CHAPTER FIFTEEN
By the time Stephania found the king and queen, they were already in the morning session of their court, listening to an argument about trading rights on the Empire’s fringes. A fat merchant argued with one of the court’s lesser nobles in front of them.
“And I say that I made all of the required payments,” the merchant said. “But Lord Hywell has failed to pass them on to the Empire’s revenue collectors.”
“And is there any evidence of this?” the noble insisted. “Do you have any records of these payments?”
“Enough,” King Claudius said. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do you think I want to listen to you prattle this early? Someone find the royal tax collector’s records. If there is no record of the duty being paid, the merchant Zorat will pay it now, along with a fine
