First lessons (Medieval Tale Book 1)

by Lina J. Potter

  Lily had a huge storehouse of knowledge in her head, and judging by what Leif had told her, the Eveers were just the people to help her monetize it. And the Virmans were armed to deal with anyone who didn’t toe the line.

  Lily was prepared to be as polite as humanly possible to the jeweler.

  What about the Church? I’ll deal with them. Earton only has one priest, and there are plenty of lonely swamps to go around.

  Lilian Earton began to build her team.

  ***

  The jeweler’s shop was impressive. It was a two-story stone building with three golden spheres hanging over the doorway. The owner must live upstairs. He even has glass in the second-floor windows where boys passing by in the street can’t break them. He’s doing well now, but soon he’ll be doing even better. The annual fair is the perfect place to advertise.

  Lily got off her horse with Leif’s help and pushed the door open. Inside, the shop was dark, quiet, and smelled faintly of wax from burning candles. What do they add to the wax to keep it from melting quickly? And what are the candles made of? Tallow or paraffin? I remember about the wicks… Emma Markovna in applied chemistry told us that they used to soak the wicks in a solution of saltpeter or boric acid to make candles burn brighter and give off less heat and soot. Otherwise, you get black streaks on the ceiling.

  As soon as she walked in, the young man at the shop counter guessed that she was a Countess (and immediately tallied up the price of her clothes and jewelry and the Virman behind her). He bowed so vigorously that Lily was afraid he would break his nose on the counter.

  “Young man, are you Helke Leitz?”

  “No, My Lady,” he hiccupped.

  “But this is his shop, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, My Lady.”

  “Then call Helke for me.” It came out sounding very regal and imperious. The color drained from the young man’s face, and he ducked behind a curtain. Lily looked around her as she waited. The furniture was heavy. Candles sputtered in carved candle holders, and the large ceiling beams hung low over her head. The ceiling was black with soot.

  I’ll introduce better living through chemistry! Saltpeter is easy enough to manufacture from manure, even if the process smells awful. There’s an idea: I’ll punish people by making them work at my saltpeter piles. If I start now, I should have results in about two years. That’s a long time, but when you want something done, you have to do it yourself. It may be worth it to try and make some nitric acid, too.

  “My Lady?” An old man interrupted her thoughts.

  The man bowed and kissed her hand under Leif’s watchful eye. She rewarded him with a nod and looked him over from under her lashes. He was doing the same, looking her over and evaluating her. There was no telling what he thought about her, but Lily decided that she was dealing with a serious businessman. At first glance, he was just a short, dark-haired man with bad posture, worn clothes, and an obsequious look on his face. A second glance, however, revealed more useful information. The wrinkles on his face were not from age, but from frowning. He was clean, instead of smelling like sweat and incense like most other people. And his clothes may have been old, but they were clean, too. Lily reflected that after her trip on horseback, she would have to bathe three times in bleach to get that clean. He didn’t move like an old man, either. His hands didn’t tremble, and his feet didn’t shuffle. His every move was precise and measured. Lily could have sworn that he was a master of working with precious stones and gold.

  She wanted a magnifying glass. If there were glass blowers in her new world, she could get it done. She had already made one back at home for her mother. But first… She would have to give the old man a couple of ideas for free.

  I don’t believe he’s all that old, though. He’s probably no more than forty-five. He just hunches over like that to make himself look more pitiful.

  The jeweler bowed and expressed his pleasure at her visit. Lily’s brain hummed with ideas. “I would like to see some jewelry. Show me some earrings.” She flicked a finger against one ear to make its emerald sparkle. “I think mine are too small.”

  He bowed again. “If you would like to have a seat, My Lady, I’ll bring you some things.”

  “Of course, Mr. Leitz. I’ll wait here.”

  “Thank you, My Lady.”

  He showed her to a chair. Lily let herself down into it and sighed. It had been a long time since she had exercised. Travel was interfering with her resolution to lead a healthy lifestyle.

  Leif took up his place behind her chair. Lily smiled at him. “Tell me, what’s the name of your wife?”

  “Her name is Ingrid, My Lady.” A smile broke out on the Virman’s normally serious face, and Lily felt a pang of envy. No one had ever looked at her that way. Even her fiancé, Alex, didn’t smile like that when he saw her. But Leif’s eyes shone. For Ingrid’s sake, he was ready to sail any ocean, walk across hot coals, swallow a live snake, or pull the moon out of the sky. Nobody loved Lily that much.

  “Will you bring her to meet me this evening? I’d like to have a woman to talk to.”

  Leif’s eyebrows went up. “Countess…”

  “I may be a Countess,” Lilian smiled, “but even a Countess needs friends.”

  “We are Virmans.”

  “The Book of Aldonai says that all of us have souls.”

  “Are you a follower of the Book of Aldonai, My Lady?”

  Lily grinned. “Certainly. Like everyone in this world.” The words ‘as long as it suits me’ hung in the air, unspoken, but Leif heard them and smiled back at her.

  “I will bring her.”

  ***

  The curtain whispered as it opened. The jeweler was back. He put a small box on the table in front of Lilian and bowed low. Lily opened the lid and gasped in delight. What beauty! If only she had the money… The box contained two cabochon emeralds of the deepest shade of green. Lily took one out of its nest. She examined the earring and shook her head. “Sit down, honorable Helke.”

  “My Lady, I wouldn’t dare to sit in your presence!”

  “Sit down anyway. We need to talk.”

  “Yes, My Lady?” The man seemed to expect something unpleasant from her, but Lily disappointed him.

  “Tell me, are all your earrings like these?” She didn’t like the fact that the earrings had no clasp. The emeralds hung on a bent wire that went through the ear. That was fine for cheap jewelry, but how could she be expected to wear expensive stones that way?

  “My Lady?”

  “They are inconvenient to wear.”

  The jeweler’s eyes grew sharp. “Everyone makes them this way, My Lady…”

  “I know. Mine are the same way. I want you to fix them according to my instructions.”

  “How is that, My Lady?”

  “Do you have something to write on?”

  Helke nodded and brought out some parchment, a quill pen, and an inkwell. Lily looked slyly at the inkwell.

  It isn’t non-spill like the ones I designed.

  She tried to remember if she had one of hers with her. I don’t think I do. But that can wait. I won’t show him all my cards at once.

  Lily dipped the pen in the ink and neatly drew a simple earring with an English clasp. “This would be easy enough to make out of almost any metal.”

  The jeweler studied the drawing. He looked up. “My Lady, I have never seen anything like this before.”

  “So, look at it now. Try to make an inexpensive pair from my drawing. If you want to talk to me, you can find me at The Pig and Dog.”

  “My Lady…”

  Lily slowly and regally stood up from her chair to show that her visit was over. “If you decide to talk to me again, I will be in town through the end of the fair. Perhaps, you will want to see other new things…”

  She smiled and was gone before the jeweler had a chance to respond.

  ***

  After she left, Helke shut the door, hissed to his assistant that the shop was closed, and ran back into his
workshop. As a jeweler, he realized how perfectly wonderful Lily’s idea was. Earrings with a clasp would not fall off ladies’ lovely (or not so lovely) ears and get lost. And if he was the only one with the idea…

  Helke was an official member of the jewelers’ guild. He could bring in the idea and receive a percentage of future sales. He picked up his tools and got to work.

  ***

  Lily spent the rest of the day asking questions at the inn. She had a friendly conversation with the innkeeper and learned something that made her happy: there were guilds in Ativerna! Guilds of jewelers, weavers, tailors, stone carvers, leather tanners, merchants…That went right along with her plans. The locals already understood that no new invention could be kept secret for long. If it was a new method for processing leather, there would be the expense of taking on apprentices and feeding them. But what if it was something simple, like a new way to cut a gem, something that would be easy to copy…

  At some point in history, the Ativernese came up with the guild system. Each guild was led by a master craftsman, and the other members worked under his protection. They paid membership dues and something like a tax, but if a member died, the guild would support his widow and help his children learn the trade. If a member came up with a good idea, he shared it with the guild and earned a percentage of sales for five years (some guilds offered longer or shorter periods). The better the invention, the more the earnings. Lily thought this was fantastic. Nobody was forced to join a guild, but it was risky to go alone without protection. The benefits of membership far outweighed the cost of what the guild took for itself.

  Lily knew she had plenty of good ideas to share with the local jewelers and other craftsmen. She recalled the Kikabidze song about “My Years are My Wealth” and reflected that her wealth was her knowledge. She would apply what she knew, even if she had to use Helke to make money. She didn’t care if he was an Eveer, as long as he shared the profits fairly.

  ***

  Back on the ship, Leif caught Ingrid’s worried glance. She understands everything.

  The Virman whistled sharply to get everyone’s attention. “All on deck! I have important news!”

  Ten minutes later, all the Virmans, including women and children, were on deck to hear their captain. Soon, their faces broke into happy smiles. He had found a place for them! They were going to live in Earton. They would live at the castle for a while, but after that, they would have houses of their own if they wanted. They would serve the Countess of Earton for three years. She was an intelligent, serious woman. There were some strange things about her, but she would pay them well.

  Leif answered their questions in detail. When the large group broke up into smaller groups to discuss their future, Leif went to Ingrid. He put his arm around her, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

  “You were right, dear. She is an intelligent woman.”

  “I knew it. You are the best of husbands!”

  Leif hugged her. “But you know something? She can be very odd at times.”

  “Really?” Ingrid was much more interested in the warm arm around her waist that in Lilian Earton’s problems. “What makes her odd?”

  “She talks to everyone the same way,” Leif said, trying to explain what worried him.

  “The same way?”

  “I have heard her talking with her peasants. And with me. With the Baron. With an Eveer jeweler. I think she sees us as equals. She was respectful with everyone she spoke to.”

  “Even with the Eveer?” Virmans had nothing personal against Eveers, but they knew how the world at large viewed them.

  “She didn’t care. She just saw him as a person. And here’s the other thing, I feel like she is a little bit frightened of everyone.”

  “That’s strange.”

  “It is. Very strange. My dear, she wants to meet you.”

  “Me?”

  “I told her that Virmans are not servants.”

  “What did she say to that?”

  “She said that all of us have souls.”

  “True enough, but she is a Countess.”

  “I think you’ll forget about that after talking to her for ten minutes. She can be very charming when she wants to be.”

  “Do you like her?”

  Leif snorted. “My darling, there is only one woman in the world for me, and that is you. Lilian Earton is helping us. We will serve her and live in her home and eat her bread. Why shouldn’t we try to maintain friendly relations with her?”

  Ingrid nodded, but she didn’t look convinced.

  ***

  His Majesty Edward VIII looked at his son. “Come in and sit down.”

  Richard showed his father a smile full of white teeth and sat down in a chair. “What is the matter, Father?”

  “You are leaving for Wellster in a few days.”

  “I am. Did you know that Jess found room in the delegation for…”

  “You can tell me about that later. Richard, I want to ask you not to make your choice hastily.” Richard’s eyebrows went up, and Edward continued, “Even if you like the girl, even if you lose your head over her, don’t offer marriage right away. Promise me that.”

  His son shrugged. “I promise. But why?”

  “Do you know how I met Jessie?”

  “Yes. At your wedding.”

  “I don’t want you to repeat my fate. Take a good look at both girls and choose the one you really want. If we have to, we can invite them to come here. That will give you more time.”

  “Why didn’t we invite them here right away?”

  “Because you can find out certain things about them by visiting their homes. Get a good look at them, and then we will invite them here. Where they don’t know anyone.”

  “I see this is serious for you.”

  “Imogene was never a true wife to me. And once she realized that I didn’t love her, she became my enemy. We managed to get through it without serious consequences. But you remember the death of your older brother and of Jyce…”

  His father didn’t call Edmund by name. That said a lot to Richard.

  “You were very close to Jyce.”

  “He and Jessie were like one person, and I loved her. Jyce was like a brother to me, too. I hope you feel the same about Jerrison.”

  “I only wish he really was my brother by blood.”

  “Be satisfied with what you have,” Edward said, waving a finger at his son.

  It was a secret he would take to the grave. Jess would never know that he had royal blood in his veins. Neither would Richard. It was safer that way. Edward had no fear of Jess or Richard conspiring against each other. He just felt that secrets were safer when known to one person alone. If he told the boys, there was no telling where else the information would end up. And there were plenty of evil people around the court who wouldn’t mind playing games with other people’s lives.

  Jess and Richard are just boys. If only Aldonai would give him another ten years to live. Just ten more years—Jessamine and Jyce were both waiting for him there, on the other side.

  “Father, I promise to weigh my choice carefully.” Richard slid to his knees by his father’s chair. Edward ran his hand through the young man’s curls, as he had when his son was a boy.

  “Do not make the mistake I made, my son. Now, tell me what Jess has going on with that young widow.”

  “I think it’s serious.”

  “That’s bad.”

  “Father…”

  “Have you forgotten that Jess is married? He needs an heir from Lilian.”

  “How could anyone forget that hysterical fool?”

  “Hush. August’s boatyards are the best in the country.”

  “I know that. A man can marry anyone to get his hands on property. But to conceive an heir with her?” He shivered.

  “What about duty? I will speak with Jess. He must have an heir before he looks for enjoyment elsewhere. You know the law is strict on that point.”

  Richard understood. If Lilian w
ere to die without giving Jess an heir, Jess would be allowed to keep her dowry. That was a lot of money, but it was just money. The boatyards, however, which were still being managed by August, would not be his.

  “I will remind him, but I think he is in love.”

  “Talk him out of it. Now go, you rascal. I hope you aren’t taking anyone with you on the delegation?”

  Richard shook his head. His latest mistress was staying home, much to her disappointment. He was first and foremost the Prince of Ativerna before he was a man and a knight. And since his mistress could possibly hinder his finding a wife, she would have to stay at home. If she didn’t like it, he could easily find another skirt to chase.

  Edward smiled. “Fine. Go. And talk to Jess.”

  “Can’t you do it?”

  “I can talk to him here in my study, but you can do it over a tankard of ale. He is more likely to listen to you.”

  Richard shook his head. “Your Majesty is a master of intrigue.”

  “Live and learn, they say.”

  “I will follow your example.” Richard bowed and left his father’s study. Edward smiled at his back. Wellster. Ivernea. Both alliances were good ones. He just wanted his son to be happy.

  Help him, Aldonai.

  ***

  Lons opened his eyes. It was pitch black. He choked on the stench that hit his nose. For an instant, he thought he had gone blind or even died, but there was a thick odor of unwashed bodies and excrement.

  “Where am I?”

  He didn’t expect an answer, but he got one. “In the hold of the Star Gull. They dragged you in yesterday.”

  Yesterday… Lons remembered his conversation with the Jester. His head was splitting, but he recalled it all.