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

him, Kinowin walked to the window and looked out at the dark clouds
looming to the east. Even the purple wall hanging seemed gloomy rather
than striking.
   Cerryl stood by the table, not wanting to sit down.
   "Go ahead. Sit down." Kinowin did not turn from the window. "It's
storming to the east." After a moment, he turned. "How did your day go?"
   "It was quiet. I've seen farm wagons and even a stone wagon, but not
many other kinds. There are more passengers on the coaches, and they look
like factors."
   "That should not surprise you."
   Cerryl couldn't say he was surprised, but he also could not have said
why he was not surprised.
   "Do you know how the exchanges work?"
   "Not very well. The factors make agreements to buy or sell goods in
future seasons, sometimes for things that haven't even been grown or
mined."
   Kinowin stepped toward the table, then leaned forward and put his
hands on the back of the chair. "The exchanges help smooth trade. I'd
judge that is as good an explanation as any. The factors use the exchange
in hopes of making coins or, when times are lean, to avoid losing too
many coins. So... when things are unsettled, long before others realize
there may be trouble, the factors are buying and selling those future
goods. Will there be a famine in Certis or Southwind? The price of wheat
corn two seasons from now goes up. The price of cattle goes down."
   "Ah... the price of cattle goes down?"
   Kinowin shrugged. "If the fields are brown and bare and grain is dear,
the farmers and the holders must sell."
   Cerryl wanted to shake his head. He'd never even considered such
matters.
   Kinowin flashed a sardonic smile. "To the blade's edge, Cerryl. To the
blade's edge. The exchanges have been most busy lately. The price of
future timber is going up. Do you know why?"
   Cerryl looked at the overmage helplessly.
   "Ships-it takes timber to build them, and they require the older,
heavier oak and the long pole firs."
   Cerryl understood.
   "You see? Then tell me what that means."
   "Well... if someone is building ships, but not so many traders are
coming to Fairhaven, then they aren't building trading ships, but
warships ..."
   "Both Recluce and Spidlar are building more ships. I'd say for trade.
Others ... are building ships because they are losing trade."
   "Are we building ships? In Sligo?"
   "Let me just say that I would be most surprised if the High Wizard had
not contracted with the Sligan shipwrights for a few more vessels. That
is something I would not mention to anyone."
   "Yes, ser."
   "Myral said you worked very hard to master a wide range of skills."
Kinowin looked hard at Cerryl. "In the times we are living in, I would
suggest you continue to work hard. Being a gate guard offers some time