Miller continued toward the main residence, thinking about how to convince the new lord of Graymont to accept any deal that would benefit him. The guild cared little whether he could repay the loans he had taken out.
When the guards recognized the merchant, one of them immediately went inside to inform the lord of the territory.
Shortly afterward, Edmund Lusignan ordered that Miller be escorted to the main hall. The baron was already seated in the principal chair when they entered.
"Lord Miller, please, have a seat."
Edmund gestured toward one of the chairs.
Then he clapped his hands to summon a maid.
"Bring food for our guest. Something substantial."
Miller raised his eyebrows slightly.
A short while later, the table began to fill. There was an entire roasted chicken, a leg of wild boar accompanied by mushroom stew, fresh bread with butter, and a large bowl of vegetable soup.
For a territory that, until recently, had seemed to be on the verge of ruin, the meal was quite generous.
Miller could not help feeling hungry.
He had traveled from the capital of the Khypris Empire on horseback, and during the journey, he had barely been able to eat anything beyond what he could carry without slowing down too much. The lack of safety on the roads had led to the closure of many inns, and the few that remained open did not exactly offer the kind of service a merchant accustomed to dealing with nobles expected.
During the journey, he had been forced to make do with dried meat and wheat bread.
However, his years of commercial education allowed him to maintain a calm expression and impeccable etiquette as he began to eat.
Edmund, on the other hand, seemed far less concerned with formalities.
Miller noticed that, besides the knife he used to cut the meat, the baron employed a pair of small sticks to pick up certain ingredients. Once he finished cutting a piece, he brought it to his mouth.
After observing him for a moment, Miller had to admit that, although the gesture did not appear particularly elegant, Edmund's handsome face and the natural way he used those utensils made it seem less strange.
He had heard a few reports about the new baron due to the investigation the guild had conducted into House Lusignan. However, the available information was scarce.
They knew that Edmund was a mage who had graduated from the Imperial College of Magic in Altdorf and that he had worked as a mage in Middenheim for several years.
That was practically all.
When the meal was over, Edmund leaned back slightly in his seat and looked at the merchant.
"What do you think?"
Miller blinked.
"Pardon me, my lord?"
"Of this. The utensils."
Miller looked at the implements, somewhat confused by the direction the conversation had taken.
"Yes. An iron fork can be a luxury for most people. A silver one, even more so. But these are cheap and easy to manufacture."
Edmund picked up one of the sticks between his fingers.
"When people eat directly with their hands, it is easier for dirt to mix with their food. And dirt can spread disease."
Miller nodded cautiously.
"That is a reasonable observation, my lord."
He was not sure what Edmund intended with this conversation. In the frontier territories, many people ate with their hands because they had no other choice. Talking about hygiene as though it were a priority seemed like an odd luxury for a baron who had only recently begun rebuilding his lands.
Edmund, however, continued.
"How many utensils do you think could be manufactured from the iron of a single mine?"
Miller looked at him in confusion.
"Utensils?"
"Spoons, knives, forks, cooking tools. Simple objects, but necessary ones."
Edmund gestured toward the table.
"I want the people of Graymont to be able to use their own utensils without having to pay absurd prices for them. If we can manufacture them here, we can also sell them in other territories."
Miller remained silent as he began to understand where the conversation was heading.
The baron took a sip of wine before continuing.
"Of course, manufacturing cutlery is not our only objective. Iron can be used to produce agricultural tools, mill components, nails, horseshoes, and many other things. Each of them can improve production and reduce our dependence on foreign goods."
"Certainly, my lord," Miller replied. "Local manufacturing can offer great advantages."
"Exactly."
Edmund placed his goblet on the table.
"Advantages that would be impossible to take advantage of if we continue maintaining contracts like the one your guild signed with my father."
Miller felt his body tense.
The baron's tone had not changed. He continued speaking calmly, almost as though he were discussing the weather. But those words had completely transformed the atmosphere in the hall.
"My lord, that contract has benefited Graymont for many years. The guild purchased your minerals even during periods when production was barely profitable." Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Edmund watched him without responding.
Miller continued, trying to maintain his composure.
"We have also covered the costs of transportation, storage, and processing. It would not be fair to ignore those expenses when evaluating the prices we offer."
"And do you consider it fair for Graymont to sell its resources for a fraction of their value while merchants earn much greater profits by reselling them?"
Miller opened his mouth, but Edmund did not give him time to answer.
"I have reviewed the contract."
The merchant felt a weight settle in his stomach.
"The agreement was signed between the guild and my father. I did not join the guild, nor did I enter into an agreement with the territory of Graymont. And, as far as I have been able to determine, its conditions do not necessarily bind his successors."
Miller tried to intervene.
"My lord, the continuity of commercial agreements is important to the stability of any territory. If every new lord could simply ignore his predecessor's contracts…"
"I am not ignoring the contract," Edmund interrupted, "but I will not make deals with people who have plundered the wealth of these lands without providing adequate compensation."
The baron picked up the knife again and slowly spun it between his fingers.
"For years, your guild has purchased our iron at ridiculous prices. I understand that the poor quality of the ore served as a justification, but I also know that the lack of commercial alternatives allowed you to impose those conditions."
Miller remained motionless, still somewhat confused by the conversation.
"If Graymont had no other buyers, you could pay whatever you wanted. If we needed food, tools, or money, we had no choice but to accept. Edmund rose from the table and began walking around it toward Miller. "That is over."
The merchant felt a chill. Edmund's voice remained calm, but there was something in it that left no room for negotiation.
"If your guild wants to continue trading with Graymont, you will have to sign a new contract. One that establishes reasonable prices, transparent conditions, and an appraisal that takes into account the true quality of the ore. It must also establish or rebuild the roadside inns leading to Graymont."
Miller swallowed. The deal was far too unfavorable for anyone, and there was no guarantee they would make money from it. But his desperation was at its peak, especially with the debts he was carrying.
"And exclusivity?"
"Graymont will be free to sell to other buyers. If your guild offers better conditions, it will receive priority in negotiations. But we will not depend on a single buyer again."
Miller felt his fingers slowly tighten against his knees.
"I understand your dissatisfaction," Miller said carefully. "But you must understand that establishing businesses along the road is impossible with bandits roaming the area."
"You do not have to worry about that. In a few days, Graymont will deal with all the bandits that have been plaguing these lands."