holdings this way, though he didn’t tell me why, and it was not my place to ask.” With Winston and Charlie looking on, Sague paged through screen after screen of account statements. They meant nothing to Charlie.
“Allston itself is moderately profitable, but on your father’s instructions, Allston’s corporate structure is set up to automatically funnel much of the profits into a numbered investment account on Finalsa. However, in addition to the import and export operations, Allston is a holding company for four other wholly owned subsidiaries, all of which I hold a minority interest in, three of which are profitable, again only moderately so, one of which is not. In fact, before his demise I’d intended to discuss with His Grace liquidation of the assets of that operation. It’s a small operation, and by selling it off you’ll be able to fund the outfitting of your new ship.”
They showed Sague the accounts they’d been reviewing, and the little Istannan responded in a huff. “These too,” he said, indicating the de Lunis house accounts, “are per your father’s instructions. The expenses of maintaining Starfall were to be properly covered, but no more. The de Lunis accounts were to always appear just barely in the black, though if you wish that changed we could easily divert more into the house accounts.”
With Sague’s aid they determined that House de Lunis was not penniless. The combined profits from Allston and its holdings didn’t make Charlie a wealthy man, especially since he was going to spend a considerable amount outfitting a ship, and the operating costs of a ducal house were considerable, but still it was welcome news. House de Lunis would be the poorest of the Ten, but no longer destitute.
“If Your Grace feels that I’ve been remiss in any way then I will tender my resignation—”
“No,” Charlie interrupted. “You’ve done an outstanding job, and I hope you’ll continue.”
Sague’s indignation disappeared between one moment and the next. “Well, of course, Your Grace. Your father and I had a working relationship for almost thirty years, and it was always a good one. He recognized that such relationships must be mutually beneficial.”
“As do I.”
Sague positively beamed with pleasure. “We must get you a ship, Your Grace, one appropriate for a man of your stature. And I certainly can be of assistance there.”
“Yes and no,” Charlie said. “I do need a ship, but not one that’s appropriate for a man of my stature.” Charlie had come to understand what Cesare had known all along: for him, there was considerable safety in appearing weak and near destitute.
Sague was scandalized when Charlie asked him for a ship similar to Goldisbest. But when Charlie explained the political necessities of his situation, and that he wanted a ship that only appeared decrepit, Sague warmed to the idea. “Sometimes it’s necessary to allow the competition to deceive themselves,” Sague said. “I can find a vessel with a sound hull, then gut it and refit it in our own shipyards. Trust me, Your Grace. When I’m done it’ll have the latest drive and control systems, but still appear to be junk.”
“And can you fit it with armaments?”
Sague’s eyebrows rose with a question, but he didn’t ask it. “All of your holdings that I manage, Your Grace, are commercial in nature, not capable of producing armaments. I’ll have to contract with an armaments manufacturer such as Hart & Delorm on Toellan. And that’ll be expensive.”
“Can they be discreet? Are they willing to install armaments without adding the specifications to the registry documents?”
“I do not know, Your Grace. I have little experience in armaments, but I can make some inquiries.”
“No. Don’t. Not yet. Let’s start with the hull and the refitting. Perhaps my factor on Toellan can help. Let me explore the matter with him first.”
Charlie decided to leave Darmczek behind to work with Sague on the specifications for the ship. Darmczek also gave Sague a list of names from the Two Thousand, men he knew could be trusted implicitly, and would jump at the chance to join Charlie’s crew. Sague would have his agents contact them and arrange passage for them to Istanna so they could be on hand to crew the new ship when she was ready.
Charlie had Sague transfer some funds to Nano in at least partial payment for Goldisbest’s use. Nano said it wasn’t necessary, but Charlie ignored him and transferred the money anyway.
However, for all the good news, bad news continued to trickle in. They heard reports that on Aagerbanne,