A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor
Chapter 1423 - 1423: The Tournament - Part 1

"Naturally," Ferdinand said. "But they will not be functional to a degree that it ought to be a problem."

"…And as far as you are concerned, as the new head of the Guild… Or at least, the Economic Branch, this tournament and the coin that it collects would be the final bit of explosiveness that you need to deal them a fatal and final finishing blow," Oliver said.

"So, you understand," Ferdinand said, nodding. "The prosperity it brings us will be put to good use, in getting rid of that long-standing corruption. Your tournament will be improved, as will the environment for your own local merchants."

"It does seem to be something that we could perhaps agree on, at a stretch," Oliver said. "But I think you'll forgive me if I make a few further demands."

Ferdinand stiffened. "It would depend on what they are…" He said warily.

"The Guild, in its existence, has ever been a fan of suppressing Solgrim's growth. It did not enjoy the trade competition that we began to create, and sought to stifle us in all sorts of petty ways," Oliver said. "If I were to put things as indeed they are, in allowing you to join my tournament, I would be effectively empowering you. I do not necessarily wish to empower a man that I going to be my enemy."

"So, you wish for reassurances," Ferdinand said. "Naturally, I wish for the same. It would not do to have a village so close to Ernest actively working against the stability of the city."

"We have no wish to see Ernest fall," Oliver said. "We only wish to be allowed to grow in our own way, in our own time. I do believe that the nature of the relationship between Ernest and Solgrim needs renegotiating. We have paid our taxes to the Lord of your city for hundreds of years. Chiefly, in those times, we were a village of hunters, shepards, and minor craftsmen, but now, overwhelmingly our village begins to favour trade. The dynamic between us has shifted, and amendments need to be made to take that into account."

"What are you asking for?" Ferdinand said. "Be direct with it, Ser Patrick."

"A change in the way you tax us," Oliver said. "The volume of taxes that we give you through trade now far exceeds what they did in the past, but it isn't as if the service that you offer us as a Lord has changed in any sort of way. In fact, they have lessened, now that we have means of defending ourselves. Your taxes, in other words, despite us paying more of them, benefit us far less than they did in the past."

"…Lowered taxes on trade," Ferdinand said. "That can be considered."

"No – it ought not need consideration," Oliver said. "Ernest has benefitted from Solgrim's growth immensely. The money that we send you in taxes is five times greater than it has been in the past. If the Guild's tax reaches you as well, that number ought to be even greater. Ernest has become richer, thanks to our own efforts. You will cut down our trade taxes to a third of what they were before, and you will still see yourself profiting."

Ferdinand was practically grinding his teeth, but he still managed to force the words out. "…Very well."

"Secondly, you will give us charge of all land three miles in either direction of our walls," Oliver said. "We have used such land in the past, to graze our sheep and the like, but formally, that land has always belonged to Ernest, and we haven't been able to do anything more than shepherd on it."

"You would see your domain grow to such a degree when you have already won the village that you govern as a gift from my father?" Ferdinand said. "Surely there is a limit to your impudence?"

"Your father gifted it to me, I have grown it, and seen him benefitted. And now, the village, and all its surrounding lands are under the protection of my men, at no extra cost to him. Given that in the past, he has found it so difficult to see Solgrim defended, I imagine he will be grateful to see its defence formally handed over to another."

"If that is the line of reasoning that you speak on," Ferdinand said, "then I will force you to see Ernest benefitted properly, by the increase in your domains. You will oversee the protection of Forgin to the southeast as well, and Hellen to the west. It will be your duty to see them defended, since your domains extend so far, but you will have no right to the income of their lands. You will carry out that duty, with no reward, save for the one that you have asked for yourself in advance."

"Done," Oliver said, hardly even allowing Ferdinand to finish his sentence before he gave his agreement. As far as he was concerned, that was a small price to pay. Though it might have been trade that had given Solgrim all its wealth, Oliver thought that at the heart of it, Solgrim's true strength was its military might, which was so overwhelmingly powerful for such a small village. The inclusion of two more villages into its protection, for the sake of seeing the borders of their own lands so far extended – he saw that responsibility not even as a price that needed to be paid, but an opportunity.

There was a flash of surprise on Ferdinand's face as the sudden agreement, but he quickly recovered himself. "Is that the last of your demands, then? If so, I will have the document drawn up and signed."

"I would like your word to go along with it," Oliver said. "That you won't engage in the sort of petty maliciousness that the Guild engaged in. It isn't good for either of our Houses. I am quite certain that your Lord father would be displeased if it continued as well."

"…Very well," Ferdinand said, heaving a sigh. "You certainly push your luck, Ser Patrick, but very well. Let us leave our business there."

The tournament came around far more suddenly than Oliver had supposed it would. In the final few days, it was as if time itself had accelerated. The days had proceeded so slowly and peaceably in the weeks leading up to it, only to practically vanish when they hit the final week.