explained the problem and what Lowren had told them
as best they could recall.
It had been a long session. As to his
alleged presentation and subsequent absence, rumors were already
going about that he had disappointed her in the boudoir and been
put to death. Those rumors would last a few days and be replaced by
other rumors. The next set of rumors would be even more
outlandish…and so it would go. The important thing was that no one
had seen him since, and that the Queen and her party weren’t
talking.
“ Well. He’s right on pretty
much every point.” The kingdom lay at the hub of a network of trade
routes that radiated outwards like the spokes of a wheel. “Our own
production of meat, grain and other foodstuffs is considerable. Our
kingdom is relatively wealthy. And yet Lowren spoke of ships and
naval stores. In addition to other things.”
Many other things.
He pursed his lips.
“ Well, we have all that, of
course.” The Minister detailed how jack pines were used for masts
and linen for sails.
Flax, hemp and other fibers went into
rope. He quoted a few figures.
Windermere exported quite a lot of
rope, as it turned out. A goodly proportion was in fact purchased
by the Horde on a yearly basis.
Windermere’s forges and smithies
produced all sorts of hardware, including chandler’s stores. The
manufactories could be quickly adapted to more warlike activities
such as weapons or for equipping a fleet relatively quickly. But
what seemed like a positive was again just bait for the Khan. The
conclusion seemed inescapable. They were an inviting
target.
The kingdom was heavily forested, with
tall pines for masts, plenty of oaks for timbers and frames, and
lots of smaller trees which provided staves to make barrels for
shipment of wet goods. Wine and oil were a source of portable and
easily-transferrable wealth, and stored well for long periods.
There were a score of smaller industries, hides, beeswax and honey,
dried fish, lamp oil and bitumen for the caulking of
warships.
The kingdom had a surplus of certain
commodities, a situation which was vital to trade. Even their
armories were productive and well-stocked. They had bows and the
seasoned staves to make more, more than they had the manpower to
utilize. They had one-point-two million arrows and crossbow
quarrels, and three thousand crossbows, their components ready for
immediate assembly. All of it was properly stored and
accounted-for. Normally this would equip their own militia and
hastily-levied reserves. This weaponry would be a windfall to one
such as the Khan. Swords, pikes and bows were the stuff land armies
were made of. Like any modern army, the Khan would be equipping
hordes of auxiliaries as well—as many as he possibly
could.
There’s nothing to
stop us from doing
it either, Eleanora realized. Such small flashes of inspiration
were welcome indeed, in a rather barren and nonplussed atmosphere.
Fine for peace, her ministers were flabbergasted, though hiding it
well enough, at the thoughts of a real war—a big war, taking in all
the major powers. No smaller power would be entirely safe in such
an atmosphere.
Especially a war against Jumalak. His
empire covered half the continent. Beyond the Hordes lay nothing
but lost and unknown tribes. There lay scattered peoples who lived
half underground, in a land of small, bedraggled firs that dripped
constantly with moisture. A place where all the rivers ran north,
to a place of ice and snow and constantly-smoking
volcanoes.
Almost anyone else, they might have
handled—given a torrent, a waterfall of blood and
treasure.
It was interesting how fear clarified
the mind. Eleanora had always thought that a cliché.
Crystallized might be a better word for
it.
Theodelinda was consulting some brief
notes she had made during the meeting with the King of the
Lemni.
She didn’t appear to have any
questions, so he mused further.
“ The Khan’s mortal enemy
lies to the south, in the Empire. The Empire has
as best they could recall.
It had been a long session. As to his
alleged presentation and subsequent absence, rumors were already
going about that he had disappointed her in the boudoir and been
put to death. Those rumors would last a few days and be replaced by
other rumors. The next set of rumors would be even more
outlandish…and so it would go. The important thing was that no one
had seen him since, and that the Queen and her party weren’t
talking.
“ Well. He’s right on pretty
much every point.” The kingdom lay at the hub of a network of trade
routes that radiated outwards like the spokes of a wheel. “Our own
production of meat, grain and other foodstuffs is considerable. Our
kingdom is relatively wealthy. And yet Lowren spoke of ships and
naval stores. In addition to other things.”
Many other things.
He pursed his lips.
“ Well, we have all that, of
course.” The Minister detailed how jack pines were used for masts
and linen for sails.
Flax, hemp and other fibers went into
rope. He quoted a few figures.
Windermere exported quite a lot of
rope, as it turned out. A goodly proportion was in fact purchased
by the Horde on a yearly basis.
Windermere’s forges and smithies
produced all sorts of hardware, including chandler’s stores. The
manufactories could be quickly adapted to more warlike activities
such as weapons or for equipping a fleet relatively quickly. But
what seemed like a positive was again just bait for the Khan. The
conclusion seemed inescapable. They were an inviting
target.
The kingdom was heavily forested, with
tall pines for masts, plenty of oaks for timbers and frames, and
lots of smaller trees which provided staves to make barrels for
shipment of wet goods. Wine and oil were a source of portable and
easily-transferrable wealth, and stored well for long periods.
There were a score of smaller industries, hides, beeswax and honey,
dried fish, lamp oil and bitumen for the caulking of
warships.
The kingdom had a surplus of certain
commodities, a situation which was vital to trade. Even their
armories were productive and well-stocked. They had bows and the
seasoned staves to make more, more than they had the manpower to
utilize. They had one-point-two million arrows and crossbow
quarrels, and three thousand crossbows, their components ready for
immediate assembly. All of it was properly stored and
accounted-for. Normally this would equip their own militia and
hastily-levied reserves. This weaponry would be a windfall to one
such as the Khan. Swords, pikes and bows were the stuff land armies
were made of. Like any modern army, the Khan would be equipping
hordes of auxiliaries as well—as many as he possibly
could.
There’s nothing to
stop us from doing
it either, Eleanora realized. Such small flashes of inspiration
were welcome indeed, in a rather barren and nonplussed atmosphere.
Fine for peace, her ministers were flabbergasted, though hiding it
well enough, at the thoughts of a real war—a big war, taking in all
the major powers. No smaller power would be entirely safe in such
an atmosphere.
Especially a war against Jumalak. His
empire covered half the continent. Beyond the Hordes lay nothing
but lost and unknown tribes. There lay scattered peoples who lived
half underground, in a land of small, bedraggled firs that dripped
constantly with moisture. A place where all the rivers ran north,
to a place of ice and snow and constantly-smoking
volcanoes.
Almost anyone else, they might have
handled—given a torrent, a waterfall of blood and
treasure.
It was interesting how fear clarified
the mind. Eleanora had always thought that a cliché.
Crystallized might be a better word for
it.
Theodelinda was consulting some brief
notes she had made during the meeting with the King of the
Lemni.
She didn’t appear to have any
questions, so he mused further.
“ The Khan’s mortal enemy
lies to the south, in the Empire. The Empire has
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