"Recluce - 09 - Colors Of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

head slightly to one side. "Do you understand?"
   "Yes, ser." Cerryl frowned. "I think so. People are talking, but it's
not always right what they're saying, and you need to make sure we
understand what's really happening. But you don't want it spread all over
the place, and there are some people who won't be told everything because
they-" Cerryl stopped as he saw the glimmer in Kinowin's eyes. "I'm
sorry, ser. Maybe I don't understand."
   Kinowin laughed and shook his head. "You understand. You even
understand the intrigue. No wonder Jeslek worries about you. Just don't
share something like you just said with anyone but me or Myral."
   Cerryl nodded slowly. He noted that the overmage had not mentioned the
High Wizard Sterol or the overmage Jeslek.
   Kinowin squared himself in his chair, put both elbows on the table,
and leaned forward. "You know that Syrma is now the prefect of Gallos.
Lyam's family-they are largely wool factors and timber merchants- is not
pleased with the situation. Nor are the overcaptains of the Gallosian
forces, especially a fellow by the name of Taynet. He's the most senior
of the overcaptains. What this means for the Guild is that we really
can't press Syrma for payment of all the golds that Lyam owed Fairhaven
from when he was prefect."
   Cerryl wasn't sure how the intrigue of Gallos had anything at all to
do with him or the Guild, but Kinowin wasn't one for idle gossip.
   "The traders in Gallos have been bringing in goods from Recluce
through Spidlar-wool, spices, even copper. The Black traders have also
been bringing in Austran cotton and linen-and it's cheaper than what
comes from Hydlen. They're shipping that copper from Southport to
Spidlaria cheaper than our traders can cart it across the Westhorns."
Kinowin paused, cocking his head again, as if uncertain as to what else
to say. "And they're using the profit to buy our grains and tubers. They
can raise grain on Recluce, but not enough."
   The junior mage waited.
   "The Duke of Lydiar is beginning to expand the copper mines south of
Hrisbarg... and might be persuaded to reopen the old iron mines. He's not
happy about the cheaper copper... or the iron." Kinowin stopped. "Does
this tell you anything?"
   It told Cerryl a great deal-and nothing at all. Traders were always
unhappy when someone else could sell cheaper, unless they were the ones
who had the cheaper goods. Certainly Syrma would be in a hard position in
Gallos. He'd become prefect because the Guild had effectively
announced-through Cerryl's assassination of Lyam-that it was most unhappy
with the Gallosians' use of the White highways without paying the
tariffs. Jeslek's use of chaos to destroy one small Gallosian army had
also pointed out that Gallos would have trouble using armsmen to defy
Fairhaven. At the same time, the traders and merchants of Gallos were
doubtless displeased with the thought of paying tariffs-and Lyam's family
certainly wouldn't be in the best of humors.
   "The situation isn't good and may not get better," Cerryl finally
temporized. "What about the Viscount of Certis?"
   "The viscount cares little about any mining or metals, or the wool.
His concerns are oils, and right now his merchants can sell more oil than