their competence rather than noble lineage. Some were merchants. Some former officers. One or two had once been guild clerks before Alaric elevated them to administrative roles. Normally, governance over a territory as vast as Blackwood followed a far more complex system.
Most Noble Houses preferred heavy decentralization.
Regional stewards oversaw clusters of towns. Tax collectors reported to treasury officials. Military captains commanded local garrisons independently. Merchant charters negotiated directly with Union authorities. Each layer existed to reduce the burden on the ruling lord. Authority moved slowly but broadly through the system.
Alaric had dismantled most of it.
When he inherited the position of Lord of Blackwood after the deaths of his parents, he had studied the system carefully and come to a simple conclusion.
Too many hands meant too many blind spots and the probability of these holes being taken advantage of.
So he changed it.
Instead of a labyrinth of minor officials answering to each other, he created a semi-centralized structure. Each district was placed under a single mayor responsible for its economic health and civil management. Sir Eddie Gable commanded the regional knights who handled security and law enforcement. The late Roric Thorne—and now Garett in his absence—oversaw the Hunter Bureau who managed the non-human side of things in the forests and wilderness. All of them answered to one person.
Him.
Not because Alaric desired power. But because he believed a Lord should know what happened in his lands. He believed governance was not authority but a service to the people who could make or unmake him.
So he worked.
Constantly.
His wife Elara had supported the vision from the beginning. As Lady of Blackwood she tried her best to support her husband and carried equal responsibility across the territory even traveling between settlements as a proxy, calming disputes and reinforcing the authority of House Dukker wherever it was needed. Together they carried the weight.
Alaric placed a bundle of documents on the table.
"Now,let us begin."
The mayors shifted uneasily. They were all aware of the current state of affairs and none of them liked what was happening.
The Blackwood region was famous for two things.
Blackwood lumber.
And Flowstone.
The forests produced timber stronger than steel when properly treated, and the many leyline nodes scattered across the territory produced deposits of Flowstone—an energy resource which, due to its rarity and demand was a generator of capital.
Under normal conditions these resources generated immense revenue.
But the recent catastrophe in Blackhaven had disrupted the delicate economic web.
And like the stock markets of great cities, every shock had triggered another.
Mayor Harwin of Southridge spoke first.
"My lord… rebuilding the outer districts after the beasts that awakened from hibernation rampaged alone will require enormous funds."
Another mayor nodded.
"The cost of timber has reduced."
A third leaned forward.
"Speaking of Rampaging beasts Flowstone extraction has slowed due to this. Its not perculiar to Southridge. Has something Similar occured in Blackhavens Ironforest?"
Alaric shook his head.
"And yet the currencies themselves are rising in value." A fourth added bitterly.
Murmurs of agreement spread around the table.
The two individuals seated at the far end watched silently.
Gerold Rustmark, representative of the Trade Union.
And Sybil Weft, representative of the Free Guild.
Both were aware that thier respective companies were currently exploiting the situation. Thier job there was influence decisions and lobby in real time and possibly exploit any openings they might get. All of this was geared towards getting a foothold to use to stand against the Monetary Stabilazation Act that had put thier other plans in suspension.
Mayor Delwin rubbed his temples.
"The exchange fluctuations alone are devastating our district markets."
Mayor Fenric spoke next.
"The merchants couldn't plan shipments when conversion rates changed out of the blue and now we are short on a lot of things."
Mayor Talbert leaned forward.
"And neither the Union nor the Guild is being of any help to help alliviate the situation."
Gerold Rustmark cleared his throat loudly.
"The Trade Union is merely protecting the stability of the Crown Solar."
Sybil adjusted her glasses coolly.
"The Free Guild simply allows the market to determine value."
Several mayors groaned openly.
Mayor Varen slammed a palm on the table.
"What good are you two to this meeting if your stance hasn't changed?"
Gerold frowned.
"That is unfair to assume that we have nothing to contribute."
Sybil gave a thin smile.
"Yes, things like this can always be negotiated."
Alaric listened quietly.
The arguments flowed like a storm around him.
Prices rising.
Supply chains failing.
Merchants an their shipments.
Every problem connected to another.
He rested his fingers against his temple.
Beyond the windows the city was rebuilding.
But rebuilding required money.
Money required trade.
Trade required stability.
And stability was collapsing because of what caused the city to need rebuilding in the first place.
His thoughts drifted briefly.
The Privy Council...
He had been ignoring their summons for a month now. They wanted him back in Aethelburg. Not that they need his presence. Just like the bodies Gerold and Sybil were representing the the nobles circled like vultures, circling above their prey and ever ready to swoop down once an opportunity was visible. Each faction attempting to increase their influence while royal authority slowly weakened.
Alaric was one of the few men standing in their way. Which meant they wanted him out of their way. Which is why they were summoning him over and over despite not needing him. They knew exactly what they were doing. They knew about the crisis in Blackhaven. They had deliberately delayed council matters deliberating over useless matters just so they could use the rules to bar him from rushing home to manage the catastrophe.
He jnew exactly what they were aiming for with these summons. They would accuse him of abandoning his duties in the capital.
A political trap to ensnare him in.
They probably had other things planned since using his departure alone was not enough.
He exhaled slowly.
It was difficult to catch him lacking but the old men in the council chambers sure were persistent.
'How irritating.'
"My lord?"
The voice pulled him back.
Mayor Rendel was looking at him expectantly.
"Forgive me," Alaric said.
"Continue."
Rendel cleared his throat.
"The people of the Amber region have begun pressuring our border districts."
Alaric frowned slightly.
"Pressure?"
"They are demanding increased timber shipments for lower prices."
Another mayor spoke.
"Due to the current situation we don't exactly have enough and they are intentionally trying to buy all of it due to the reduced price. If we aren't careful we could incur a huge loss."
Several mayors spoke at once.
"Merchants from Amber markets are refusing to trade if we don't succumb."
"They are even aaccusing us of trying to break the rules and manipulate the prices ."
"They are threatening tariffs."
Alaric leaned back slowly.
'Of course you'd resort to this...'
The Amber region.
Ruled by Lord Kingsley Amberose, Alaric's most persistent rival on the Privy Council and unfortunately, their next door region.
Amberose had never liked him.
Their philosophies clashed.
Amberose believed in noble privilege.
Alaric believed in responsibility.
Now Amberose had found a weapon, trade.
Exploit the instability in Blackwood to punish him indirectly.
Alaric sighed quietly.
"Of course he would resort to such tactics."
Mayor Talbert leaned forward anxiously.
"My lord… what should we do?"
The room grew silent.
Twelve mayors watched him.
Two powerful trade representatives waited.
The fate of an entire region balanced on the next words he spoke.
Alaric closed his eyes briefly.
He suddenly thought of Ellaine.
Small, warm.
Peacefully asleep in his arms earlier.
"I wish I could hold my daughter," he muttered softly.
Several mayors blinked.
"Pardon, my lord?"
Alaric straightened slowly.
"Nothing."
He folded his hands on the table and began thinking.
Solutions formed gradually.
Not perfect ones, temporary ones.
But stability often began with temporary measures.
Finally he spoke.
"First," he said calmly.
"All Blackwood exports will temporarily operate under a fixed resource valuation."
The mayors leaned forward.
"Blackwood lumber and Flowstone will be sold according to their production cost, energy value, and a fixed twenty-percent regional margin."
Gerold frowned immediately.
"That disrupts standard Union pricing structures."
Sybil's eyes sharpened.
"And limits speculative market leverage."
Alaric ignored them.
"Second," he continued, "insist on the acceptance both Crown Solars and Standard Pounds at the official conversion rate in accordance with the Monetary Stabilization Act. This should deasl with the sudden change in market value."
Gerold opened his mouth.
Sybil did the same.
Alaric raised a hand.
"No, there will be no negotiations. We will resort to barter trade if we have to so get. used to it or get lost."
The mayors exchanged surprised glances.
"That...would stabilize merchant transactions," Mayor Harwin murmured.
Alaric nodded.
"Third."
He tapped the map on the wall.
"Amber region demands will be met with controlled export quotas. If they still try to pressure us, we do same for thier goods, look ou for te ones they don't really have right now. We give them a taste of their own medicine and see how they like it."
Several mayors stiffened.
"My Lord...?" one asked.
"Yes, you heard what i said." Alaric said calmly.
Mayor Fenric blinked.
"That… forces Amber merchants into stable agreements."
"Exactly."
Mayor Delwin spoke.
"It is a good plan… but temporary."
Alaric gave a faint smile.
"I am aware."
He leaned back slightly.
"These measures will only stabilize things in the interim. We'll figure things out when time's almost up."
The mayors nodded slowly.
"I will be forced-I will attend the Privy Council soon."
Several mayors recated to the slip but that soon changed to relief.
"I will use my authority to push legislation that relieves regional pressure."
Mayor Rendel bowed his head.
"We will support as best as we can, my lord."
One by one the others nodded.
"We will do our best."
"We trust your judgment."
"You have always protected this region."
Alaric inclined his head slightly.
"Then we proceed."
The mayors stood and bowed respectfully before leaving the chamber.
Gerold Rustmark and Sybil Weft lingered briefly.
Both wore calculating expressions.
But neither spoke.
"Yes, anything you would like to say, Mr. Gerold? Mad. Sybil."
"No my lord." They said in unison.
" Then please," he gestured behind them.
"The door is that way."
They bowed and left quietly.
The doors closed.
Alaric leaned back into his chair.
For a moment the room was silent then he made as if to get up.
Then the doors opened again and three figures entered.
Black cloaks.
Silver insignias.
The Inquisitors.
Their leader stepped forward.
"My lord," she said politely.
"We apologize for the intrusion but we have urgent matters to discuss."
'Tch, what a pain...'
Alaric's expression did not change and he settled back into his seat.
"Very well," he said.
He gestured toward the empty chairs.
"Please sit."