The Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness #2) - Joe Abercrombie Page 0,91

to keep her military strong. If anything, we should raise more men!”

Lady Finree chose that moment to set aside her needlework. “Leo, your lords have a point. As things stand, we need money more than soldiers, and—”

Leo bashed the table with his fist, making everyone flinch. “I’ve made my decision! I didn’t ask for your advice, Mother.”

There was an awkward silence. Leo turned angrily away, rubbing at his leg. Lady Finree coloured as she retreated to her chair. Savine felt for her, she really did, but she was yesterday’s woman. Her son might act like a child on occasion but treating him like one was a blunder. If he had to have his toy soldiers, Savine would find a way to give them to him. While he was busy playing army, she could mould Angland into the thoroughly modern province she needed it to be.

“My lords, if I may?”

Mustred cleared his throat. “Well, actually—”

“I think I have a way to satisfy the Closed Council and fund the strong army that we need.”

Clensher snorted. “Are you a sorceress, Lady Savine? Will you conjure money out of thin air?”

“In a manner of speaking.” She stood, setting her hand down on the great stack of ledgers Haroon had brought in. “I took the liberty of examining the accounts of the province over the past ten years.”

Mustred rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Lady Savine, we have been preparing those very accounts for many years before that—”

“But the nature of finance, commerce, industry and law has transformed in that time.” And these old fools had barely even noticed. “I have done a great deal of business here. Here and in Midderland, Starikland, Styria and beyond. I see many opportunities for new revenue.”

At the word “revenue,” Mustred and Clensher’s brows shot up as though hoisted by a single chain. They were like any other investors, in the end. The bottom line was all that really mattered.

“With your kind permission, I would meet with some interested parties—owners of land, mines and mills, operators of penal colonies—with a view to raising more taxes.” She gave Leo’s shoulder the gentlest of reassuring touches. “I am confident you will be pleasantly surprised.”

“A pleasant surprise would be a nice change.” Leo put his hand on hers and looked across at the old men. “Where’s the harm in trying?”

Savine gave the old windbags of Angland her sweetest smile. “Where indeed, my lords?”

“Master Arinhorm, what a tonic to see an old friend!” The sounds of the workmen putting new windows into the façade echoed faintly from outside as Rabik showed him into the room. “I apologise for all the commotion, I am making a few changes. Bringing things up to date.”

Arinhorm leaned to kiss Savine’s hand. “Lady Savine, it’s—”

“Your Grace.”

He winced ever so slightly. “Of course, Your Grace, I apologise. It’s… a lot to get used to.”

“Consider it from where I sit! Whoever would have thought I might find myself Lady Governor of Angland?”

Arinhorm sourly worked his mouth. “Not I.”

“I daresay when I turned down your scheme for increasing the efficiency of mines, we supposed we would have nothing more to do with one another. Now fate forces us to become partners regardless.”

Arinhorm frowned over at Zuri, who had the book open on the desk in front of her. “Partners?”

“Partners, Your Grace,” corrected Zuri, without looking up.

“You and your investors in the coal, iron and copper mines of Angland are making great profits,” said Savine. “I know because Selest dan Heugen never stops boasting about it.”

“We have had… some success.”

“I delight in it. But while you have been thriving, others have suffered. My husband has been obliged to fight a costly war against enemies who would do us all harm, and the demands of the Crown never cease. Angland has been most welcoming to you and your partners. Not to mention all manner of mill owners, landowners, builders and innovators. It is time to spread the burden.”

Arinhorm delicately cleared his throat. “Your Grace, these are our mines. They were made successful through my hard work and my investors’ risk.”

“I understand the principle, I have done a little investing myself. Of course you own the mines. Apart from the ones I own, which are failing for lack of your new pumps. You own the mines, you own the ore mined from them, no one would deny it.”

“We are not pirates!” threw out Zuri, with a grin that might have sat quite well on a pirate.

“But you do not own the rivers and