Sand & Stone

Chapter 4: Means and Ambition

"What do the dying man, priest and slave have in common? They all wish they could be having a drink instead!"

-Common Mercenary Joke

I rubbed my forehead, sighing.

"Sorry Chunnly, I think I misheard, how many meetings do I have today?"

Chunnly inspected the parchment in his hands counting through a list. Meanwhile I admired the office I was in, trying to distract myself from an alarmingly fast growing amount of duties. My Father's study was ornate and elegant. The walls were painted a rich amber color, and the floor was decorated with intricate golden tiles. Large carved wooden balcony doors stood open, allowing the warm desert air to breeze in. Softly colored tapestries draped the far wall, which was adorned with a tall portrait of the City. A grand desk sat at the center of the room, its surface covered in stacks of paper and scrolls which I despised. Candelabras stood at either side of the desk, filling the room with a soft flickering light. A few cushioned chairs were set along one wall, inviting visitors to sit and relax. I would soon have those replaced with the most uncomfortable ones I could find.

Chunnly's voice brought my focus back "Eleven meetings Princess, and you are scheduled for a field visit to the schools to review their progress later this afternoon."

I nodded pursing my lips "Yea, that's what I thought you said."

Chunnly smiled knowingly, holding back a chuckle, "It seems that since your Father's passing, some of the merchants have been in a hurry to shift power around."

I rolled my eyes in frustration. "All so eager to shove their agendas down my throat. Perhaps we could have them all suffer unfortunate fatal accidents before arriving?"

"I understand your frustration, Princess," Chunnly said calmly. "Alas we don't have enough gold to hire so many skilled assassins' on short notice."

I huffed. "An issue of supply and demand, we must train up new ones, loyal to the crown."

Chunnly dutifully wrote it down, nodding "future matters of employees aside I urge you to do well in these meetings, it could be worse, it could be nobody wanted to meet with you."

I laughed sharply reaching for a glass of chilled water "And how would that be worse?"

"It would have meant none of them thought you would survive long enough to matter."

I paused, placing the water down tilting my head in acknowledgement. "True enough, at this rate it seems only two thirds of them think I'll kick the bucket soon, I'll see what I can get out of these meetings."

"I'm sure you will, Princess."

I adjusted my silky black tunic and drank the ice-cold water deeply before giving Chunnly a nod to lead in the first merchant.