“Well, what changes to our sacred customs are you proposing, Trella?”
Corio’s voice held a hint of humor. “Something new and exciting, I hope.”
“I want to alter the way all of our customs are administered.” She saw Corio glance at Nicar in surprise. “Not so much change them, but establish them as a code of conduct, laws for all the people of Akkad. I want to set them down in writing, so that everyone can know them, and follow them without fear or worry.”
Customs set penalties for crimes, determined the prices paid to the farmers for their produce, and even set the dates for feasts and celebrations. As Akkad had grown more prosperous, customs often changed, and not always for the better. But the nobles had always reserved final say to themselves, and often exempted their own families from the justice they imposed on others.
“Some of the council will object to that,” Nicar commented, straightening in his chair, his voice reflecting the seriousness of her suggestion. “They’ve followed their ways for years, and don’t see any reason to change.”
“Yes, they follow custom when it suits them,” Corio said. “I remember how it was. A price might be agreed upon, the work completed, then the payment reduced or even withheld. And no one to appeal to, either.”
An artisan by trade, Corio had joined the ranks of the nobles when he agreed to build the wall that now surrounded Akkad. For him, the customs had not always operated fairly, something Trella had counted upon.
“It seems to me that prices vary, as well,” Trella said, changing the subject before the two men began arguing about the past. “A bushel of grain set at one price when the nobles deal with each other, and a different price for everyone else.” She had worked with Nicar’s finances, and learned the details of his commerce. “That has led to discontent among the people, as well as disputes in the marketplace.”
The child within her stirred about, and Trella shifted in her chair. She watched Nicar’s eyes for any clues as to his thoughts. This would seem to him like one more way to lessen the authority of the nobles.
“Nobles,” she said, “since Eskkar drove off the Alur Meriki, nearly all of his time has been spent settling disputes over prices, petty crimes, even ownership of homes. You both know him. You know he should be thinking about Akkad’s defense, about building the new wall, not such petty squabbles.”
Neither man said anything. They knew Eskkar had no patience for such matters. “By making Eskkar the final arbiter in such affairs, we waste everyone’s time. If all the customs were written down, turned into laws that applied to all who live within Akkad’s control, think how many hours laboring over such matters could be saved. And if these new laws were administered fairly, I believe trade and farming would increase, with still more benefits to the city’s merchants and traders.”
“And leave Eskkar in a better mood.” Corio laughed.
Even Nicar found a smile at that. “Certainly that would be something to be desired. What exactly are you proposing, Trella?”
“First I want to set the prices for all the common items that are bought, sold, or traded in the marketplace. If farmers know in advance what price they will receive for their produce, they’ll be easier to deal with, and can concentrate on growing their crops, and not worry about what they’ll be paid for them.”
“Including the nobles?” Nicar asked.
“What merchants sell their goods for on the river or in the countryside is their business. But in Akkad they’ll pay one price, a fair price, with no cheating or sharp dealing.”
“And if there is cheating?”
“Then, Nicar, the nobles will face the same penalties as anyone else.
As the customs say, if a man tries to cheat on an exchange, he’s to pay double. That would be the law of Akkad and apply even to the nobles.”
“And all this would be written down? With everyone agreeing to it?”
Corio looked dubious as he leaned on the table. “You’ll need a half-dozen clerks just to keep track of everything.”
Trella shook her head. “I think we’ll probably need about twenty. To keep records of the laws, the penalties, the prices, contracts, the ownership of the land and houses… They’ll have to invent new symbols to record events, and probably new ways of calculating sums.”
“You’re creating a whole new category of apprenticeship,” Nicar said, trying to judge the extent of what Trella had proposed. “This will change everything.”
So it would, Trella knew, and probably to a greater extent than Nicar realized. “It will change our future for the better. Akkad will be a better place to live and work.”
“To train so many clerks… store so many records, you’ll need a new building to house them, their teachers, servants, and families,” Corio mused. “Clay records require large rooms with many shelves to store them.” He fell silent, no doubt already thinking about how he would design and build such a structure.
“Yes, I imagine there is much more about this than I’ve considered.” As ever, she preferred to let others figure out what might be needed, though she and Annok-sur had spent the last few weeks going over the likely impacts on their society. Between them, they’d considered all the ramifica-tions. At least she hoped they’d thought of everything.
“How would you pay for such an undertaking?” Nicar said. “It will be many months before Akkad returns to full prosperity, and even then, this will require much gold.”
“Well, Eskkar will bring in additional taxes from the countryside,”
Trella said. “And those wishing to become clerks will pay for their apprenticeships in advance. That should bring enough to feed and house them.” She turned to Corio. “We would need a place for them to live and work. I was hoping you would build one for us, Corio, and perhaps charge us less than your usual price?”
It took Corio only a moment to understand her meaning. If he didn’t discount the price, she would fi nd another architect. Not that it mattered.
He’d still make a good profit, only a bit less than usual. “Of course, Lady Trella. I would be honored to construct a building for you, say at a discount of one-tenth?”
“That is more than generous, Master Builder. And perhaps you can help determine the prices and penalties for Akkad’s other builders? Along with, of course, the other nobles.” Trella accepted that he would make sure the law favored the artisans, but that would be a small price to pay.
Besides, the poor didn’t pay others to build for them. They built their own huts out of mud. The wealthy had more, and so they would pay more.
She turned to Nicar. “I hope you will help me draft the laws. A common set of laws that will apply to all.”
“How will these laws be administered?” Nicar stroked his beard, a dubious frown on his face.
“I hoped you would tell me, Nicar. I would like the council to appoint someone to oversee the drafting of these new rules, and then preside over their administration. That someone would be responsible only to Eskkar, and would make sure the laws were applied fairly to everyone-noble, merchant, shopkeeper, and farmer alike.”
Corio laughed in understanding. “You’ve been chosen, Nicar. You’ll have to deal with it.”
Nicar clearly hadn’t expected this. “What you ask… why, it will take months… even years. And my business… what would I do?”
“You said yourself that your son is prepared to take over your family’s business,” Trella said, noting the noble’s discomfort. “Perhaps he is readier than you know. Besides, who else in Akkad do the people respect as much as you, Nicar? And you’ll have help. The council will provide whatever you need. I’m sure there are plenty of younger sons, men with their wits about them, who would appreciate the opportunity to serve. As Corio says, this would be a whole new House, a House of Laws, with a staff of clerks and administrators needed to ensure its honest application. You’d be deciding disputes between all of Akkad’s inhabitants.”