Rise of the Archmage Alister

A couple more days passed before they arrived at the major city of Bernoth. It was one of two major bone mining towns, but unlike its sister town Fornafoss, Bernoth had yet to gain access to the railway. This was clearly a sore spot for the citizens, as they crowded around more than usual as the caravan made its way through the busy roads.

“Build the damn rails!” one brave but disgruntled soul yelled out at the duke’s carriage.

Blas sighed, tucking away the book he was reading on taming strategies and their uses in commerce. He motioned out the window, “Alister this is something that you must always keep in mind. The march of progress continues, but people that have not yet gotten to feel its effects will be displeased. There is nothing I could be doing differently in this instance, the railway is being built as we speak, but this city hasn’t got it yet. Since they’re in constant competition with Fornafoss, this delay in construction has really hurt their bottom line.”

“As you said, it’s not as though that can be helped…,” Alister muttered, watching the crowd get dispersed by knights and city guards, “You’ve put money into the project, and so have the King and Queen. The railway is being built and is close enough that the next major city has it. They’re impatient. I can understand why if it hurts their commerce but it’s useless to shout and complain.”

“Good response,” Blas nodded, “Tell me some of the dangers of such frustration. Use your head.”

Alister grimaced, “Ugh… I don’t like politics and whatnot…”

“Very few people do. But you have classes, so tell me what you think.”

“Fiiine. Um…,” he stared out the window, brow furrowed, “Well unrest is bad in general? So… that… but, um…” Alister hated this stuff. He hadn’t learned any of this stuff in his past - he was more focused on survival. “Well, the mining in the area is really important to these people, right? So if their profits are hurting then they’ll do stuff to increase their profits even if it’s not safe. They’ll cut corners.”

“Very good! Yes. Mines are notorious for cutting corners at the best of times. This gets much worse when profits are lower,” Blas nodded, smiling, “You’ve been listening in your classes! I’m pleased.”

Alister blushed, refusing to look at his father, “Of course I’ve been listening! I’m a good student…”

Wisteria snorted, giggling at him and his reaction, “You’re so funny. I’m sure you’re a great student. So why don’t you tell us how you’d fix that problem, then?”

He gave her a death glare, but it was to no avail, as Blas nodded, “I think that’s a good idea. Give your ideas, son.”

Alister let a sigh out his nose, “You’re terrible. Ah… well… I don’t know… Let me think on it.”

Alliana, ever more enthused by Wisteria and her antics, gave her an approving pat on the shoulder, “She’s got a good point. It’s a complex issue, Alli dear.”

“I said let me think!” he snapped, rolling his eyes, “I don’t know. If you go make an appearance at a couple of major mines then that would make a point in the short term but that wouldn’t fix anything in the long term. If you’re too strict then it could be seen as tyrannical. Too lax and there will be many deaths. I think it would be best to have sensical rules in place, and most importantly, to enforce them. Unenforced laws aren’t really laws at all, just suggestions.”

The duke nodded, listening closely to his son. While he didn’t really offer any solutions with his statement, he was entirely correct; the balance to follow for this situation was a tight one. “And how would you suggest enforcing those laws? What is an acceptable response to such public disrespect as was just shown?” Blas asked, trying to stress Allister a bit. He wanted to see what the boy would do when put in a situation where he had to act and didn’t know the right answer.

“I don’t… I mean… for the yelling, you just have to disperse the crowd before the frustration spreads and becomes too volatile, but for the mine…” he bit his lip, leg bouncing as he thought. “Provide temporary funding to the mine to help pick up on profits?”

Though he didn’t much show it, channeling his ducal persona, Blas was pleased with this answer. It wasn’t the best answer, but that his default answer, when pressed, was generosity and not force gave Blas hope. It spoke much to his personality. Alas, this trial was not over yet. “And when Fornafoss protests the unequal treatment of the mining companies?”

“Then Fornafoss can shove it! These people are the ones needing help, not them!” Alister snapped, clearly reaching the end of his patience.

“And when Fornafoss begins to protest the same way these folks are? If they do not disperse peaceably due to the perceived injustice?” Blas asked, tone unchanging.

“I…! Well, then you… Uh…” Alister continued, flustered. What to do when the voice of the public demands something unjust?

Alliana gently bopped Blas on the forehead with her closed fan. “Come now, Duke, let up a bit. He’s only recently started his classes, and been out of them for travel,” she said in Alister’s defense, gently chastising her husband. Especially by calling him “duke”. He hated when she did that. It was her way of telling him that he was acting “like a noble”.

Blas huffed, leaning back against the chair as he folded his arms, “Fine fine. Your answers were very good, Alister. I just wanted to see how far you’d be able to go. With all your worldly knowledge I’m a little surprised you don’t know more about this kind of thing.”

Alister’s cheeks felt hot, “Thank you, father… I didn’t learn politics in my last life. At all, really. I was so focused on magic and what I wanted to do with it, not really caring about what was around me unless it was so unjust that I couldn’t well ignore it. Not to mention, back then… well society wasn’t the same as it is now. We weren’t brutes that didn’t know anything, nothing of the sort, but we didn’t have access to nearly as many niceties, even with magic. Mines were not yet a thing. Well… not tunnel mining, really. Surface mining was. But even so, I don’t think I ever visited one. I had no reason to. I wasn’t a metalworker.”

Wisteria piped up as they rounded a corner and came to a halt, “I wanna hear more about your past! It always sounds so fascinating.”

“You’ve never told me what you recall from your past life. So, why should I tell you mine? Besides, Miss onyx hair, you hid so much.”

“Alister don’t be mean to her about it! I told you not to!” Alliana chastised.

“I’m not!” He defended, “I’m just saying I have secrets too. I’m hardly mad at her - that’d be very hypocritical.”

“We’ve arrived,” Blas said, clearing his throat as he stood, opening the carriage door, “Best behavior. All of you.”

They left the carriages as the knights surrounded them protectively. With his short height, Alister could just barely see the moderate crowd of riled miners on the other side of the manor gate. They were staying with a marquess and her husband for the night. He wondered what his father was doing to handle the situation, and if his ideas had any real merit.