Connaissance Dam

"This morning at five, we activated the power station at the Dam. The twelve turbine generators are giving us enough power for the city, the villages, and Windsor city. As we expand the power grid for the Empire, we have determined we will need at least seven more power stations of this size." Mr. Hammer stood up and walked to a chart, "The main generator under the Airship Port has been repurposed as a backup power source for government buildings including the hospitals, City Hall, the Palace, and the Airship Port."

Emily sat in the back and let the others speak and answer questions. One of the nobles asked, "How much longer until my territory will be on the grid, and is there anything I can do to myself to speed up that timeline?"

Mr. Hammer smiled and nodded, "The most important thing each of you can do for your territory is getting your roadwork completed. The Pilson concrete crews are having to slow down when they come into areas where the prep work for the new underground pipes need to be laid and getting our heavy equipment over unpaved rough roads. Most of you have done an amazing job by the way."

Emily spoke up at last and said, "This quarter the Empire has shown an economic growth of twenty-five percent over the best year the Windsor Kingdom ever saw under my father's rule, which as you know was fifty percent higher than any other reign in history."

The nobles all spoke softly, many smiles were seen when a hand rose up, "Excuse me, I understand that the economy is growing, but that's not translating to increased wealth for my estate when will start to see benefits from this growth?"

Mr. Hammer smiled and nodded, "That's a very important question, isn't it?" He brought out a chart, "Under the old systems the people's level of income and individual wealth were a flat line that dipped depending on military expenses. In other words, the amount you could tax from the people was always the same amount. If you look here on the chart, as you invest in your population, the average income of the people goes up steadily increasing your tax base along with it."

Emily spoke up once again, "Count Hawthorne, your territory was one of the last ones to start your economic reform, you'll see a return on your investment within the next year as long as you invest heavily in your school system, public works projects, and open your markets to competitive businesses. You were holding on to the old way of doing things too long, which is why you aren't seeing the economic growth of the other territories. Duke Morely, can you explain the situation in your territory for the Count?"

Beaux who looked bored picked up a folder and said emotionlessly, "Morely county is showing an increase in revenue of thirty-five percent over my reign as Duke. All I have done is follow Her Majesty's suggested plan without deviation."

A passionate murmur sounded throughout the room as the eyes of the nobles started to shine. Count Hawthorne leaned over to his advisor who seemed like he wanted to argue a point. Emily spoke out once more, "Count Hawthorne, could you introduce your advisor, I would like to hear his thoughts directly."

The Count stood up and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this is Mr. John Birxly, a merchant and old friend."

Mr. Birxly stood up and bowed and then asked, "I'm sorry Your Majesty, I was saying to the Count that the reason His Grace, Duke Morely has done so well is that he has resources in his territory. Hawthorne county is mostly unusable land, we border the great salt flat."

Emily nodded and then asked, "And what's under the ground in Hawthorne county?"

"That worthless black blood of Hanston, sure it can be made into Kerosene, some other oils, and lubricants, but not enough to be of value." Mr. Birxly shook his head.

From the back of the room, Winston Murray spoke out, "Mr. Birxly, that's no longer going to be true. If it's alright I'd like to meet with you and Count Hawthorne after the meeting. I have very good news for you."

*****

Three men sat at the Knight's Landing bar. The older man finished his drink and said, "It was the damnedest thing I ever saw. A one-legged man fighting a one-armed man. They were really going at it too, I thought someone was going to break it up, so I just watched, but soon it was pretty obvious that everyone else in the room just wanted to see the fight, I mean, how often do you get to see a one-armed man fight a one-legged man?"

"Wait, you mean it was the General?" Another of the three men asked with a surprised face.

The older man nodded, "Aye, it was. I saw two other pretty boys sittin' with 'em too. They just sat there drinking and commenting as the other two went at it."

The third man was a tall gaunt man who asked, "Hey Mike, who was the General fighting with, and what was it about?"

The bartender thought for a moment and said, "I think they were fighting over a woman, but I am not sure. I know that the man the General was fighting with was Sir Daniel Conners though."

"Oh! I know him, young knight commander they used to say was all brawn and no brain." The older man nodded, "He's the one that was the right-hand man of King Andrew, the dim-witted one."

The tall gaunt man nodded, "That King Andrew was sure a piece of work. Smart as a whip, but refused to listen to advice from more experienced men. Thank goodness for Her Majesty, it's so much better to have a royal that can step back and listen to sound advice. If what they say about her is true, she's beautiful and sharp too. In a few years once she has some experience, she's really going to be terrifying. A woman like that may just conquer the world."

The other man nodded and said, "It's a damn shame that she's sapphic. Once she passes away the Empire is going to be left in turmoil with no heir."

The three men nodded together before the tall man asked, "So, who won the fight?"

The older man looked at Mike and then Mike smiled as he replied "Honestly? Everyone here in the bar that watched it."

*****

Katarina sat at the head of a long table in the new Dane East Injia Company building as a group of men with different Eurment accents took turns with proposals and shared ideas and things their departments had been doing. The tall blonde man who had accompanied Katarina on her visit to the palace stood up and spoke out, "Our Chairwoman has looked over all of your proposals, Mr. Milton, your gamble with the Emperor of Injia has not paid off and the shipment was seized before it could reach the Kreussians resulting in a significant loss for the company. Madam Chairwoman has read your proposal to solve this debt by creating this public investment system and would like to hear more." He sat down and waited.

A tall dark-haired man stood up and took a bow, "Thank you Madam Chairwoman, what I suggest is offering to sell shares of ownership to the company. We'll set the price of these shares based on how well they are selling. As for the total value of the shares, I will split a 10 percent share of my stake in the company which will be divided by one hundred thousand. The initial offering will be set at ten Sprite per share. If they sell well, we'll increase the price of these shares based on availability in this way, the people who buy these shares can buy, sell, or trade shares in the market we'll create for this purpose. That way we can charge people who buy and sell shares for using our market."

Katarina whispered to the tall blonde man who spoke out, "Madam Chairwoman would like to know if we can't allow other businesses to use the market as well to sell their own shares, once again charging for the service."

Mr. Milton nodded, "Yes, Madam Chairwoman, that is precisely what we are hoping to achieve. We had already spoken with several of the other large companies in Eurment, and there is a great deal of interest in the concept."

Katarina leaned close to the tall blonde man and whispered again. He stood up and nodded, "Proceed with your trial. Madam Chairwoman will speak to the Empress about the idea and hopefully a buy-in so that the wealthy elite of Connaissance will support the market. Mr. Milton, if you fail to raise the money through the sale of your ten percent, Madam Chairwoman will expect you to sign the remaining amount of your shares over to the company to clear this debt. Is that understood?"

He nodded and said, "I understand Madam Chairwoman, thank you for allowing me a chance to redeem myself."

Katarina stood up and walked out of the meeting without another word, the tall blonde man waited for a minute and then said, "Madam Chairwoman has asked that you prioritize the Empire of Connaissance from this point forward. It's fine to play others against them, but only if we maintain our positive relationship with Connaissance if anyone challenges Madam Chairwoman on this again, don't expect to receive the light penalty that Mr. Milton has agreed to pay this time." He waved his hand, "You are dismissed."

*****

"I don't understand your interest in the commoner girl, Lord Harmon. At best all she could ever be is a hidden mistress. It's not like you could ask your father to seriously accept her as a bridal candidate." A mostly handsome skinny young man dressed in the academy's uniform sat on an expensive couch drinking a glass of red wine.

A tall broad-shouldered ruggedly good looking man stood at the window looking out on the common area turned his head and smiled, "You wouldn't understand Lord Wentworth, because you have no brothers ahead of you the in line of succession. For me, the best I can hope for is to be knighted or take over one of my father's profitable businesses. The wife I choose needs to be attractive and intelligent. Her house and background are meaningless to me."

"Wasn't she dead last on the entrance exam?" Lord Wentworth chuckled.

Lord Harmon smiled as he looked out the window, "Mm, she was, and yet on the midterm exam she placed ahead of you, Lord Wentworth, what does that tell you?"

He swirled the wine in his glass and said with confidence, "It says that I am an idiot." He chuckled, "I will grant that she might have some capacity for learning. I just don't see how she would have attracted your attention. Have you ever spoken to her?"

Lord Harmon slightly shook his head, "I haven't had the chance yet, things keep coming up when I get the courage."

Lord Wentworth frowned, "The courage? She's not much more than a commoner, what courage would you need? She should be desperate to have a count's son take an interest in her, in fact, I think it likely that such a girl is only even studying here at the academy for the chance to become a noble's wife."

"No. That isn't the case, she has been turning down anyone that approaches her without fail. I even talked Lord Holt into asking her to the dance to see if that wasn't the case. He was also declined."

Lord Wentworth, "Are you daft man, if she had said yes to Lord Holt, she wouldn't have been a virgin on your wedding night! You know his reputation."

"I had faith that she wasn't that kind of girl, and I was right. Tell me, with such a woman who doesn't care about family background, wealth, or looks, how do you ask her to dance?" Lord Harmon turned and faced Lord Wentworth.

The other man set his glass down, "My background is the only thing I have going for me, I really couldn't tell you. I suppose you should first talk to her, perhaps she is turning people down because she is afraid of nobles?"

"Afraid of nobles... Yes, you're right. She grew up as a commoner, that may very well be the case. She might already have decided that she has to marry some smelly peasant." Lord Harmon nodded his head, "Thank you, old Wentworth, you are a good friend."