Princess Rescue Inc (113 page)

“Of
course. You have a surplus of seed for next year of course, and plenty of food
for everyone and emergency supplies... Not to mention making up for Duke
Emroy's poor harvest due to the occupation. But, the border lords didn't get
the full benefit of our technology, so they had a normal harvest. So some of
the food can be transported there. But the bulk can affect your balance of
trade... like for instance with Duluth.” Ryans smiled as the Duke suddenly sat
up straight.

“Indeed,
the crown has sent them convoys of food to aide in their hunger, why shouldn't
we
sell
our produce as well?” the Queen murmured, eyes gleaming. “They
still had an awful harvest and it'll take time to get the new tools to them and
of course for the training to sink in. I'd say there are coppers there, ready and
waiting to be spent,” she nodded, suddenly relaxing.

“I'd
never thought of that,” the minister said looking stunned. “I shall talk with
the minister of trade soon. Today if possible,” he nodded firmly.

“Right,
you've got to get the goods out before the weather changes and the food spoils.
I'd suggest trying to convert the raw goods to something that can be preserved
quickly. That way it can go further,” Ryans suggested. “I know Max was working
on canning. You can ask him about that. Or Mary, the biologist.”

“Can
your vehicles aide in this?” the minister asked.

Ryans
shook his head. “No, unfortunately we've got them tied to the mines. But I
believe the regular convoy people that were doing that duty could be employed,”
Ryans replied with a small smile.

The
minister instantly nodded. “Indeed they could. Yes, yes indeed they could!”

“I've
been getting some protests from that quarter,” the Duke rumbled. “Wise. It
employs them while allowing us to sell our goods abroad. Ingenious,” he smiled
at Ryans.

Ryans
shrugged. “No, just simple economics. Supply and demand. With more food your
people will be safe from a famine. And with the excess they can pay their
taxes, and even make improvements for their farms.”

“Indeed,”
the Duke nodded. “What exactly did you have in mind?” he asked, eying the
gaijin.

“Oh,
I think some may like to buy some of the new plows and tools. Some may also
wish to improve their homes and farms as well. Or buy new seed and stock for
next year.” He shrugged. “Others may start larger families or expand their
farms.”

“Wise,”
the Queen nodded. “And this will make the money flow and as you said earlier,
stimulate the economy?”

Ryans
nodded to her. “Yes your majesty. By spending their coppers on new goods and
tools they employ others. For instance if they wish to replace their clothing
or bedding then they employ the farmers who raise the crop, the men who
transport it to the mills, and the textile mills to make the fabric.”

“And
in turn the mills buy more raw materials and new machinery,” the Queen
observed, looking thoughtful.

“Why
new machinery?” The Duke asked, looking from one to the other.

“To
keep up with demand. And to keep up with their competitors. If one mill can
produce ten times as much as another then the others are at a disadvantage and
will wish to catch up,” Ryans explained.

“Ah,”
the Duke nodded. “Where will they get the money to invest?”

“From
banks and loans from people like oh, say you my lord,” Ryans bowed slightly to
the Duke. The old Duke blinked at him and then looked thoughtful. “For a
suitable interest on your part of course.”

“Of
course,” the Duke nodded, rubbing his chin. His eyes gleamed. It was a tricky
scheme but if it worked he only had to put up some seed money.

“And
all this helps the economy? How does it help the crown?” the farm minister
asked.

“Why
taxes of course. And jobs,” Ryans replied. “Each of the mills is taxed, as are
the wages of the workers. The workers make an honest wage, keeping them off the
beggar lines and out of the back alleys, while also allowing them to contribute
to the economy themselves. After all, they need food and clothing for
themselves and their families too!”

The
minister's eyes lit at that. “Indeed. I... Your majesty if you'll excuse me.”
He bowed as the Queen nodded. The fat man got up and rushed out as fast as his
bulk permitted.

“I
think we put a bug in his ear. Or at least an idea,” Ryans chuckled when the
minister had departed. “Since this interview is over, do you want to jump to
the review of the treaty?” he asked. The Queen and Duke exchanged looks then
shrugged. The Queen nodded.

“All
right, we're deadlocked on only a few minor pointed now, but I was hoping your
grace could apply his wisdom on how to unsnarl them and get things flowing once
more... On the subject of mutual defense...”

  <==={}------------>

Dinner
was going well. He felt pretty good, having kept from strangling some of the
more obnoxious lordlings. When a man came in holding his hat in his hands a few
snickered.

“Are
you the entertainment?” one of the lordlings asked amused.

“Nah,
he's the oddest dressed jester I've ever seen,” one heckler said.

“Not
likely. He's a trade captain. Septimus,” another answered. He nodded to the
captain. The captain nodded back.

The
man's hands rung the hat back and forth. He looked around then locked onto
Perry and Ryans. He was dressed in a rough woolen sweater and dark gray robes.
A broad black leather belt wrapped around his waist. It was a little large for
his thin wiry frame, part of it hung out past the buckle.

“Don't
look now but we've got company,” Perry said softly. Ryans looked up and nodded
politely to the captain.

“Is
there something you need?” he asked, ignoring the murmur of conversation around
them.

The
thin man cleared his throat, then went back to tugging his brim.

“Well?
Come on man, we don't have all night!” a knight sitting a few seats away said
testily.

“Technically
we do. I don't have anything to do the rest of the evening,” Perry said,
looking around. “Let's start with a name maybe?”

“Ah,
Septimus my lord. Captain of the Audacious,” the man said.

“Okay,
Septimus, how can we assist you?” Ryans asked, smiling. He waved to a nearby
empty chair. The captain looked at it for a moment then shook his head.

“Ah
sir, I... Since the ships are in dock for the winter we've had a real rough
time with the barnacles and parasites. I've got to replace two of the ships in
the fleet.”

“Uh
huh...”

“And
I was getting word of wondrous things you... you have brought.”

“Well,
it's a bit early for steam power, let alone diesel captain,” Perry said, giving
Ryans an exasperated look.

“I'm
afraid he's right. We would like to refit the fleet but the budget won’t allow
it.”

The
man looked torn. “Refit the fleet my lord?”

Ryans
nodded. “With new technologies, engines that don't require a sail.”

“Ah,”
the captain blinked. “If you say so. But the barnacles, do you have a way to
get rid of them?”

“Seems
like good old fashioned work and a sharp blade is in order,” a heckler called
from nearby. Deidra glared.

“I'd
say copper,” Ryans said, rubbing his chin.

“Copper?”
the Gunny asked, then nodded and snapped his fingers. “Crap, I forgot. It's
used in marine paint and on hulls!” he said and shook his head sitting back in
his chair.

“Well,
since you’re a marine and not a squid I think we can forgive you. This once
mind you,” Perry smirked.

“Copper
my lord?” the captain asked, ignoring the gaijin byplay.

“Sure.
Copper. Old ships used it back in the day. They clad, that means plate over by
the way... they clad the keel and bottom of the ship,” Ryans explained. He
looked around and picked up a copper bowl. He held it up. “See the copper
oxidizes in air turning it this green patina. This forms an antibacterial
layer. The barnacles and beasties hate it.”

“Ah,”
the captain said, now rubbing his own chin. “I dare say that may work. We
already have cast iron plates for the bottoms to stop the leviathans from
breaching the hulls...”

“Leviathans?”
Perry asked, looking a little surprised. “Really?”

“Oh
aye my lord. Great beasts that like to chew through the hull. Copper is weak
though.”

“So?
You only need a small thin layer. You could tack it on in overlapping layers.
Beat it as thin as you can,” Ryans explained, using his hands to explain
overlapping shingles.

“It's
got to go on a clean hull though. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time.
What's on the hull will eat right through,” the Gunny explained. They looked
over to him. “Gunnery sergeant remember? Besides, I did some deep sea fishing
from time to time.”

The
captain nodded to him. “Well ah, Gunny you're welcome to crew for me at any
time.”

“Thanks
but I'm heading home soon,” the Gunny said, taking a gulp of ale.

“I'll
see if we can give you a leg up on some other minor things captain,” Ryans said
getting up. He gave Deidra's shoulders a caress. She pulled him down for a
brief peck. “I'll see you later,” he murmured to her.

“You'd
better,” she murmured back, smiling.

“This
way captain.”

  <==={}------------>

He
was making his way back to his room when he felt a hand grab him in the dark.
He spun, starting to fight back but was pulled in quickly.

He
felt steel fingers on his arm and another on his lips. He let out an explosive
breath as he recognized Deidra's wickedly gleaming eyes in the dark shadowy
recess.

“Thought
I was a mugger? In the castle?” she joked, lips curving upward in a smile. He
grunted as she released her lock on his arm and worked her hands up to his
chest. Slowly her fingers began to gather fabric.

“Stranger
things have been known to happen. And in far stranger places,” he said, getting
his mental balance back, or at least trying to. What she was doing didn't help
that or his adrenalin levels.

“Speaking
of which,” she smiled again, pulling him down for a kiss.

He
tried to chuckle but she smothered it out. They heard footsteps and she pulled
him deeper into the shadows. She felt his hands wandering from her hips to
parts lower and further inward. She gently but firmly elbowed him in the ribs.
He oofed obligingly but didn't stop.

A
pair of guards moved past their hidey hole, oblivious. When she was sure they
were gone she grabbed his naughty hands. “Will you stop?” she hissed, eyes
glittering up at him. He trapped her hands with his and leaned down, kissing
her lips, then moving to kiss her exposed neck and collar.

“What
this?” he asked softly. One hand broke free and wandered south of her waist
line. She groaned softly. He turned her just enough to kiss her sounds away. A
hand cupped her breast. She wrapped an arm around his waist then cupped her
hand to her other breast.

“You’re
impossible,” she said, panting when he let her up for air. He grinned and
nipped her ear. She turned, snapping her teeth at his ear but missing.

“You
started it,” he pointed out.

“Well,
we're going to have trouble getting back to your room unnoticed,” she murmured,
hearing another guard coming.

“Why?
I thought we were having fun... right... here.” He timed it so she had to
strangle her gasp as his fingers exposed her breast then quickly tweaked her
nipple. He locked his lips to hers as the guard passed.

She
closed her eyes for a moment, feeling his kisses move down her neck and to her
shoulder again. They moved lower and lower and she gasped again, wrapping her
hands in his hair as his lips found her exposed nipple.

“What
is it with men and nipples?” she murmured as he licked and kissed. She hissed
as he nipped her.

“Some...
oh hell, later,” he murmured as her own hands began to work naughty magic on
him.

“Yes.
Much, much later,” she murmured, cupping him and finally capturing his ear. She
nipped the lobe then breathed in it for a moment.

“Much,
much later,” he grinned softly in agreement. It was the last coherent thing
either said for some time.

  <==={}------------>

Serena
came into their suite and nodded to her husband as looked up from the seat by
the fire. “How was your evening my dear?” he asked, setting the sheaf of papers
aside as he stood.

She
smiled, brushing the shawl off and then dropping it onto the back of her
matching chair. “Well, though I don't think well enough,” she said.

“Oh?”
he asked.

“I
don't think we can block this vote my dear,” Serena said, shaking her head as
he took her hand and seated her. She smiled.

“Ah?”
he asked.

“No.
The momentum is too much in their favor now. The new things the gaijin are
introducing far outweigh their
outlandish
ideas and
scandalous
dress,” she said mockingly. There was just a hint of sourness in it as well.