Read Online Sinner by Sara Douglass - Free Book Online

important matters. So far they’d discussed everything from the weave of Corolean silk to the exceptional salinity of the Widowmaker Sea, and Goldman was tired of the niceties. He smiled at the young, impish Duke Theod across the table. Theod was a rascal, but good-hearted, and once he’d grown five or six more years, and survived a tragedy or two, he would become as fine a Duke as his grandfather, Roland, whom Goldman remembered well from his youth.
    “You must have ridden hard to reach Sever in from Aldeni, Duke Theod, as must,” Goldman glanced at Herme, “your companion…who had to come yet further.”
    “Herme and I were both at my home estates, Goldman. We share a common interest in the management of the Western Ranges.”
    Goldman nodded to himself; Theod’s home estates were close to his northern border with Zared. No wonderthey’d managed to get here so quickly. “And no doubt you were both as horrified as Heavorand and myself to hear of Askam’s new taxes.”
    “No doubt,” Herme said carefully. He was not quite sure of Goldman, nor of the motives which saw him at Zared’s court.
    “Enough,” Zared said, throwing his napkin on the table and leaning back in his chair. “Goldman, you came north to say something. Say it.”
    “Sir Prince, as you know, Prince Askam’s taxation measures will place an unfair burden on many Tencendorians, rich as well as poor, traders as well as peasants.”
    Goldman paused and looked about the room, pretending to gather his thoughts.
    “Yet if Askam’s taxation measures affect poor and wealthy, peasant and noble alike,” he continued, “these taxes do differentiate between types of people.”
    The entire table stilled. Heavorand, who knew what was coming, looked hard at the napkin in his lap. But the other three men’s eyes were riveted on Goldman’s face.
    “Continue, good Master Goldman,” Zared said.
    “Sir Prince, Askam’s measures affect those people living in the West and North, not those living in the rest of Tencendor.”
    “And your point is…?”
    Goldman took a deep breath. “Sir Prince, the Icarii and Avar do not feel the strain of Askam’s petty taxation, yet the Acharites –”
    “Be careful with your phraseology,” Zared said quietly.
    “– yet the human population of the West and the North, good Prince, are direly affected by it. Sir Prince, there are many among the Achar – ah, the western and northern populations of Tencendor – who stoutly believethat Askam’s taxations are unfair in that they discriminate against one race out of three.”
    “The Ravensbundmen are affected by it as well,” Herme put in carefully.
    “Sir Duke, the Ravensbund only trade with the people of the North. They care not if Askam starts demanding a life per cargo of goods transported through the West.”
    Zared steepled his fingers before his face and pretended an interest in them. “And so your request is…?”
    “That you raise the issue with StarSon Caelum at the Council of Five, Sir Prince. StarSon is the only one with the authority to rebuke Askam. To force him to rescind the tax.”
    That had not been the original request that Goldman and Heavorand had come north with. Their plans had been hastily revised with the news of the Council of Five. But they were not dismayed. Far from it. StarSon Caelum had played right into their hands.
    “The tax is the very reason Caelum has called the Council, and Caelum is a reasonable man,” Zared said. “I am sure he will listen to what I have to say. So your lengthy trip north was needless, Goldman. I have ever intended to raise this issue.”
    “Zared,” Herme began, “I will not rest until I know that Caelum has clearly understood what hardship this tax will impose –”
    “Do you doubt my ability to state the case, Herme?”
    “Not at all, my friend. But I think it important that Caelum listens to someone from Askam’s own province, as well as your objections. If only you speak against it,