Rapid Expansion - Part 2

"Whatever," Umber said, laying his head back down. "At the next meeting, they're still going to chew you out for going against them. You should have waited until you got the vote of approval. You can't make decisions this big on your own."

"Won't your father step in for me?" Francis said.

"…Why do you act younger than me?" Umber complained. He was a young enough man, being before thirty, but his thick – yet tightly cropped – brown beard made him look far older, and the frown lines on his forehead didn't help in that regard.

"Pleassseee," Francis said, teasingly.

"…You know as the Duke he can't show favouritism to any particular member of the magistrates," Umber said.

"Ah, but surely even you can see the results, no?" Francis said. "Your father knows I would not take a risk without due consideration. Have I not freed up a good number of resources with this counter attack?"