Book 3, Chapter 30: A New Dress
You’d think it would be difficult to knight 40 000 soldiers. You’d be right if I had to do it all myself, but as the troops became knighted, we expanded the ceremony to include them knighting others. The thing about exponential growth, it makes events happen quickly.
We had to take the knighting outside, and I was glad for it, like a weight lifting from my body as I exited the holy building. A sunny day, with a cool breeze. The military didn’t train near the cathedral, so the lawn was thick, if browning, the ground soft. There were few trees, making it easier for so many people to gather.
Most of them had been outside when I’d made the announcement, but the word spread quickly, and the men were equally quick to line up. Somehow the troops divided themselves by rank, with mainly officers lining up to be knighted by me, the occasional common soldier sneaking in. I smiled, perhaps most warmly, at these brave few for bucking the trend.
At some point, I stopped, taking my place behind the line of those knighting others, and watched. Though the vows solemn, the tone of those knighted was exuberance. Something unusual and rare was taking place, a lifting and a breaking of the social hierarchy.
But it wasn’t that simple. I’d effectively created a privileged military class. Like historical samurai or knights, some were bound to terrorize the peasantry, no matter the vows they made. Assuming this new class would survive the existing nobility’s wrath.
And the earls were fuming. Nobles under them, too. They were out of earshot, though I could see hand waving arguments, heated discussions, lots of angry looks thrown my way. I smiled inwardly at their anger, despite it meaning I’d clarified for the nobles that we were at odds.
As we finished knighting the army, eyes were on me. Standing in my full plate, sun gleaming off my armor, they wanted words. I pondered having them capture the earls, round up the nobility. Like Gun had suggested. Maybe it was time for a full rebellion.
I shook these thoughts off. How did I get so dark? I’d work something out with them.
“My soldiers, my knights! You are my protection, and I am grateful.” My gaze slipped and fell upon the earls, but I quickly brought it back to the gathered men. “Tomorrow we will fight and we may die, but today, today you are exalted and long into the night we celebrate and drink!”
Swords raised up high, loud cheering, banging on shields. I smiled for them, then stepped away, looking for Brin. My coronation and birthday, I conceded that a dress was appropriate.
Etienne was suddenly nearby, “Your Highness. Congratulations.”
“Oh! Thank you, Etienne.” His face grew slightly dark at that, so I quickly added, “Wizard Etienne. And thank you for projecting my voice during the coronation.”
He tilted his head, “I did no such thing. Though I would have helped, I could not with all the perseidian iron you are wearing. A wise choice if you expect to be attacked by a wizard.”
“Then how-”
“How indeed? Your sword likewise appeared brighter than it should have in the cathedral.”
I smiled sheepishly, “Divine intervention? I may need it. I seem to have angered the nobility.”
“You somewhat reduced their power and station, but looking out across this field,” he swept his arm out in front of us, “your power appears backed by the force of numbers.”
“You think I should use it?”
“I am glad of your hesitation and hope that continues to guide you.”
“Yes, certainly. Hesitation and hope.” I wondered why he’d taken this time to talk to me but felt rude to simply ask.
“I have to say, when you spoke of elevating the status of your troops, I wasn’t expecting you to create an entire class of nobles out of them. Where did you come up with that idea?”
“Uh, in books.” And movies. Lots and lots of movies.
“Books?”
“Fanciful ones.”
“You’ll have to show me these books one day.”
“If I can, I will.”
“And this armor? Did you invent it?”
Brin walked up, pretty in her dress, blue and white, rippling in the wind, bare shoulders, long earrings to match, blond hair tied back with a blue ribbon, “Come on, Princess Cayce, time to get you changed!”
“But-”
She tugged at my arm, taking me by the hand, “No buts. Etienne, I am stealing the princess!”
“Be my guest,” he winked, “and make her pretty for this solemn and rare occasion.”
I wanted to say something biting, but Brin yanked me away, looking back over her shoulder and saying, “That is my entire goal for this evening.” I let her drag me along and she said to me, “Until we get you dressed, that is. Then we’re going to see about suitors.”
“Brin, well, thank you. That was an awkward conversation.”
“It looked awkward. Probably all conversations are awkward in what you’re wearing. Let’s get you out of that armor.”
I cast one last glance at my soldiers. Brundle and Morry talking, Rand and Gun each with a circle of their friends around them, laughing, the rest of the army likewise broken up into small circles, chatting away. Only me, its royal commander, being led away from the fun.
“Excuse me, Your Highness, Lady Brin, I beg for a moment of your time.” Captain Thrace, in formal wear, stopping us just before the doors to the inner courtyard of the castle.
“Of course, Captain.”
“The ceremony, thank you, my lady, for wearing our blade.” He bowed, “And congratulations! I apologize, I should have led with that.”
“Wearing this knife was an honor that you and your fellow soldiers have bestowed upon me,” I offered him my hand as I curtsied. “And thank you for the congratulations. To you as well, Sir, for I remember knighting you.”
“Thank you, my lady, as it is my hope one day to own a manor and contribute to the kingdom.”
“When we retake the kingdom and banish our enemies from it, I look forward to visiting your manor.” Brin nodded, he bowed, and we continued to the castle.
As we passed through the inner courtyard, it was being set up with those metal stoves and pipes with their strange carvings. Come nightfall, the pipes would be glowing orange and lighting up the castle. It was both romantic and artistic, and a way to keep the guests warm.
A chill suddenly entered my body as we strode along. Gun, he’d approach me tonight, again. Only this time, Morry would see. This time, I told myself, I’d maintain our rank separation. Maintain my poise. Keep Gun at a distance. Hell, I needed to turn him down.
It’s just that, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to. Or was capable.
“Princess Cayce!” Hafthon called out and Brin and I stopped. The other two earls at his heels, the stout man strode up to us, almost red in the face, “You’ve bankrupted us by exalting so many soldiers!”
“Oh?” Part of my plan was, indeed, to reduce the power of the nobility, but I’d hardly given them cause for economic concern.
“Yes! These new ‘knights,’ now having the right to own land will move just beyond our borders to start new settlements and we’ll lose our tax income!” The other two earls nodding in agreement. “Not to mention how incredibly dangerous their exodus will be.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes, dangerous! Monsters, brigands and the like.”
“Oh. Right. But-”
“But nothing! They’ll have to convince large numbers of people to go with them. What are we going to do when our lands depopulate? I can’t believe you exalted your entire army!”
“It’s not as bad as you think. You’re overlooking the obvious and clear solutions.”
“And you wanted to be crowned queen. This rashness is exactly why a young girl such as yourself cannot be queen.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, taking a step toward him, “Our kingdom has changed, my lord, and it seems that you are struggling to keep up.”
“Are you threatening us? Is this a power grab?”
“Not so. Look, you’re not seeing the wider picture here.” I paused, wondering how I’d explain Econ 101 to him.
“Bigger picture?”
“Economics. We want our kingdoms to grow. The best way to do that is to encourage a,” I was about to say ‘middle class,’ and checked myself, “prosperous lower class of nobles who pay us taxes. I’ve effectively increased your tax base. If I were you, I’d sell individual knights the lands that you currently use for low rent activities, like ranching or farming. Then charge them a tax to live there.”
“How can we charge taxes to a person who owns their own property?”
“Well, you’re taxing them for the protection and infrastructure that your earldom provides. You can base it on their income.” Blank faces. “How much, ah, wealth they generate. Can we discuss this later? I’m on my way to change for the party. I mean celebration.” I can’t believe I was just about to invent income tax. It was both a nauseating idea and one with potential. For one thing, reducing the power of the nobility would increase the economy of the kingdom. People are more motivated to work for themselves than a hereditary lord and all that. Ah, capitalism.
“You’re damn right we’ll discuss this further!”
The problem is, I realized, the nobles understood their power was about to be lessened. But only in a relative sense, relative to the new class of nobles. In terms of wealth, they’d come out ahead. Somehow, I had to get that across. That or exercise the power of my military, remove the earls, and appoint new ones. Or remove the nobles’ positions entirely and begin rebuilding society. That would be difficult, perhaps impossible, as such transformations take place over generational time, usually.
“Well,” Brin said as we walked away, “I think you’ve made more enemies.”
“Yup.”
“They don’t like the idea of having so many commoners become nobles.”
“They’re low-ranking nobles.”
“Still.”
“That’s ok. If they’re angry. They can be angry. It’s too late, I’ve created the institution of knighthood.” I smiled at her sideways, “And now Tread’s a knight. So . . .”
“What? What are you suggesting?”
“Well, he’s not a commoner anymore and, you know, probably an attractive prospect for a young lady looking to move up in the world.”
“I’m higher ranked than he is.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I hate you, Cayce.”
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