The Rival of Gods

Chapter Six: Farewells

Narcissa looked out over the serene waters of the Sea of Power. She smiled as the wind caught her hair and thought the sun had never looked more beautiful. The water seemed to sparkle in the morning light, and Sahshir seemed more at ease. Winds kept things reasonably cool, and the clouds kept out the glare. He was sitting cross-legged upon the pier, polishing the Sword of Order. His armor had been shed in favor of his black garbs.

Still, even the day after the tournament, Narcissa was surprised at what had come after. "So, he freed them all?"

"Yes, and he gave them all an equal split of the treasure he'd won," said Sahshir. "After providing a stipend to Belosh, of course. Other than that, he took only a tiny amount to pay for repairs to his clothes.

"Isamu is wiser than I expected."

"Wise?" asked Narcissa. "He gave up a fortune worth of money. That could have been used to do all kinds of things."

"What is money?" asked Sahshir.

"It's how we pay for things," said Narcissa.

"Yes, but why do we use it for that?" asked Sahshir. "Do ordinary people need pieces of silver in their everyday life? No, food is far more useful, as is water. So why do men obsess over it?"

"Because you can get all kinds of things with it," said Narcissa, not understanding the point.

"Exactly," said Sahshir. "It has been declared by mortals to have a value that can be used to purchase goods. And those who own the goods may, in turn, do the same. Before the worshippers of Coinfurth forged money, men used to barter to get what they needed.

"But, not all areas had the same resources, nor did they have the same needs for resources. So, a man who needed cloth but only had grain could not necessarily trade grain for cloth. Instead, he would have to trade grain for other commodities that men with cloth needed. Or, failing that, trade grain for some other commodity. One those who had what men with cloth needed."

"Complex," said Narcissa, sitting beside him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Drastically so," said Sahshir, gazing at the ships. There were four of them, the swiftest vessels even now being loaded. Men and servants were there, and further down was Belosh's ship. It was a far grander affair, with much decoration and a fleet.

Sahshir had said he didn't mind being overshadowed openly. It was only his actions that would define how he was treated. Even now, were being loaded for their journey. "Which is why money provides an out. It becomes so by declaring that rare resources, which can be anything, are valuable. Silver or seashells, so long as we believe it has value, you have a universal good. Thus, the man can sell his grain, then use the money he gains there to gain cloth."

Narcissa removed her hand and sighed. Her thoughts turned to Sen Kaba and the gruesome second Sornian War. "You've been studying a lot about Sorn, haven't you? I'm surprised; I thought you hated Sornians."

"I thought to research Sorn, a society of merchants, to better understand that part of my kingdom. I have come to appreciate the value of all classes in my time as King," said Sahshir. He finished polishing the blade and sheathed it. "It is my responsibility as King to ensure the well-being of my kingdom in all ways."

"Well, why does it raise your opinion of Isamu?" asked Narcissa. Sahshir had seemed to hold the man in contempt before now.

"Because some men obsess over money," said Sahshir. "They forget that it has no inherent value beyond what is given to it by people. Gaining it becomes their life, and they become prisoners to wealth, even if they don't have any of it."