that way. Blatantly obvious, but every time we pry back pay out of the Patriarch we win more friends among the men with the sharp iron.”
That sort of thinking had gotten Hecht exiled from Dreanger when he was Else Tage. Else Tage had been popular with the soldiers.
“Any chance we can find some money?”
“We talked to the Fiducian, Joceran Cuito.” Cuito was director of the Patriarchal treasury. He was a Direcian archbishop who was in line to join the Collegium. On merit, and because he had Peter of Navaya as a sponsor. “He means to employ a battery of limited, secured loans.”
Sublime was inclined to avoid securing his loans with anything more substantial than a signature. But ink was no longer enough for Brothe’s moneylenders.
“Property?” The Church was the biggest landowner in Firaldia. Since earliest Old Brothen times land had been the critical measure of wealth. Only land could provide a stream of income.
“Fiducian Cuito would rather pawn art treasures and rare books from the Krois Palace. He won’t say why, but he’s sure the Church is going to receive a substantial windfall before long.”
“Then something’s going on under the table. And Sublime’s kept it inside his inner circle.”
“Exactly.”
“Considering the time of year and general economy, I’d say they’re going to steal something. Or sell something. Big. They’ve already sold all the seats in the Collegium that they can. And all the livings that anybody will pay for.” A thought. “Could it be a fat bequest?”
“I don’t know of anyone with one foot in the grave and the inclination to bribe the guardians at Heaven’s gates.”
“Would they hurry somebody off to the Promised Land early?” Sublime had not yet been accused of murder for profit. But his predecessors had.
“We don’t have access to their records. We haven’t heard of any pending legacies.”
“Keep an eye on it.” Hecht settled in to listen to other reports, not just about Clearenza. He had some responsibilities regarding the ongoing effort to suppress diehard Praman partisans in Calzir.
Calzir would never reclaim its independence. If Sublime recalled his garrisons the Grail Empire and Navaya would flood the vacuum. Making Sublime’s two biggest competitors even stronger.
Fate conspired to thwart Sublime at every turn. But he refused to see the stumbling blocks as an expression of God’s will.
Few men took their own reverses as God’s will. Instead, they worked hard to adjust God’s will to reflect their own.
Sublime probably spent a lot of time asking God why it all had to be so hard.
Moving close, Titus Consent asked, “Can I see you privately after we’re done?”
“Absolutely. I need a word with you, too. Colonel Smolens, are you confident enough to take over if I take a few days off?”
Smolens showed surprise, then curiosity. “I know my way around, now.”
“Your biggest problem would likely be having to deal with our masters. None of them are the least bit reasonable.”
“No problem, Captain-General. I can pretend they’re my extended family.” Buhle Smolens was perfectly formal. He demonstrated the ideal military courtesy, uphill and down, always. He had brought his family to Brothe. Nobody had met them yet. Smolens mentioned them only in passing. His eldest son supposedly wanted a subaltern’s position, if one came open.
Smolens had several interesting ideas for installing a more professional attitude in the Patriarchal armies.
His big fault was his conviction concerning the earthly and moral supremacy of the Episcopal vein of the Chaldarean faith. Though he did not buy the doctrine of Patriarchal Infallibility.
Hard to do with Sublime V in front of you every day.
Tabill Talab was troubled. He wasted no time once Hecht recognized him. “I’m having a problem no one else seems to notice. I feel a bleak future closing in. For everyone.”
Talab was the eternal pessimist, chosen to balance Titus Consent’s
That sort of thinking had gotten Hecht exiled from Dreanger when he was Else Tage. Else Tage had been popular with the soldiers.
“Any chance we can find some money?”
“We talked to the Fiducian, Joceran Cuito.” Cuito was director of the Patriarchal treasury. He was a Direcian archbishop who was in line to join the Collegium. On merit, and because he had Peter of Navaya as a sponsor. “He means to employ a battery of limited, secured loans.”
Sublime was inclined to avoid securing his loans with anything more substantial than a signature. But ink was no longer enough for Brothe’s moneylenders.
“Property?” The Church was the biggest landowner in Firaldia. Since earliest Old Brothen times land had been the critical measure of wealth. Only land could provide a stream of income.
“Fiducian Cuito would rather pawn art treasures and rare books from the Krois Palace. He won’t say why, but he’s sure the Church is going to receive a substantial windfall before long.”
“Then something’s going on under the table. And Sublime’s kept it inside his inner circle.”
“Exactly.”
“Considering the time of year and general economy, I’d say they’re going to steal something. Or sell something. Big. They’ve already sold all the seats in the Collegium that they can. And all the livings that anybody will pay for.” A thought. “Could it be a fat bequest?”
“I don’t know of anyone with one foot in the grave and the inclination to bribe the guardians at Heaven’s gates.”
“Would they hurry somebody off to the Promised Land early?” Sublime had not yet been accused of murder for profit. But his predecessors had.
“We don’t have access to their records. We haven’t heard of any pending legacies.”
“Keep an eye on it.” Hecht settled in to listen to other reports, not just about Clearenza. He had some responsibilities regarding the ongoing effort to suppress diehard Praman partisans in Calzir.
Calzir would never reclaim its independence. If Sublime recalled his garrisons the Grail Empire and Navaya would flood the vacuum. Making Sublime’s two biggest competitors even stronger.
Fate conspired to thwart Sublime at every turn. But he refused to see the stumbling blocks as an expression of God’s will.
Few men took their own reverses as God’s will. Instead, they worked hard to adjust God’s will to reflect their own.
Sublime probably spent a lot of time asking God why it all had to be so hard.
Moving close, Titus Consent asked, “Can I see you privately after we’re done?”
“Absolutely. I need a word with you, too. Colonel Smolens, are you confident enough to take over if I take a few days off?”
Smolens showed surprise, then curiosity. “I know my way around, now.”
“Your biggest problem would likely be having to deal with our masters. None of them are the least bit reasonable.”
“No problem, Captain-General. I can pretend they’re my extended family.” Buhle Smolens was perfectly formal. He demonstrated the ideal military courtesy, uphill and down, always. He had brought his family to Brothe. Nobody had met them yet. Smolens mentioned them only in passing. His eldest son supposedly wanted a subaltern’s position, if one came open.
Smolens had several interesting ideas for installing a more professional attitude in the Patriarchal armies.
His big fault was his conviction concerning the earthly and moral supremacy of the Episcopal vein of the Chaldarean faith. Though he did not buy the doctrine of Patriarchal Infallibility.
Hard to do with Sublime V in front of you every day.
Tabill Talab was troubled. He wasted no time once Hecht recognized him. “I’m having a problem no one else seems to notice. I feel a bleak future closing in. For everyone.”
Talab was the eternal pessimist, chosen to balance Titus Consent’s
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