Chapter 302: Plans for the New Kingdom

"We will do it," said Kellar. "But not so blatantly. That can work at the start, while they still have zeal for the Bear God. Later, looking after your own interests is human nature. We cannot treat them like animals. That leads to resentment, and resentment leads to rebellion."

Ophelia gripped the staff.

"And if they try it," said she, with a zeal that lit her face, "we should kill them all. To show them what happens when anyone dares offend the great Bear God, or even doubt him."

Kellar looked at her a moment.

"We will not be so extreme," said Kellar. "That is not something the Bear God would like."

Wow... thought Kellar. So this is the level of religious fanaticism she has. I must be careful. She could be dangerous.

Mentz scratched the back of his neck and spoke without raising his voice much.

"Master, I would like to speak for the common people," said Mentz. "And I think a blessing that might work is a promise. More than a blessing of the Bear God, it is something you can give."

"Tell me," said Kellar. "If it is in my hand, I will do it."

Mentz straightened on the stone.

"Yes, my lord. Do not take it badly, but even I have this doubt," said Mentz. "The day you named the Garnis you promised Garik and Lennis that in the future they would own their lands."

Kellar nodded slowly.

"Before the village was formed, every family of the tribe had its own holding," Mentz went on. "The grandparents, and their grandparents before them, told stories of working their own earth. Every one of us carries that want, myself included."

He dragged a hand across his mouth.

"And now that you say new people are coming, and that we know you treat us all the same, because in your sacred benevolence the children of the Bear God hold equal standing... those of the original tribe fear you will hand it out the same."

Kellar stayed quiet.

What they said was logical. It fit human nature. And if people had no wants to exploit, they were hard to control.

Basically they were asking him for territory. Fiefs. He had already promised fiefs to Lennis and Garik, and one day they would be royalty. And now that his tribe was no longer a tribe but a kingdom, ceding territory was not merely appropriate.

It was obligatory, if he meant to fulfill the missions. A kingdom with no landed nobles was a village with a crown.

"Master," said Ophelia, and touched his arm. "I am sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but I agree with Mentz. The blessings of the Bear God must fall first on his children. The refugees will live better beneath the tribe than with the dangers of nature."

"Good," said Kellar. "We will do that. We will hand out the territory. It is still early, because the whole of our territory is extremely dangerous and spreading the army out will only weaken our position."

"Thank you, Great Shaman," said Mentz, and his face loosened. "Your blessing will ease the burdens and the worry of everyone in the village."

Kellar nodded and looked at the valley.

A person without roots is loose sand... thought Kellar. Building firm ground is the most important thing.

Then he turned back to the two of them.

"And what we should do with the refugees?" asked Mentz.

Mentz opened his mouth and left it open.

"The rest of the refugees will come in with the standing of free men and nothing more," said Kellar. "They will not be official members of the Overlord Kingdom. They will have to earn that right working at least ten years, and then their families will hold the standing of members of the kingdom."

He paused.

"With exceptions, of course. If they join the army, the standing is immediate."

Mentz straightened sharply.

"That is a great idea, Great Shaman," said Mentz. "The army will strengthen that way. Right now nearly every man is in the army, and those who are not simply have not enlisted out of fear. This way we will not have to force them. They will enlist themselves."

"Exactly," said Kellar. "We will give them two simple options. Join the army, or ten years serving the kingdom. I am certain their own families will see to convincing them properly."

"There is nothing better than a wife to convince a man to do a thing," said Mentz, and laughed.

Ophelia did not laugh.

"I will take it upon myself to preach on the importance of courage," said Ophelia. "The Bear God needs strong and valiant warriors, ready to die for his kingdom."

Kellar laughed a little.

She had just said something he wanted, but did not want to say so plainly. Using blind faith as a grand device of persuasion, not to say manipulation, would hand him an endless supply of soldiers ready to die for him.

"The blessing of the Bear God will fall on us," said Kellar. "He will bless us with his courage."

Mentz nodded with his mouth tight, as though a stone had been set on his chest.

"There is a last detail from what we discussed," Kellar went on. "I want the minimum wage of every man and every woman, per day, to be one silver coin. But the wage of those who are not part of the kingdom will be ten copper coins. I want an advantage of ten to one."

"Ten to one," repeated Mentz.

"Tomorrow we issue the order," said Kellar. "And one thing more. Any family with a man and no male of theirs in the army will not be a member of the kingdom."

Mentz went still.

"And women without husbands, Great Shaman?"

"Women without husbands get the standing of guests," said Kellar. "They will have the same benefits as our members, but they will have one year to bear a child. The child gives them member standing."

He turned to the two of them.

"The police oversee that. I do not want a black market in seed."

Mentz let out a laugh through his nose.

"My lord, the police and the secret team are already deployed," said Mentz. "If anyone tries anything, we will know at once."

Kellar nodded.

The secret team was his internal spy network. People planted everywhere, seeing everything that should not be seen with the naked eye. There was not a workshop, a pen, or a kitchen in the valley without someone in it who owed Kellar and not their foreman.

"Perfect," said Kellar. "And lastly, tomorrow we speak with Garik about how to strike the coin. We will use as a base the few coins the knights brought and our friends from the Oakhaven islands. That will be the right weight and the right size."