Over the next days, Katrin's mule line almost grew into a full caravan, at least to Liina's mind. After Catamburg, they stayed on the northern King's Road, collecting people from villages or inns along the way. Though the road was better, their travelling speed decreased, with more people both in their group as well as on the road in general. As most were on foot, heading towards Kalaun, and in generally high spirits, there weren't many clashes or other problems. Still, now and then a group would try to pass another, which could cause a confusing mess if both groups weren't willing to thin and lengthen themselves. Katrin tried to keep an equal distance both fore and aft, and got Elmar permission to rest on a cart whenever he wasn't trotting ahead or behind to co-ordinate between their neighbouring groups. Thus, they only rarely needed to suddenly halt, and were able to avoid most confused mobs that other travellers told about happening elsewhere on the road. Janos was even able to point out such a spot to Liina, with the earth beside the road torn in places and muddy, a section of the a field behind the fence flattened, and even a likely spot with some blood.
Fast messengers and noble parties passed them now and then, the latter usually with a single rider in the van, preparing groups to let the lords pass. As baron Burkhart's carriage passed them, Liina watched Nopsa carefully, but he simply raised a small sneer on his face and kept concentrating on guiding the mules. The first evening after leaving Catamburg, he'd been given the chance to try to guide a few mules after they'd set camp, and he'd failed, if not spectacularly then at least amusingly. Never one to give up a simple challenge, Nopsa had immediately turned to Janos and started asking about handling the mules. She then heard of Katrin's promise to have a chance at leading the line, and it seemed he'd taken it to heart, using the following days to pester Katrin, Elmar and the muleteer all three with questions as long as they'd answer him. She herself had got a short time leading the line, which had made her more nervous than proud, but it had been easy enough, in the end. It had also helped that by this time, they had passed into the King's County, where there were traveling guards, trotting on horses back and forth, keeping order and making sure that travelling groups were either making decent speed or resting at one of the many corners of fields set aside for this purpose. Almost no one was travelling away from Kalaun.
"Well, any thoughts on King's County?" Though it was drizzling a bit, Katrin still seemed in a fine mood.
"Since we passed the town without seeing the inside, I can only really speak on the actual county."
"You got to see the houses outside the walls, but I'll agree, most of them weren't anything special."
"Some of those would've fit well near Filippa's castle, so I'd wager these areas are much more prosperous than ours, if someone can build such a house outside the walls. More peaceful, too, obviously."
"Many may try to find a back door, as it were, by trying to approach the king within his own holdings, so there is work for inn-keepers and merchants here."
"If I were king, I think I wouldn't look upon such an attempt kindly."
"Well, it depends. Simply investing in King's County, tying your fortunes to his, can hardly be thought of being an underhanded move? There aren't many lords who'd look down on someone offering to pay them taxes."
"Still, that should only bring you the gratitude of a count, not the king."
"The two in the same person are hard to distinguish indeed. I could tell you a few sordid stories of politicking in guild halls, a master of some method becoming a lead councilor and then trying to give advantage to goods produced in his way."
"Could seem bitter to those of us who have no position of power whatsoever, never mind having two to conflict with each other."
"We still have it pretty good in Kuiko. It really gets ugly once someone holds both temporal and religious power, but here, both priests and nobles have agreed to hold on to their own territory jealously, and band together when someone tries to bridge them."
"How about the wizards then? Ulrika said that they don't work with the nobles, closely at least, but how about the priests?"
"Hmm, good question. The rural wizards seem to usually have decent relationships with the local pastor, but in the cities, I think they're similarly standoffish with the clergy as they are with the nobles. Be very careful, though, with any of the wizards of Mara. They can be extremely arrogant, and it's decently well known that their council of collegia would gladly rule over all of Kuiko is they could. Probably over the whole peninsula, or the world, in fact. They seem very convinced that their great learning and power would make them much better rulers than anyone else."
"I thought the rural wizards were a collegium of Maran wizards, though. Somehow?"
"What? I've not heard of that."
Liina was surprised. This was the first time she had some worldly knowledge that Katrin didn't. She needed to be sure.
"I'll go ask Ulrika."
Katrin didn't mind, having to organize the people again to let more nobles pass. She had time to catch her breath, even, before Liina returned.
"I was correct! I remembered reading it in one of the books at our church. Now, Ulrika wasn't exactly sure of the details, but yes, technically, most rural wizards are part of their collegium in Mara. The Wise and Honorable Circle of Rural Wizards, or something like that. However, since their voting power would easily outnumber all the others, there are some rules against that, as well as something to do as which ones count as journeywomen… or well, I think they had some other term, but a similar position, anyway, and the same with masters."
"Huh. They're really not like what I've heard of the Maran wizards."
"Well, Ulrika also wagered a guess that the more ambitious and studious ones remain in Mara, and the ones who are happy with a simple good life and a bit of respect from the locals return back to their homes to be a village wizard."
"No doubt making sure to send a bit of the best local produce to Mara in exchange for whatever magical oddities they desire."
"Ever the merchant. Yes, and they qualify for all the dues and entitlements of their estate, as well as most additional rights that the Maran wizards offer their own."
"Hmm, and they probably send the novices that are too much for them into more serious training in Mara. And those studious ones, researching new spells and rituals, also growing the power of Mara. I see how this arrangement works quite well for all concerned…"
"Do you really think they'd try to do something to the king?"
"I've heard rumours that they already did, many decades in the past, maybe centuries even. Try, that is. Since we still have a royal line and nobles quite often opposed to them, they obviously failed if they did attempt a coup. But I doubt even Ulrika wold be able to sniff out the truth of that."
"Oh, umm, yes. She told me of some digging she'd done in the royal scriptorium, but I'll let her choose whether she wants to tell the details."
"Hmm, actually I wouldn't mind having a scholarly discussion with her…"
Her discussion had to wait for a bit, though, since another troupe of nobles was approaching them from the rear. This one, though, was one Liina recognized; it was Filippa, with seven knights and maybe a dozen attendants and servants. Liina found a bit of irritation towards Burkhart herself – while Filippa's horses were of fine color and well kept, they lacked a certain something compared to the finery of a carriage. As the baron noticed many in the group bowing their heads, she slowed down, and acknowledged her loyal subjects with a wave of her hand and bode them good luck on the road as well as joyous festivities. Well, on the other hand, none of Burkhart's people had made any bows, only tried to move as far away from the road as they could without ending in a ditch. She had been taught not to wish ill on anyone, but she certainly wouldn't be sad if some small war happened Burkhart's way and he had to do without any help from his lower estates.
"Ah, Liina, you look… well, not sour, exactly, but a bit malicious, maybe? It's a concerning look on you."
"Oh, sorry, Ulrika, merely some unbecoming thoughts."
"Should I be concerned, considering our liege lady just passed by?"
"Oh, no, just thinking about her, Burkhart and justice. And the speed, or slowness, of it."
"Quite understandable, then."
"In truth, I wanted to talk to you about something Katrin said. You apparently were able to go read through the archives of the Royal Scriptorium?"
"I've done so a few times now, yes." She was slightly surprised at the light that came to Liina's eyes. "I gather you would have some interest in that as well?"
"Oh, it would wonderful! It was one of my hopes on this trip, to be able to visit, but I was unsure of what all the rules and customs are. I've saved some money to be able to visit the University, since I'd heard they were going to have some open lectures in honor of the coronation, but I'd be thrilled to be your assistant if it gives me a chance to see the scriptorium as well."
"Well, that's a favor I can most likely bestow you, though… what, exactly, are your qualifications as a scholar?"
"I wouldn't say I'm a scholar, not really. I read all the books in our church, then re-read the ones with parts that I thought were interesting or useful, and tried to memorize them."
"That's a start, at least, and probably as much as you can manage if you're not going to join the clergy, find a wizard to train you, or come into enough money that you can start paying for your books. The thing is, you need more than just books. You need ways of taking notes, you need to make contacts with other scholars, and eventually, you need to write something yourself, to prove you've gained knowledge and know how to use it. How is your handwriting?"
"Oh, I've practised a fair bit in my spare time, and took whatever chance I could to write letters for others."
"Well, we can test things this evening. I've got a small board and chalk. The real test, though, is whether you can read all the different scripts and styles that hundreds of scribes have written over the years. If so, I'll happily argue with the Royal Scribes to let you help me each day. Otherwise, it'll be just the once."
"Oh, that's more than I hoped for. Thank you ever so much."
"Well, I suppose you could also try to flirt with them and see how much of the place they are interested in showing you, but that really doesn't seem your style."
"Hmmpf. Yes, I'd rather stick with you. And, I do want to visit the cathedral as well. I think I'll be able to find other more interesting things to do in Kalaun as well, instead of simpering to some know-it-all scribe."