Garia and her friends have much to do before they will be forced to leave Blackstone. She sits as Baroness to decide the minor problems of the town and then, after lunch, as Guildmistress for Blackstone's craftsmen. Along the way she introduces more novel ideas to the locals and the fate of several of her friends is determined.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

It still surprised Garia how many people took such an interest in her activities. This morning she had done only the Tai Chi with the sixty-odd people also interested and had come back into the common room to find it crowded. It had been re-arranged to give a sort of courtroom setup with a single table at one end facing rows of benches. Even so, the space behind the benches was full with standing townspeople, curious to see how she would handle the business of the morning.

They are still testing me. They need to know that I am going to be fair and just to them.

After Trogan, I don't blame them one little bit.

Everybody rose when Keren appeared but he waved them back down.

"Those who have seats, please be seated. This is not my court," he told them. "I am here to learn my people's needs and this is a good place to begin. This is the Baroness's court, I am merely an interested onlooker, much as yourselves."

He pointedly took a seat at the end of the table, beyond Merizel and Jepp. Garia sat in the middle with Brydas, Fedren and the tanner Sinidar on her other side.

Garia said, "Let us begin, please. I have an announcement before we start taking petitions. As you all know, we recently fought brigands on our journey through Blackstone Vale. The Prince and I have written a full report of the incident for His Majesty and it was dispatched by rider yesterday morning. I'm sure you can all guess what His Majesty's reaction to it is likely to be."

There was a murmuring in the room which quickly stilled.

"This means," she continued, "that we will probably be summoned back to the palace as soon as it is practical for word to reach us. That in turn means that the whole party will have to leave Blackstone at that time. I'm sorry, I had hoped to stay here a little longer but it can't be helped. So, if you have petitions and such, then there will probably be just one more court like this one before we have to go. By that point I hope to have a Steward appointed and he can deal with any future problems along with the Town Assembly, of course."

Garia paused. "This also means that I'll have to hurry up and make sure that all the other appointments are made before I go. Since Trogan and his men came you've been without any kind of law enforcement in Blackstone, not until we arrived. With the miners arriving in numbers you're going to need someone to keep the town safe, someone who knows the town well. I'll be taking all my men-at-arms away so we need something to replace the old Watch system. In Kansas, where I came from, we have a man called a Sheriff who does that job, and that's what I want to try in Blackstone.

"Unlike the Watch, he'll have a full time job and he'll be paid by me. The first Sheriff will be chosen by the Town Assembly from among the townspeople and whoever is chosen will become an Assembly member. He won't be my man, he'll be one of you and he'll be familiar with the town and everyone in it. He will be able to choose Deputies as he needs them and we'll make arrangements to pay for them as well.

"The Sheriff's job will run for two years. After that, I want you to have elections to choose whether the old Sheriff is good enough at his job or whether he should be replaced by someone new. By election I mean that every adult registered as living in Blackstone can choose, secretly, who they would like to be Sheriff for the next two years. We add up all the votes and whoever gets most votes is chosen. That means that you should end up with a man you can trust to do what the town needs."

There was an excited buzz round the room as her audience discussed this novel idea. After a while Garia held up her hand for silence.

"That's it, that's all I have to announce today. Let's have the first petition, please."

Over the rest of the morning Garia discovered what governing a small town was like. Most of the petitions were trivial but involved appellants who didn't like each other, or there was some obscure point of law, or no law at all... most of these she referred to the assembly members who were present for advice, having them argue their positions out in open court so that everybody could learn why things had to be decided a certain way or the other.

One of the appellants was Brethen, and she gave him formal leave to amalgamate the two farms along Blackstone Vale although she didn't completely explain the circumstances. Most in the town knew there had been a feud but very few knew why and what the result had been. Let the town grapevine enlighten them all! Yarling was sitting on one of the front benches and she asked him to talk with Brethen about what the miners might do to the Vale.

"Is there anything else anyone wished to raise? Yes, you?" She pointed.

"Milady, since Chorandar is dead the town has no shoemaker. Must we petition the guildsmen to obtain a replacement? There is already need for repairs."

"As it happens I am at a meeting of the guildsmen this afternoon. I'll raise the matter then. I shouldn't think there would be any problem."

Some of her audience looked at her strangely.

"Milady, how is this possible?" one asked. "You are, if you would excuse me, a woman."

She smiled back. "I can go to this meeting because I have been given the legal rank of Guildmistress. Yes, the first one ever, in appreciation for the work I have done for Palarand's guilds. Some of the guildsmen thought to make use of the presence of somebody my rank to have a formal guild meeting in Blackstone. That way they don't have to send out to Tranidor for someone."

There were many expressions of disbelief in the room.

"I see some of you are having trouble believing all this," she added. "I'll have to get my charter out for this afternoon's meeting so if anyone else wants to inspect it some time you just have to come and ask. Is that all? I'll ask about the shoemaker, I promise."

Soon enough the court had ended and everybody had to clear out so that Sukhana could set the room up for lunch. Keren and Garia joined the others in the courtyard.

"You did very well, I think," he said to her.

"I am surprised myself," she responded. "I was unsure how this would all work out but it's mostly common sense, isn't it? There was that obscure argument over boundaries that even had Jepp stumped but we found an answer, didn't we? And almost everybody went away happy."

"Aye. That's what a good ruler does if he can, Garia. Sends them all home happy."

"Do you think this is what you'll be facing when you're King?"

Keren laughed. "I hope not. No, my boundary quarrels will be between counts and barons each with a small army of men-at-arms to back them up, not between two farmers over a boundary stone that fell in the river. There will be much more at stake but," he nodded, "the same principles apply."

"As you say." She squinted up at the sun. "Almost lunchtime, then the guildhall court after our nap. Do you think their concerns will be like those we faced this morning?"

Keren shook his head. "I cannot help you there. I regret, guildmistress, that I am not permitted to attend your court. I am no guildsman."

"But you're -"

Garia paused to think. The King had a pass, of course, because he was King and therefore automatically head of everything. She was there because the guildsmen wanted her to be. Keren... maybe one day, when he was well tutored in electricity and some of the newer technologies she would give them, but not now. For now, for them, he was just another noble.

"Oh," she said. "I'm sorry, I forgot. What will you do?"

"By your leave, I'll join Feteran and look over our beasts and riding gear, I think. There's also the gear we won from the brigands. If we have new riders we will need to put some of it to use."

"No problem. Naturally I'll tell you if anything important comes up. Oh, here's Bezan!"

The mason rode into the courtyard, nodding a greeting to all who stood there. He dismounted and a stable hand took the reins of his beast.

"Highness, Milady, Milady." He made a bow and then smiled. "I am pleased to see that all goes well with you. If I may tell you of the roadhouse while we eat. You will excuse me, I must make for the bath house."

Once settled around the table, with a steaming lunch in front of all, Bezan began.

"The roadhouse is about finished, milady. The first stage, that is. There is a functioning kitchen, two dormitories about the size of those you have here and a new bath house. Your idea of modular buildings is proving successful, I deem. It took me some while to adapt my designs to such a scheme but I believe you will be pleased by the result. When the time comes to expand the establishment it will be easy to do so for those who will be contracted. Of course, I expect to be here making changes to the town so I will be nearby if advice is required."

"That's good news, Master Bezan. Are the buildings in use yet?"

"Of course, milady. We began with the kitchen block first to serve the construction crew and then expanded from there, using the new buildings as they were finished. The wagoneers now use the rooms and express pleasure at the cleanliness of the place compared to others they have used."

"It's a new building," she pointed out, "of course it's going to look clean. Let's see what state it's in after a year's time. What about the animals? How are they managed?"

Bezan frowned. "A possible problem, milady. The dranakh seem to have no difficulty foraging in the forest but we are reluctant to clear land to graze frayen. For now we have constructed corrals under the trees but that means we must bring in fodder. Fortunately that is not a big problem, since some wagons would otherwise arrive empty from Tranidor."

Keren gestured with his fork. "What you say is true now, Master Bezan, but in a year's time the number of animals will be much greater. It is even possible that the dranakh will graze every leaf from the forest floor should we not take care. We must consider forage for all of the animals, not just frayen."

Bezan was moody. "Animals are a big problem, Highness. There is need for one dranakh for each wagon and already I have complaints from Tranidor that the price of dranakh hire has risen. Would that we had milady's railroad here already, where the beast only requires feeding with coal and may pull many wagons."

Keren and Garia looked at each other.

"Hmm," Keren said. "Perhaps we must needs speak with father concerning priorities. The railroad assumes greater importance the more we think on what must be done."

"It's a question for the council, I think," she replied, knowing that Keren would understand the reference. Changing the subject she asked, "What staff is there at the moment, Master Bezan?"

"Milady, we have a cook and two kitchen women, one his wife. There are presently two manservants for the men's quarters and two women for the women's quarters. I have asked the guildhall in Tranidor to contract some outside staff to manage the beasts as the numbers grow. All who live at the roadhouse reside in a separate block behind the kitchens, milady, so that there is somewhere they can rest without disturbance. There is room for many more staff as required."

Garia nodded. "That sounds good, Master Bezan. I'll inspect it when we pass through," she smiled, "although I am just a customer, you understand, I don't have any knowledge of how to build or operate roadhouses."

Bezan nodded. "As you have already explained, milady. But did you not say that there were similar places on your own world?"

Garia shook her head as she replied, "Well, yes, but because our transportation is so different you can't really compare the two. I'm sorry, it looks as though that part of my knowledge isn't going to be useful for some years yet."

~o~O~o~

"Captain! If you can spare a moment."

Bleskin smiled. "At your service milady. Do you nap?"

"I do, but I have a question for you, that you might like to consider while I'm in with the guildsmen this afternoon. You realize, of course, that when we leave Blackstone this place," she gestured around them, "will be left empty? I'm considering several options for its use but I don't think I want it left around for six months waiting for me to return here. It's not my home here, we just used it because it was derelict and available."

"As you say, milady. With the extra commerce that is coming into the town the accommodation will be sorely needed, as it was when pakh wool was the reason for Blackstone's fame. You say you have options, milady."

"Yes, but that wasn't my question for you. If the Claw gets turned over to some other use, where would you go? Would you move across to the Bell?"

Bleskin smiled. "Milady, I have anticipated you. I have discussed this very subject with Mesulkin and he has offered me room as guest in his house. Excuse me, milady, in the Steward's house." The smile disappeared. "Of course, it is likely that you will appoint someone new as Steward. Would you then make provision for Mesulkin? He has served Duke Gilbanar faithfully these many years and deserves a decent retirement."

"Of course! Mesulkin needs all the help he can get and I'd be happy to help. But he is Uncle Gil's man, so I'm not sure how that is going to work." Her eyes narrowed as she considered a startling new idea. "I may have an idea," she said slowly. "Look, I have to go lie down a few moments, let's talk about this again this evening. I think I have just figured out a way to solve several problems at once."

~o~O~o~

Once again when Garia entered the common room she found it crowded. She frowned as she took her seat, considering the numbers in the packed room. So many guildsmen in a small town like Blackstone! Of course, apart from herself and Jenet this gathering was exclusively male, and some of those finding their seats looked askance at her, one or two positively disapproving. She sighed internally because she knew that the inevitable resistance to her presence had to be resolved before anything else could be done.

Turning to Blackstone's Master Scribe, she said, "Master Jepp, there is a charter on the table in front of you. Would you please read it to the assembly?"

"Objection! This is not the customary way that guild proceedings start! And why is a noblewoman here today?"

To the heckler, Jepp replied, "The guild proceedings have not yet begun, Rostan. The document... milady refers to should establish her right to be present at this meeting." He bent low to Garia and told her in an undertone, "Guildmistress, titles are not customarily used at guild meetings. This is to ensure that there is no rivalry between the different Halls. The use of our familiar names is sufficient unless two or more are named the same."

"Oh. As you say... Jepp."

These people are normally so polite. Dropping their titles is going to be difficult, especially as it seems to depend on circumstances. Why did nobody warn me?

"What does this document say, then?" Rostan asked.

Jepp regarded him patiently. "If you would give me leave, Rostan, I shall read it out to all and you can decide for yourself."

The red-faced heckler shut up and Jepp unrolled the parchment and read out Garia's award as Guildmistress, ending by telling them, "This document is signed by Guildmaster Hurdin, Royal Armsmaster Haflin, Guildmaster Parrel, Guildmaster Selvar, Guildmaster Braydor... need I go on? It bears the Great Seal of the Hall of Guilds of Palarand, as all can see."

He held the document up so that all could see that it appeared to be a legally-attested document.

Garia added, "I was awarded the honor at a lunch at the Hall of Guilds in Palarand, attended by the King. I regard this as an honor, not an entitlement. I know that I am not equal to any of you sitting here today but the guildsmen decided there were good and sufficient reasons for giving it to me anyway. Those of you who are still in doubt, come up to the table and read it for yourselves."

Six men climbed to their feet and approached the table. While they were inspecting the document Garia looked over those in the room, seeing a mix of old, lined men, obviously masters of their crafts, middle-aged and younger men, the fittest and strongest who probably did the bulk of the work and men only a few years older than herself who were probably journeymen. Surprisingly the objectors were not exclusively from the older generations.

One of those at the table turned to her.

"Guildmistress," he paused, having uttered such an unusual title, "Guildmistress, you are too young to know our ways. I deem you are barely an adult, so how may you preside over such a gathering as this?"

Jepp answered for Garia. "Waldan, she gives the meeting legitimacy through her rank. You are not so stupid to believe she intended to preside without assistance? In the business of guilds she is as an apprentice and we shall guide her as we would do in any other craft. Does that satisfy you?"

The man considered. "Aye, Jepp, it does. I may not like it but it is clear that this document is well-wrought." He peered at Jenet. "What of her maid?"

Garia answered, "Jenet has been given the right to enter the Hall of Guilds as my servant. As noblewomen are always attended by their maids they felt that it was necessary to do this. She has been given a suitable badge as you can see. Jenet is also advising the Guildmasters how to adjust hall practice to accommodate women and female servants in the future."

With mutterings the rest regained their seats as Jepp whispered instructions to Garia.

She stood and announced, "As Guildmistress of rank I call upon the Guildsmen of Blackstone to this assembly of the crafts. Mas-, uh, Jepp will take the roll of those attending."

Once he had written down the names of all those present, together with their craft and rank, Jepp whispered again, and Garia said, "The first order of business is that of awards made since the last meeting. Will anyone stand forward?"

There was silence and nobody moved. Finally Jepp, turned and said, "Guildmistress -"

Garia put up her hand. "You just told me that ranks were not used here."

Jepp looked unhappy. "You hold two ranks and the use of neither makes me uncomfortable, Guildmistress. Garia. Especially as you are a noblewoman." He frowned and fell silent.

"I understand your problem, Jepp," she said, then turned to the body of men. This was familiar ground. "This is probably a strange circumstance as I can't imagine many nobles becoming guildsmen, can you? Let alone noblewomen." There was subdued laughter from some. "I had a similar problem back at the palace when I was teaching the Palace Guard how to do unarmed combat." There were several startled glances at that statement. "If you will permit, I think the answer is to use a special form of address just for meetings like this. How about... I am presiding here so you could call me 'Mistress President'. If it is a man in future call him 'Master President'."

There was an intense and lively discussion in the room but no-one seemed to be against her proposal. A show of hands indicated agreement and Jepp made a note in the meeting records.

"As I was about to say, Mistress President," he began again, "I believe the reason for the lack of recent awards is the isolation of the town from the rest of our country. We have had no messages from outside until recently nor means to send any. Doubtless this will soon change but there is no-one present who has an award to be announced today. Perhaps we should move on to the next matter, and that is the proposals."

Since their isolation several of the journeymen had done their time and were proposed for full membership. There were a number of proposals for apprentices to become journeymen and young men to be taken on as apprentice. Most of these were routine and the meeting proceeded quietly until Jepp dropped his bombshell.

"Mistress President, I propose Milady Merizel, daughter of Baron Kamodar of South Reach as Journeyman in the craft of Scribe."

There was an immediate uproar. Garia let those opposing work themselves out while she sat and waited. Once the furor had died down she held up a hand.

"Firstly, guildsmen, I can't take sides in this since I am Lady Merizel's employer. You'll have to work this one out amongst yourselves, as is proper. I'll countersign whatever decision you make, whatever that is, without fear or favor. I will, however, offer background if you ask me. After all, I am the one who knows most about how this came about."

Rostan asked, "You will not show her favor, if we ask questions of you? You would answer plainly?"

Garia shrugged. "There's no reason why I shouldn't, Rostan. After all, she'll carry on doing what she does whether she gets this honor or not. This is all Jepp's idea and I was as surprised when he suggested it to me as you are today."

Rostan nodded. "Thank you, Mistress President. Jepp, make your case."

Jepp stood and said, "I have only known Lady Merizel these past weeks since the Prince and Baroness arrived in Blackstone. She is formally Secretary to the Baroness and was taken on because the Baroness did not yet know our letters."

This produced an intense discussion as Garia revealed she could at first speak their language but could neither read not write it. Jepp went on to say how impressed he had been with the quality of Merizel's work and her knowledge, especially of the new arts of printing and typewriting, as well as her speed at handwritten work. Then came questions for Garia.

"If she is to be Journeyman, Mistress President, then she ought to be apprenticed presently, is that not so? How may you explain this circumstance?"

"Merizel was employed by me as my secretary at the suggestion of the Queen," she replied. "This happened before I became a Baroness, let alone a Guildmistress. But though she technically became my servant she was still a lady of the court, being the daughter of a baron. We saw that having more than one status was unusual but not impossible and that may have contributed to the Guildmasters making me one of their number. It could be argued that Merizel was therefore apprenticed to me."

"But, Mistress President, at that time you could not read nor write our words. How, then could you be her mentor?"

"She spent a lot of time with Master Pitchell and others who are Scribes attached to the royal household," Garia explained. "These guildsmen readily accepted her help in the work which they did together. It was these palace scribes who mentored Merizel and indeed myself. You have all by now received notices from your halls printed on paper? Both of us had a hand in that development. When the first typewriters were made one was sent here to Blackstone and Merizel now uses it to write letters to all where clarity is required. Even if she has not been formally accepted as an apprentice she certainly has the knowledge."

There was silence in the room at that. Finally a man with a sour expression asked, "Is this what the future may be, Mistress President? Do we now accept anyone who may show themselves at our doors into our crafts? Is there to be no careful training, no thorough understanding of the particulars each man must gain?"

"As always, the answer is yes and no," she replied. "Yes, a thorough understanding of each craft is needed, and I know of several where mastery must come the traditional way. But there are other crafts which are going to have to adapt to new circumstances. Already many crafts work together in the capital. Paper making and printing have brought together many guilds, and for that reason the Guild Masters have agreed that from the New Year's Festival all the guilds will be merged into a single body called the Royal Palarand Institute of Engineers. It is likely that any new members will need to learn a part of several crafts in future."

Garia stood and rested her hands on the table. "Guildsmen, everything is going to change in the future. Changes are coming so fast no system of apprenticeship can possibly keep up with them all. There will be whole new areas of engineering in subjects you know nothing about in Blackstone. You will need many more men and there will be no time to train them all the way you've done so far. In fact, you'll need so many more people that you'll be forced to consider women as well, which is one of the reasons I was made a Guildmistress. The Guild Masters recognized that permitting women to do such work was the only way they were going to have enough people to do what will be necessary."

There was, of course, another uproar. Garia listened with interest as the craftsmen of Blackstone finally understood as a group what would happen to themselves and their town. The consensus, fortunately, was in her favor since many had attended demonstrations of the steam engine and knew what it represented. When a lull came in the discussion she called them to order.

"Guildsmen, we were discussing a proposal that Lady Merizel be admitted as Journeywoman in the craft of Scribe. Before you answer I'll tell you now that she will be just the first you will have to consider. I know, for example, that Brydas's daughter Senidet will likely want to do the same thing. I'm certain there will be others in the town."

Everybody knew about Senidet and her talents. Merizel's proposal was approved with no dissent.

"Mistress President, what of Senidet? Should we be proposing her for guild membership today? If so, in what craft? What grade? Brydas, shall you inform us?"

Brydas stood and faced the others. "You all know that Senidet has been help to me while not having any guild rank herself. Her letters and numbers are sufficient that she assists Mistress Sukhana in her accounts some part of her time. I have taught her all that I can but she has not the build to become a smith, were that possible. In many respects she exceeds my abilities, where strength is not needed. I would have her made apprentice, but I do not know what craft may be considered suitable. Since the steam engine arrived here she has been running it for some of the demonstrations, and she knows how to clean and maintain it properly. I deem that if she is to reach her full potential she must leave Blackstone. Milady, uh, Mistress President has pointed out that there are new craft specialties in Palarand that have not yet come to Blackstone. It seems she must travel there to complete her education."

There was a buzz of talk then, "Brydas, how may we propose to apprentice someone to any when we do not know the craft she will take or the master she will serve?"

Jepp pointed with his reed. "There is an answer before us, guildsmen. We know the Guildmistress, why should she not prentice the smith's daughter herself? She has the right."

Garia was startled. Not knowing exactly how the guild system worked, it hadn't occurred to her that she could take on apprentices herself. If she did so, of course, she could assign Senidet to any of the many projects now getting under way in Palarand. Perhaps Tarvan and Milsy could use some help? Or would she want to get involved with printing, typewriters, or any of the other new ideas now surfacing?

She cleared her throat. "Jepp, I didn't know I could do that. I thought anything like that would have to go through a Master of a craft."

Jepp smiled. "As you say, Mistress President. Your rank is not obtained the regular way, we know, but all who otherwise hold such rank would already have been masters of their crafts. They do not lose the right to take apprentices of their own, though in practice the obligations of rank mean that few do so."

Garia nodded. "Then I'll do that, if somebody tells me how the formalities work. I'm going back to Palarand, so Senidet can come with me and work with me at the palace. I know there are many projects going on there which need extra hands so she'll have plenty to think about when she gets there."

It seemed that interviews were required before the documents could be signed and approved. Merizel would be interviewed by Jepp and Garia would interview Senidet. Both of these would likely be formalities. Since both girls would thus be leaving Blackstone shortly the local guildsmen would not have to solve the question of how to deal with female guild members themselves immediately, and this was evident in the relief on many faces.

"Guildsmen of Blackstone. Does any here have any other matter to discuss?"

"Mistress President, we presently have no shoemaker. May we send to Tranidor for a suitable replacement, as is customary?"

"Do whatever you would normally do in these circumstances. I would add that, since the town will grow, you could have enough work for more than one shoemaker here soon. Indeed, that will be true of many crafts here today."

Jepp made a note to send a letter to the appropriate hall in Tranidor.

Garia asked, "Who is Blackstone's saddler?"

A man at the back stood up. "Here, Mistress President. Your men know me well, my name is Waldan."

"Yes. I remember the face, couldn't remember the name. Look, until we can get someone in from Tranidor or elsewhere to make and mend shoes, would you be willing to carry out repairs? I thought about what having no shoemaker would mean to the town and what we could do in the meantime. A lot of what will be needed would be replacing worn leather or redoing stitching, which I'm sure you know how to do. I'm not asking you to make new shoes or boots for anybody. Would you do that?"

Waldan shrugged. "As you wish, Mistress President. It is not the normal way of things but in such a small town as this the crafts have been known to help each other out. I will do as you request, Mistress President, though I must confess I am already busy making saddles to the new design."

"That's all I ask, Waldan. Just a bit of help for people who need it most." She looked at the rest. "Is there anything else to talk about?"

"Mistress President, since you say there will be many new guildsmen coming to Blackstone, I ask if you have plans for the future you would put before us."

"That depends on what plans you mean, Stonald. If you mean, who will be allowed into the town and how they will trade, that will be up to you and the Town Assembly to decide. If you mean, how any new buildings and roads would be laid out, then I do. With the help of Mason Bezan we have laid out some general principles for how the new building in Blackstone should be managed. Bezan, would you come out front and describe what we decided?"

Behind Garia was a board on which Bezan had previously drawn a rough scale map of the area around the town, up to the tops of the surrounding hills. Bezan pulled away the sheet covering it and the audience rearranged themselves so all could see it clearly.

"The first idea milady had..." Bezan paused. "Should I refer to you as milady here?"

Garia nodded. "I think so. I have my Baroness's hat on here, because some of what you are about to tell them isn't strictly guild business."

"As you say. Milady's first idea, then, was that of zoning. This is an idea where the land is divided up and certain parts allocated for particular purposes, like so..."

As Bezan went through the plan he was heard in complete silence. Most of them were astonished that someone like Garia could come up with such ideas but she told them that what they saw was the same as practices where she came from. Many were surprised by the sheer scale of her plans. When she told them how much coal Yarling had estimated there was and what would be involved in getting it out and down the valley they were stunned.

"But, Mistress President, if this comes to pass then Blackstone will be the size of Tranidor!"

"That's true," she replied, "and being that size will bring its own problems. That's why we have emphasized the water supply and sewage arrangements in the planning process. We also want to put any industry across the Bray, away from the town so that the dirt and mess is kept away from where people live."

The miners' gangmaster spoke up. "Mistress President, Bezan spoke of something he called a railroad. Is this like our wagonways?"

"It is, but a much larger version."

Garia gave them a potted description of a railroad that could take coal away from Blackstone and could bring almost anything back in its place. There were more thoughtful expressions when she finished.

"Mistress President," Rostan said, "I see now that the Guildmasters were right to honor you by adding you to their number. I had not believed that such ideas as this were possible."

"Thank you, Rostan." She held up a finger. "But all this won't happen right away. What we're talking about is how Blackstone might look in maybe fifty years' time. For the near future it's going to be confusion and chaos."

"Not with these plans before us, Mistress President," someone said. "With the knowledge that we are working to this scheme, we can ensure that Blackstone remains a fitting town for those who reside here."

"That's exactly why we drew up these plans," she said. "I've seen what happens elsewhere when a town just grows without any thought put into it. We have an opportunity here to lay everything out before the mining starts so that we end up with a town everybody can be proud to live in."

Garia waited until the discussion died down before beginning her next subject.

"While we are all here," she began, "I have a new commission for the guilds. Now, strictly speaking I'm asking this as Baroness not Guildmistress but it concerns the crafts so this is probably the best place to ask it. This morning I held a Noble's Court and this afternoon we're holding a Guild meeting. Both times we've had to hold the meeting in here because this is the biggest room in Blackstone."

Jepp said, "Mistress President, you're mentioning this now because you're leaving and the Claw won't be available for future meetings."

"Not entirely. If you all remember, when we tried Trogan and his men we had to hold it in the yard because that was the only space big enough, unless we held it in the open down by the bridge." Several of her audience nodded. "So what I want to commission is a hall -" she stopped.

"A hall, milady?" Brydas asked. "Do you mean a Guild Hall? We would certainly have need of one in the future, if so many guildsmen travel to Blackstone for their work."

"I was actually thinking of something more multi-purpose," she replied. "A town hall? No, that doesn't sound right either. What I'm thinking of is a very large building that can hold most of the townspeople at once. It can be used for my courts - baroness's courts, I mean - guild meetings, trials, concerts, even festivals if the weather is bad. What do you think?"

"An intriguing idea, Mistress President," this from Bezan, who was definitely interested. "Did you have any more to describe to us? The shape or size, for example?"

"Just a big room on its own, I think. The ceiling at least twice as high as this one, maybe double the length and width. I haven't done the numbers, I only realized we needed it after we started this meeting. It doesn't have to be square, it could be round or some other shape. Lots of big windows to let in the light. You won't need much else but I would suggest a block of toilets and a kitchen that can serve drinks and snacks. You might need some way of heating it in the winter months."

"An admirable suggestion, Mistress President," Bezan said. "But such a large building, it would not be used but a few days each year."

"We have these buildings where I come from," Garia explained. "They get used for all kinds of purposes so the number of days it is idle is quite small. Apart from what I just said you could hold concerts, dances, that kind of thing. Weapons practice. Tuition. Weddings. Even certain sports which can be played indoors."

"Concerts? Dances?" Brydas repeated. "As you say, Mistress President. Blackstone has hosted some such but only on the campsite or down by the bridge. Needless to say, any may be affected by the weather. Such a hall as you describe could be a useful addition to Blackstone. Where would such a building be placed, have you thought?"

"Not at all, Brydas. I barely thought of the need for it. You'll have to organize all that yourself as I'm not going to be here for many more days."

Bezan asked, "But, Mistress President, while you are yet with us, we may ask you more?"

"Of course, Bezan. There's no point me having all this knowledge if I can't tell it to others, is there?"

~o~O~o~

After the evening meal Garia sent a runner over the road to fetch Bezan.

"Milady?"

"Thank you for coming, I won't keep you long. That building, the new hall, it will be called the Community Hall. Does that sound all right?"

Bezan smiled and bowed. "Aye, milady, it does. That is exactly what the new building is. Do you wish to discuss the building now, milady?"

Garia grinned back. "No, I'll let you get back to your beer tonight. Thank you for coming over."

"As you desire, milady."

Bezan bowed and retreated.

"What was that about?" Keren asked. "What's a community hall?"

Garia explained and the others listened attentively.

"See?" He said when she had finished. "You still have many new, fresh ideas to come."

"So far. One day I'm going to dry up. I can't keep on doing this forever."

"You have two hundred years of knowledge inside that head -"

"- most of which I know little or nothing about," she interrupted. "You wouldn't believe just how much I am getting away with right now. Sometimes I wish I was ten or twenty years older, so I might have experienced so much more that could be useful."

"I don't know. I like you just the way you are."

"Flatterer. Now, you've reminded me. Captain Bleskin!"

"Milady?"

"I asked you earlier today what would you do when we shut down the Claw. You told me that you had hoped to lodge with Mesulkin as his guest."

"Aye, milady, so I did. But then I remembered that you would appoint a new Steward."

"So you did." She smiled at him, "What would you say if I suggested that you lived in the Steward's house but with Mesulkin as your guest?"

Bleskin's eyes widened. "Milady! You cannot mean -"

"Exactly," she said. "I know that it is short notice but would you do me the honor of becoming my Steward? I know you wanted to relax a bit after your retirement but certain recent events have changed that, haven't they? You know this region, you have friends here and you may rely on the Town Assembly to do most of the hard work. What do you say?"

"Milady!" Bleskin came to his feet and then attempted to kneel.

"Stop, captain! Rise, please. If there is one man in Palarand who does not need to swear any oath to me it would be you. You have my complete trust in this matter."

Bleskin's eyes were brimming. "Milady, the honor is mine. You shall not find me wanting."

Behind him Feteran stood, turning to the men beyond.

"Men! To your feet! Hail Blackstone's new Steward, Captain Bleskin!"

The men surged up and began clapping and stamping their feet, their pleasure being obvious. Bleskin turned and bowed to them, most of whom he had known for years.

Keren bent to speak to Garia over the noise. "You have done well today."

"So it would seem," she replied. She waved an arm. "Sookie! Beer for everybody!"

~o~O~o~

It was late. Most had gone to bed, the few who remained were gathered at either end of the common room. It was raining again, heavily and chilling, so nobody wanted to stand outside. At one end, near one of the fireplaces, the four men-at-arms about to begin the night shift idly rolled dice and talked in low voices. At the other, Keren, Garia, Merizel, Jenet, Feteran and Sukhana sat at a table near the other fireplace. Both fireplaces had small mounds of glowing coals flickering in the late evening gloom. Everyone else had retired to their homes early to avoid the worst of the downpour.

"Today was tough."

Garia folded her arms, put her elbows on the table and let them slide forward until her forehead rested on her forearms. Her nose just clear of the wood, she stared cross-eyed at the grain of the table top.

"Tough?"

With a sigh she raised herself back up to a sitting position.

"Oh, I didn't mean today was hard," she explained. "It's just... I had the Court this morning and there were a lot of small problems to sort out... even though Brydas, Fedren, Jepp and Sinidar handled most of it, I had to say the words. Then there were the guildsmen after lunch, a different set of procedures and more problems to pronounce on. I had to try and not forget things all the time around all the distractions. Nothing I couldn't handle, at all, but so many... that's what I meant by tough."

"Aye, Garia, I understand. A lesson, I think, I would do well to take to my own heart. It is easy to forget that the quantity of petitions may be as important as the quality. A continual line of apellants asking simple judgments may be as wearing as one complex problem. Perhaps that is why my mother insists on an afternoon nap each day."

"I never thought of it that way. You may be right." Garia grinned at Sukhana. "Mind you, that beer of yours doesn't help. It's rather strong, bearing in mind the size of my body. Interesting flavor, too. I quite like it."

Sukhana smiled back. "You must thank your poacher for the flavor," she replied. "He has brought me some local herb which makes the brew somewhat distinctive." She frowned. "I do not know how much more to brew, milady. I know you must leave soon, what is to become of the Claw?"

"I haven't decided yet, Sookie. I've had several suggestions: a school, a guild hall, offices for the Assembly, turn it back to an inn, keep it as my residence... one or two other odd ideas as well. I don't want to just shut it down like it was before. I had hoped to speak to your brother before I had to decide. I take it you want to stay in Blackstone, whatever happens to the Claw?"

Sukhana blushed. "Aye, milady. I never believed that I would ever settle down, that I would forever travel the roads and towns of Alaesia until I fell from the wagon dead, but yonder smith stirred things I did not know were within. I would keep him company while his daughter finds fame and fortune in the capital, as I have no doubt she will."

"I'm pleased for both of you. Life on the road can be fun, as I already know, but it can be hard as well. A small town like Blackstone may suit you well."

"Thank you, milady."

"This new Community Hall sounds interesting," Keren remarked after a while. "I deem that most towns would benefit from such structures."

"Yeah... maybe. Let's get this one up and working and we can learn from what happens here. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Merry, what are we doing tomorrow?"

"Tai Chi and mat training as usual in the morning," Merizel replied, "then I suspect you will be waylaid by guildsmen wanting to know about this new hall of yours. After our nap I wondered if we could get a ride in. When we eventually leave I don't want it to come as a surprise to my backside." She shrugged. "Other than that, nothing official, but that means little these days."

"That's the truth! And I agree about the riding. If we are about to ride all the way back to Palarand we need to make sure that riders and beasts are ready for the journey. Yes, an afternoon ride sounds like a good idea."

"Provided it isn't raining like this, of course."

Sukhana said, "Milady, I am assured that tonight's rain is unusual, normally the days of fall are merely cool and damp. Those who know such things say that this will soon pass."

"I ought to find out a little more about the weather patterns around here," Garia mused. "Merry, add climate and weather forecasting to the list!"