their land for millennia. By giving you land that is currently considered worthless, our King avoids any such discord. The nobility could hardly begrudge you receiving land that can't even grow Sulp grass. Our scientists have declared that neither the orbit of Obotymot, nor its axis, was adversely affected by the meteor. If that proves true, and the planet can avoid the ice age that some doomsayers are predicting, your estate will certainly return to its former prosperous condition in perhaps as early as— half a century, when the atmosphere completely clears. By then the family Carver will be an accepted part of our nobility and no one will begrudge you your estate. The rich farm land of your demesne has helped feed the people of two planets in the past, and certainly will again. Although I haven't visited it myself, I've been told that the palace there is well appointed, and quite lovely.”
“Palace?”
“Yes. It was built for the King and Queen when they visit that part of Obotymot. They never have though, so it's never been occupied. There's just a small caretaker staff of twenty-five servants to see that it's maintained properly.”
“Twenty-five servants?”
“Yes, My Lady. As I've said, it's just a small palace; no more than a hundred suites. I understand it sits on a hill overlooking a beautiful, sparkling clear lake, and had splendiferous gardens. From the upper floors of the palace you can see the snow-capped peaks of the breathtaking mountain range that borders the northern edge of your estate. Your chamberlain will naturally handle all matters of the estate and send you periodic reports when you are away from Obotymot. He's also empowered to deal with your subjects in your absence.”
“Subjects?”
“Yes, My Lady. While the estate was producing, approximately three thousand tenant farmers worked the lands around the estate. Adding in their family members, your subjects probably numbered about twenty thousand.”
“Uh, do I have any responsibility to these— my subjects?”
“Oh, yes, My Lady. You are their liege; their protector and chief magistrate. Unfortunately though, most of your tenants have been forced to leave the land since it cannot support them. Your chamberlain has promised them that they will not lose their farms if they return once crops will again grow. In the meantime, your only obligations are towards those that have remained, your staff at the estate.”
Jenetta sucked in as much air as her clothing allowed.
“What sort of obligations?”
“Why, payroll and benefits of course.”
The situation was getting more complicated by the minute. She was now responsible for people in perpetuity on an estate which may or may not produce any income within a lifetime.
“I only earn a small sum from my service in Space Command,” Jenetta said. “I can't pay wages and benefits for an estate that isn't producing enough to support itself.”
“That's not a worry, My Lady. The King has suspended all Obotymot taxes indefinitely, and won't reinstate them until the lands are producing again. He is personally paying all salaries and expenses associated with the maintenance of the estates on Obotymot, and repayments will not be required until crops again begin to grow. So you have no worry, except that you probably won't see any income for many years after the land again becomes fertile.”
Jenetta breathed a sigh of relief. She could have lost her security clearance with Space Command if she was forced to borrow money to pay salaries to people she had never met. Owing money to the realm, money that would only become due when the land became profitable again, should hopefully be excluded from such consideration.
Jenetta's final tutor for the afternoon was a religious scholar. He began by instructing her from the Almuth, revered on Nordakia as the book of the True Word, much as the Bible, the Koran, and other texts might be viewed on Earth, but it was the only such book on Nordakia. Jenetta was able to
“Palace?”
“Yes. It was built for the King and Queen when they visit that part of Obotymot. They never have though, so it's never been occupied. There's just a small caretaker staff of twenty-five servants to see that it's maintained properly.”
“Twenty-five servants?”
“Yes, My Lady. As I've said, it's just a small palace; no more than a hundred suites. I understand it sits on a hill overlooking a beautiful, sparkling clear lake, and had splendiferous gardens. From the upper floors of the palace you can see the snow-capped peaks of the breathtaking mountain range that borders the northern edge of your estate. Your chamberlain will naturally handle all matters of the estate and send you periodic reports when you are away from Obotymot. He's also empowered to deal with your subjects in your absence.”
“Subjects?”
“Yes, My Lady. While the estate was producing, approximately three thousand tenant farmers worked the lands around the estate. Adding in their family members, your subjects probably numbered about twenty thousand.”
“Uh, do I have any responsibility to these— my subjects?”
“Oh, yes, My Lady. You are their liege; their protector and chief magistrate. Unfortunately though, most of your tenants have been forced to leave the land since it cannot support them. Your chamberlain has promised them that they will not lose their farms if they return once crops will again grow. In the meantime, your only obligations are towards those that have remained, your staff at the estate.”
Jenetta sucked in as much air as her clothing allowed.
“What sort of obligations?”
“Why, payroll and benefits of course.”
The situation was getting more complicated by the minute. She was now responsible for people in perpetuity on an estate which may or may not produce any income within a lifetime.
“I only earn a small sum from my service in Space Command,” Jenetta said. “I can't pay wages and benefits for an estate that isn't producing enough to support itself.”
“That's not a worry, My Lady. The King has suspended all Obotymot taxes indefinitely, and won't reinstate them until the lands are producing again. He is personally paying all salaries and expenses associated with the maintenance of the estates on Obotymot, and repayments will not be required until crops again begin to grow. So you have no worry, except that you probably won't see any income for many years after the land again becomes fertile.”
Jenetta breathed a sigh of relief. She could have lost her security clearance with Space Command if she was forced to borrow money to pay salaries to people she had never met. Owing money to the realm, money that would only become due when the land became profitable again, should hopefully be excluded from such consideration.
Jenetta's final tutor for the afternoon was a religious scholar. He began by instructing her from the Almuth, revered on Nordakia as the book of the True Word, much as the Bible, the Koran, and other texts might be viewed on Earth, but it was the only such book on Nordakia. Jenetta was able to
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