by A. R. Rend
“Up you go. Bye, little brother, I love you,” Jamie said, pushing Phillip up and into the coach. Then she closed the door behind him and was off at a jog.
“They seem quite eager to be rid of you,” said Alice. There was a question in her comment.
“Mother is… going off to war. They got the message just before you arrived. Theres a rebellion in the east,” Phillip mumbled, sitting down on the bench slowly. “A raising of nobles and armies.”
“Ah, I see. That’ll be interesting for our business ventures in the area,” Alice said, looking rather thoughtful. “War can bring money or take money. One can never be sure.”
Does she just care about coin then? Is that what drives her mind?
Kathryn… why… ugh.
Putting on the same smile he’d been forced to wear a good part of his life, Phillip folded his hands in his lap, and sat there.
Whining about his lot in life wasn’t going to fix anything. Kathryn was gone. Her family nothing of worth anymore.
And she herself was already married. She’d found a man and had been brought into the family.
I must make my life… my own. And that starts today.
I’m not a petulant whining child.
Not some man with a weak spine. I’ll make my life my own.
“So… Alice,” Phillip said after it was clear that his conversation partner was going deep into thought. “What can you tell me about yourself? Do you have any hobbies? Anything you like to do?”
“I like studying market values,” Alice said, her eyes staring at the point between Phillip’s boots. “Reading. Going over ledgers from the stores. That sort of thing.”
Money.
Great. Okay. Yes. I can… I can do this.
Yes.
Money is certainly relatable and I can easily get involved. I’ve made deals of my own, after all.
“I see. You’ll have to acquaint me with all of those things so I can understand them,” Phillip murmured. Noticing a small piece of grass on his knee, he flicked it off with a finger and adjusted his posture again. “It would be good to have a solid understanding of what makes my wife tick.”
Alice said nothing, still staring off into nothing. Thinking about the wars, battles, and coins most likely.
Damnit all.
Why did it have to be so obviously strained already?
Kathryn would have-
Remembering once again that not only was Kathryn gone, but married, Phillip felt like he was about to hit a wall.
The door to the carriage opened and Mildred looked inside.
“Ah, young lord Curis. I’ve been assigned as your chaperon for the ride,” said Mildred, giving him a bright smile as she clambered into the coach.
“You…? Does that mean you’re one of my guards?” Phillip asked hopefully. If Mildred was coming along, he’d at least have her to talk to.
“It does indeed. I’ll be a lieutenant. Reporting up to Captain Mary. I’ll be commanding one of the three squads going with you,” Mildred said, making a hand gesture for Phillip to scoot over.
Doing so, he smiled at the guard, feeling like he had a burst of sunshine when he’d expected nothing but gray clouds.
Closing the carriage door, Mildred re-arranged her sword, her hand-axe, and then sat herself down next to Phillip.
“Good afternoon, Miss Rias,” Mildred said, bowing her head to Alice. “I’m Mildred. Mildred Aims.”
“Afternoon, Mildred,” Alice said softly, her left hand coming up to her mouth. She began to run her finger back and forth across her bottom lip as she continued to go deeper into her thoughts. “Call me Alice.”
“As you like, Alice,” Mildred said, then turned to Phillip. “Goodness. A rebellion and a wedding in one day. You’re just all sorts of luck aren’t you. Good, bad, neutral, you got it all and left nothing behind.”
Phillip laughed softly at that, then shrugged his shoulders.
Grabbing Mildred’s leather gloved hand, Phillip hung onto it.
“Yeah, guess you could say that. Or something,” Phillip said then started to laugh again. “You’re the one who got sent off though. Isn’t that bad luck for you?”
“I wasn’t sent off. I volunteered, remember?” Mildred said, squeezing Phillip’s hand in her gloved fingers. Then she gently pulled his hand out of hers and set it back into his own lap. “Now, let’s talk about your security. Because I’m thinking you haven’t put any thought into it.”
“Not at all,” Phillip admitted. “Talk away, Mildred my dear. Talk away.”
Three
The door clacked open and Phillip found the light pouring in was rather bright.
Before he could contemplate what to do, his bride-to-be exited the coach and stepped out into the sunlight.
“Well, let’s not keep everyone waiting,” Mildred said and gave Phillip a smile. Pulling at the mace at her hip Mildred exited the coach as well and stood there, looking around. Her weapon was halfway out of its loop but it wasn’t actually drawn.
Phillip was reminded in this moment that Mildred had served with his mother in the last war. She’d come back with her when it ended.
This was no country-fed idiot or city-born fool. Mildred was a soldier who had served and fought. He also knew for a fact that she had served in the front lines. Where she’d earned her notoriety and awards.
By his mother’s own admission and awarding.
Glancing over her shoulder, Mildred gave him a subtle head nod and then walked out of view.
Clicking his tongue, Phillip got up, exited the coach, and put his feet down on firm ground once more.
They’d more or less ridden the entire way non-stop. Nearly at break-neck speed in fact. To the point that he’d wondered if the coach wheel or axle might snap as they bumped and flew along.
Looking around quickly, Phillip had to practically squint. The morning sun was blasting him full in the face.
We really did ride for an entire day at that pace. I wonder how-
There was a loud thump and crash from behind Phillip that startled him. Moving forward several steps, he looked back at where the noise had come from.
One of the horses that’d led the coach was down on the ground. Its chest was heaving and it was clearly in distress.
He was well aware that they’d changed the horses out repeatedly. There had even been a time or two he’d been allowed out to empty his bladder.
But even changing when they had wasn’t enough to save all the horses.
Grimacing, Phillip went back to inspecting his surroundings.
They were in a walled-off yard that went up to the front of a large manse. Flower beds, fountains, and vine-laden trellises were in abundance throughout. The grounds were quite well cared for and clearly cost a significant amount of coin to maintain.
Most surprising to Phillip though was the fact that he could see other buildings not far off. As if they had neighbors. Then he realized what he was hearing wasn’t the sounds of nature, either.
It was the dull clamor of a city. Filled with the sounds of people, horses, wagons, and all manner of things he couldn’t quite identify by ear alone.
We’re not in the country-side. I thought… that was where we were going?
Not far away he could see Alice with her mother, and a number of other women who looked like they might be family members.
All throughout the grounds were a number of women in uniforms that matched the crest he’d seen on the coach furnishings.
Rias guards, so… that means this is a Rias… home?
Just not the one I was expecting.
Nodding his head, Phillip brought his thoughts into order.
Of course they changed their plans. They’re a mercantile family. They just found out a war was about to kick off and Mother was deployed.
The Rias family can use this to get ahead of the market and… and make money. Be a mercantile family.
Yes.
That’s what they’re doing.
And Mother always says that war will make or break some folks. The Rias wants to be on the side that makes it.
And… and I’m a Rias. Okay.
Mildred and her nine compatriots were all forming up nearby. She was speaking with another guard that had a captain’s insignia at her collar and shoulder.
There was two other lieutenants, and twelve sergeants.
Mother sent sergeants as if they were privates. These are all experienced soldiers. None of them green or inexperienced. I can leave myself in their care as I… as I become a Rias.
Taking in a short breath, Phillip squared his shoulders, put his hands behind his back, and began to calmly walk over to where Alice and her family were.
If he was a Rias, he needed to be included in family affairs.
He’d often sat in on his mother’s business dealings, war councils, or family business. While he didn’t have the experience of those who lived and breathed it, he was no wet-behind-the-ears fool, either.
“-work at the blacksmith guilds,” Matilda said, speaking to a woman who looked to be a few years older than Alice. “Let’s see if we can’t get contracts for arrow heads, horse-shoes, and nails. Everyone will need those regardless of anything else.”
Coming to a stop just behind the circle of women, Phillip remained quiet.
“Try not to go too overboard though. There’s no telling how far word has spread. Clarissa had only just received the order it seemed,” Matilda continued, slowly making eye-contact with each of the women around her. “Suffice it to say if we can get ahead of this we can make some money. And then we-”
Matilda froze in mid-sentence as her eyes caught Phillip’s.
Staring at him, she looked as if she had no idea what she was seeing.
Slowly, each woman in the circle turned to find him and looked equally unsure in realizing he was there.
“I would suggest the coopers,” said Phillip with a smile. “Their guild wouldn’t likely find out about what was going on until it’d almost be too late. Barrels are handy and over-used for anything and everything. Additionally, the army loves to break them apart and reuse them for other purposes. Which means they always need more.”
Matilda made a facial expression that Phillip couldn’t quite figure out.
“I… that’s a very good idea, Phillip,” said the woman after a pause. “Everyone, this is Phillip Curis. Alice’s betrothed and soon-to-be husband.”
There were a brief series of smiles that flashed across most of the women’s faces. Alice herself looked as if she were already wishing the conversation would return to business.
“Phillip, given that your mother is being recalled to service, I think we should move the ceremony to today for you and Alice,” Matilda said while waving over a servant with her other hand. “Michael, be a dear and escort Phillip up to Alice’s apartments and show him around the home in general? I’ll call Priestess Minnie and have her come over to conclude things.”
“Of course, madam,” said a man in his twenties wearing Rias’ house colors. He looked like any number of servants Phillip had dealt with in his mother’s home. “Right this way, young master.”
Conclude… things?
Goodness.
I feel like I’ve been handed off like a bag of old laundry. Only to be handed off to someone else who’s dropped me in a corner.
Keeping the same smile on his face, Phillip nodded his head to the servant and mentally checked a sigh.
***
Having gone through a very quick wedding ceremony, that lasted less than five minutes, Phillip was now a married man.
Married, in a set of rooms that weren’t his, decorated with belongings he had no attachment to.
He’d been given two rooms in Alice’s “apartments” in total. They were at least triple the size of his own rooms back at his parents’ house.
He was to inhabit these when he wasn’t keeping company with Alice.
Sitting in a chair in front of the writing desk of his attached study to his bedroom, Phillip wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.
Alice had given him a firm, if brief, kiss, told him she’d see him later that night, and then vanished with the rest of her family.
“Rather well appointed,” Mildred murmured, casually inspecting the walls of his room. Several other guards were with her, though they were stationed at the door.
As far as he could tell, Mildred had managed to become his direct liaison for the day shift of his guards.
“Oh yes. It certainly is that,” Phillip said, turning in his chair to watch the guard. Then he turned his head and looked to the other guards at the door. He knew there were two on the other side of the door. “Could you two give me a few minutes with the Lieutenant? I… would really like to ask her for some advice.”
Both guards turned to look to Mildred for direction.
She casually gave them a hand wave and nodded her head at the same time.
A quick stomp of boots and Phillip was alone with the imposing woman.
“Mildred… should I have fought this?” Phillip asked, feeling more unsure than he ever had before.
That question got her attention, her helmeted head turning away from the tapestry she was inspecting.
He could see her eyes in her helmet staring at him.
Then she reached up, pulled her helmet off, and set it onto the pommel of the short sword at her hip.
Mildred wasn’t an unattractive woman by any means, but she wasn’t a beauty like some women could be. He’d definitely put her in the middle area of being “pretty”.
The thin scar that ran from the edge of her left eyebrow and up into her hair line, gave her a bit more of a rough feeling as well.
Phillip thought it added to her features.
“I can’t answer that one for you, my lord,” Mildred murmured.
“Please, call me Phil. Or Phillip, Mildred,” Phillip said quickly before she could possibly continue.
Mildred’s lips pressed into a thin line and she shook her head once.
“As you like… Phillip. But I still can’t answer that question. I get the impression your mother would have married you off regardless of you fighting it or not,” Mildred said, walking slowly over to him at his desk. “I think fighting would have only made it harder on your family, with no benefit at all. You’d still end up here, and they’d be left with only your anger to dwell on in your absence.”
Coming to a stop in front of him, Phillip was once more reminded that Mildred was additionally a tall woman. Standing at least six foot six or around that height.
“I mean… I could have run away. I have some money,” Phillip said defensively.
And he did.
He’d made several smart deals in the last year or two. He had more than enough to live on his own. Though it’d be a considerable cry from what he was used to, he could have easily made it on what he already had if he was willing to live modestly.
Mildred nodded her head at that, putting her left hand on her belt and her right atop her helmet.
“You could have. Likely quite well for a very long time if you found a woman who could keep you on track,” Mildred admitted. “Though I imagine… I imagine, knowing you, you’d have built your fortune up over time. I was there for the last tip you pitched at your mother. Had she listened, she could have easily made thousands of golds.”
Phillip shrugged his shoulders and looked to the side and down.
“She didn’t though. At least we made money despite that. Considering the reports of the weather coming out of the southlands though it seemed rather obvious the crops weren’t going to be good,” Phillip excused, trying to side step that he’d gone to his mother first.
Rather than acting confidently on his own.
“That’s just it though. That sort of thing happens. But you trusted it. Believed in it. You bought contracts into the market against it falling out. At a loss originally, too,” Mildred continued.
“I had a gut feeling about it. I
mean, you were there. We talked to quite a few of the traders,” Phillip said, turning back to Mildred. “You heard them.”
“Oh yes, I heard them alright. I just didn’t believe them. Discredited what they said. Otherwise I might have invested what little coin I had as well,” said Mildred with a chuckle.
Phillip had a feeling about the traders. That what they’d said had been right.
Not just right, but accurate. To the point that if he hadn’t put money in them he knew he’d regret it at a later date.
“This… is this the same as last time?” Mildred asked, her question curious and nervous at the same time. “The coopers?”
Nodding his head, Phillip found himself staring at Mildred’s boots.
“Mom kept talking about barrels last time she came home from war. That they never had enough and were always ordering more. But there was never enough because every army also needed them,” Phillip murmured. “War… war seems to be a part of everyday life anymore. Not a distant idea reserved for battlefields.
“So I’ve kept an eye on the Cooper guild. They haven’t changed at all. In any way. Which means their production should be about the same. So there won’t be enough.”
“Which is why you suggested buying in now before their stock went out,” Mildred finished, getting to the end of his thought after he stopped talking.
“Yeah. Then just sit on them. Keep them in a warehouse until the stock hits zero. Maybe keep buying more and more just to make it happen. Then offer a sizable portion of it all at double or triple price to whoever. Could be an army, could be another seller. Doesn’t really matter as long as we make the initial profit,” explained Phillip. “Some army or another will want it all. And since it’s not critical material the queen can’t just seize it. I mean… they’re barrels. Not swords or shields or something.”
Mildred clicked her tongue at that and tilted her head to one side.
“That’s true. The Queen did seize a lot of equipment last time. I remember when it all showed up in your mother’s camp,” Mildred said. Then she nodded her head once. “I don’t have much in the way of coin, but I’d be honored if you’d take it and invest it with yours.”