Side Story Count Richter POV: Pillars Of Basalt Or Pillars Of Sand (2)

"Nothing is set in stone. This will be the fifth crusade into the forest, and they have never once succeeded."

"If you're so sure that the Duke's forces will lose, why did you come talk to me? You know as well as I do things are different this time. This isn't a crusade; it's an invasion. An army of one thousand soldiers can handle anything the forest throws at them." The Baron's words pound against the back of Vlad's mind.

[He's right, but I still have to do something. Without my position, I'll never be able to repay those that helped me rise through the ranks. I have a responsibility.]

"You're the only one I can turn to. Isn't there anything you can do?" Vlad pleads. Eric stops writing and closes his eyes.

"I have no forces and no influence. I'm just a tax collector. I couldn't do anything even if I wanted to." Eric bemoans his powerlessness. It may be an excuse to avoid getting involved in political affairs, but it's true he has little actual power. "I have no knights to rally or forces to bear. I just have a title."

"But you've gained the people's respect. You're the only tax collector I've ever heard of that doesn't shake down the residents. Normally, tax collectors just hire someone to collect a certain amount of taxes from an area, and whatever extra they gather is used as payment for the contractor. I've seen whole villages wrung dry by greedy tax collectors that are no better than bandits. I've seen houses burned and people sold into slavery to cover the exorbitant fees imposed by those taxmen. This is why people respect you. You never take a slice for yourself, you never hire anyone to do the job for you, and you even help people sort out their finances, so the taxes aren't such a burden."

"Well, I wouldn't say that. It's important that people aren't too burdened by the taxes to ensure a steady flow of income for the town." Eric's chest puffs up a bit as he speaks. Years of sucking up to higher-ranked nobility have given the Count keen instincts for finding people's pride and leveraging it against them.

"Without a doubt. My only concern is that the people will have to suffer under a new tax collector should I lose my position." Vlad smiles as he sees the Baron's expression twist at his words. He knows he's got Eric right where he wants him. After a few moments of silent contemplation, Eric sighs and sets down his pen.

"What do you want me to do?" A glimmer of hope rises from the embers of the Count's collapsing empire. Vlad quickly formulates a plan and walks over to the captured nobleman.

"It's nothing, really. I just need a favor."

"I'm not going to give you anything for free."

"I would never ask you to do anything for free, Jezabel. I just think we have some common interests." The next stop on the Count's outing is the office of the impetuous Guild Master. He stands some distance away to prevent her from putting her guard up. The ornate desk acts as the walls of a fort. He knows he has to find a way to move around it if he wants her to open up. This is one of the many tricks he's picked up over his years serving the court.

"I'm not interested in helping some lowlife Count. The whole town has heard the rumors. I'm surprised you have the guts to show yourself outside after what you've done."

Vlad can feel his eye twitch. Her cold words stab through his heart. He struggles to maintain his smile against the onslaught.

[Now's not the time to feel ashamed. I have to keep fighting while I still have the chance.]

"I want to atone for my sins, but I worry I'll never get the chance if the Duke removes me and installs a new governor."

"Get fucked."

"The lady has ordered you to 'get fucked,' my lord." A deep voice sounds out from near the door. Vlad turns around to a tall, handsome man standing with one hand behind his back and the other across his stomach.

"I heard her," Vlad replies. The man bows deeply and continues.

"Apologies, my lord. I didn't see you moving to 'get fucked,' so I thought you didn't hear her." His over-dramatic apology belies his insincerity. The muffled laughter of the Guild Master makes the message all the more clear.

[This is going to be my whole day, isn't it?]

Vlad gathers what's left of his dignity and turns back to Jezabel.

"If the Duke takes control of the town, he'll limit the movement of the Adventurer's Guild just like he does in the eastern territory. The rise in goods coming from the forest will decline or be shifted directly into the Duke's control which isn't good for either of us. This could even cause a crisis where all the newer adventurers that have begun traveling beyond the edge of the forest will no longer have any work."

"You think I don't know that?" Jezabel raises an eyebrow at the desperate Count.

"Then there's no reason you shouldn't support me."

"No reason?" She stands up and walks toward him. Vlad was hoping to close the distance between himself and the Guild Master, but not like this. The situation has devolved and may now escalate to violence. She grabs his blouse by the collar and continues speaking. "Personally, I'd like it if you both just keeled over, but I'm not lucky enough for that. I could watch you flounder for the next few weeks until the Duke offs you and then try to change my position from there, but it feels like such a pain in the ass. Even if you do manage to hold your position, I doubt you'd live for more than a few years after that."

"You're going to kill me?"

"Me? Why would I do something like that? No, there are others that want your head much more than I do."

"So, help me for now, and you won't have to worry about either of us in a few years," Vlad offers.

[That should be more than enough time to set things right.]

"You care more about your position than your life?"

"I have a responsibility."

"Noblesse oblige, huh?"

"Something like that."

"Whatever. What is it that you want?"

"I don't want anything. I'm here to help you." Vlad replies. Jezabel smiles and invites the Count to take a seat.

"You know, you could've just opened with that."

"Last stop," Vlad says to himself as he stands outside the shop of the wealthiest merchant in town. The shop buys many of the goods pulled out of the forest and sells high-quality commodities like clothes and tools back to the residents. Santiago, the shop owner, had been very close with the previous Count, so he was less than pleased that Vlad was now in charge of the town. This negative attitude was only exacerbated by the vicious rumors about his rise to power floating around. Vlad gathers himself and takes a deep breath before confidently walking into the showroom.