Chapter 9: Chapter 7:
While walking down the main street of the only city of the dominion, Anthony cant help but think how run down the city is, how dilapidated it looks to him. However, according to James, this city is already up on par to some more richer dominion in the empire, only the capital of dominion's of Marquesses' are above a notch than this, and the best city is of course the capital city.
Upon learning this, Anthony dont know if he should be happy or sad about the standard of this era. Just looking around there's tons of way to improve in here. He's not just talking about a 'mere room of improvement but at least a dozen of stadium'.
Just the wall of this city, those are just boulders piled on top of each other at least 2 meters in height and a meter in width. Just enough for one soldier to do a patrol on the wall in direction. If they happen to meet a another soldier doing a patrol going in another direction they need to stand on the side first to let the other one pass first. 'What would happen if there's a siege, soldiers hurrying to their post, soldiers bringing in supplies. Tsk, tsk, they wont be able to fit in that kind off wall and just the height. Just a ladder will be enough to breach the wall.'
They reached the market area of the city, it is right beside the governor's castle. The market is square shape, 500m by 500m in size. In the sides are the shops. There are different shops. There is a shop for goods such as vegetables, wheat, rice and meat. There is also shops for clothes. The pub is the most frequented shop in the market aside from the shop selling salt. The pub is already full even its still in middle of the day. Lots drunkard are wobbling out of the pub and drunkard who's just about to get drunk. Anthony didnt enter the pub. There's also an Inn and a restaurant beside it.
In the middle of the shop. There are tents, according to James those tents are for the traveling merchants selling goods coming from different dominion or buying the local goods from here.
Anthony got curious what the specialty of his father's dominion. So he asked James, "James, whats the specialty of our dominion?".
"Well I guess it will be the magical pelt or fur from the black forest east of us, Master." James answered.
"Magical pelt what do you mean?" Anthony didnt know about the trade of the dominion since the original owner of the body was not supposed to learn this stuff to avoid any misunderstanding with the heir also. The original owner of the body upon reaching 20, was supposed to leave the dominion and join the imperial army. Now he's 19, a year from 20. But since he's the heir he needs to learn this stuff immediately. By the age of 20, he will officially be the heir of the dominion.
"Master its the pelt from the magical beast from the black forest, their quality is really high and the price in the capital is really good as well. Its just that, we've been in war with the Aurelian's for the past 5 years. And no one is really buying pelts and fur right now".
The Empire of Majarlika, has been in war with Aurelians since 5 years ago. The imperial army has been losing grounds ever since and they had no choice but to asked reinforcements to the nobles.
"I see" answered Anthony, "But then if the price of pelts and fur is good, how come we have little money in the treasury?"
"Master, I have no knowledge about the treasury Im only a lowly attendant and I dont have a right to know about it". James answered Anthony's question embarrassingly.
"Its okay, James. Not your fault. I'll asked father when I get back."
Then suddenly one of the guards with them added. "If I may add master, one of the best source of income of the dominion now is herbs found in the Sierra Madre Mountain in West of us. Though those are not high ranking herbs but people with low income purchase them to be concocted into medicinal bath to strengthen the body".
Anthony thought the guard has some insights about the treasury. Apparently its about the herbs in Sierra Madre mountain.
"What's your name again" asked Anthony to the guard who just spoke to him.
"Daryll, master Anthony".
"Got it Daryll. Is there high quality herbs found as well".
"There are but just quite a few. Villagers needs to go deeper in the Sierra Madre mountain, which is quite dangerous, although the magical beast is not as dangerous as the black mountain's magical beast there are still high leveled beast in there. Also since the Sierra Madre mountain region is huge they might get lost in there. So most villagers only gather herbs at the periphery."
The Sierra Madre mountain Region is long. The tip of the mountain starts from the very north of the dominion which is the black swamp that faces the north sea, and it crosses several dominion in the south. It Sierra Mountain Region not only serves as protection for the dominion of his father but it is also serves as the wall of the Majarlikn Empire against kingdoms in the west of it.
"I see, thank you for that additional information Darryl".
"You're very much welcomed master", Darryl felt proud since he was recognize by the next heir of the dominion. He look to the other guards with them with a smug look.
Anthony toured the city for the rest of the afternoon but didn't pay a visit to the governor's castle who is in charge of the city. The governor is the cousin of his father, since they're only two of them left in their family. Anthony's father gave him the governorship of the city.
Anthony returned back to the estate of his father. Its already dusk by the time he reached the central gate of the estate.
The butler of the House is already waiting for him in the entrance of the Castle. The castle in the estate or more known as Entramuros is bigger than the governor's castle, the walls is higher and wider. This is also where the dominion's army is being trained and stationed. Inside the castle, though not extravagant since it was designed to defend against sieges, gives an aura of history and radiates an aura of unconquerable castle. Before the Romanovs main seat of power is in the city's governor's castle but just 10 years ago the city was attack by the barbarians coming from the icy plateau of the north east. Most of the Romanovs was massacred along with their subjects.
The only reason why the three brothers survive and his father is that. They're were in the capital of the empire to. His father's cousin was a merchant by profession, he was outside the dominion thats why he was able to survive as well. This incident was called the Massacre of the Romanovs. It almost wiped the Romanovs from the face of the world.
Upon reaching the entrance of the castle, an old wrinkled old man is waiting by the door. The hair is silver in color with some traces of black left, the face is full of wrinkles, though full of wrinkles but the way this man stands still exudes strength though already pass his prime. In the eyes of the man, you can still see the vigor, no sign of aging can be seen. This man is the personal attendant of the Baron, where the Baron goes this man goes. With a gentle smile the, the attendant, Alfred bowed and said "Young master Anthony your father is waiting for you in his study. He tasked me to wait for you here and immediately send you to him once you arrive".
"Sorry for keeping you waiting Alfred, lets go then". Anthony wondered why his father wants to see him, usually they dont see each other since his father is busy with the dominion, Anthony is fine with this since he also wants to talked to his father about the dominion...
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