From Slave To Ruler

As Aaron James was being dragged through Hawk Kingdom, he finally got the opportunity to see what there is behind these 10 meter tall walls surrounding the Kingdom, what there is to be found in the Capital Kingdom of the Iron Boot Alliance, the Capital most popularly known for its blood lushed Arena.

From first sight, it was clear to see that the King didn't bother maintaining quality on the houses which were mostly owned by him (A.k.a property of the Kingdom), given for rent to the people for an appropriate tax(Not really, each have to pay 300 Bronze Coins a month).

This is the best and base form of getting profit from Civilians in medieval times. It is a rather smart technique. But again, considering the tax being 300 Bronze Coins a month, no matter if the house was big, small, old or new, why would he aid the Renters to maintain house quality? He has enough reasons to not aid the richer, not to mention the poor.

How the house is maintained, is completely the responsibility of the Renter, an expense they would need to cover even if a natural disaster destroyed most of the house. If all of the house would be destroyed, it would be rebuilt and offered for a tax again or it would be available to buy for 3 Gold Coin no matter what the size. Imagine having to pay 3 Gold Coins for a small house because no other house was available. 3 Gold Coins equal to around 50 full Farmer salaries, house purchase is no joke here. 

Some houses were close to falling down, while the newest ones seem to be 10 years old which is not considered new but not old either, it is as new as it can get in Hawk Kingdom where a large portion of the budget is thrown at the army build up. Equipping a hundred Soldiers with armor to the teeth is expensive enough, imagine more!

Most of the houses had simple cheap structures. They were made from wooden planks as walls and flooring, hay often used as a roof, while some were completely made out of Wooden Planks(including the roof), but were less common compared to the first types of houses and only businesses were made out of quality stones or the houses of the business owners as well. So there isn't such thing as equal fates here.

60% of the businesses were owned by the King, with hired managers and employees to run those businesses of course. While those business owners who weren't owned by the King, have a rather superior social status.

The types of houses here are good to keep most of the rain out maybe in the first year, but its quality goes down afterwards. Causing more maintenance expenses yearly, not to mention their durability against cold will decline if they fail to maintain the houses properly. At winter though, no one would dare to leave the windows without a layer of cloth covering the window from the inside, outside or both. Some houses don't even have windows at all for that specific reason.

Through the support planks of the blurry glass or glassless Windows, it is very easy for cold to slip through, making winter nights even colder which is something no one can afford. Cold wind breaking through here and there can be life threatening. So they cover the Windows with cloth, animal leather or even fur from the inside to prevent the cold from coming in while Lumber is burning in the Fireplace. Of course Aaron James didn't comprehend this information with a quick glance. This is part of the author's point of view, trying to explain in detail what Hawk Kingdom holds. I know it is over informative but I don't mind.

Speaking of what he saw, there were Businesses in The Kingdom no doubt. But Aaron was only able to see a couple of shops and a Blacksmith forge so far. The Kingdom likely has more businesses, it has 18,000 people after all. That means it has somewhere around 4,000 houses. There are likely at least 50 businesses. At this case, population aided the budget in several ways even though the King couldn't give a damn about their livelihood, which indirectly is a bad investment. Imagine how many dedicated employees he could recruit if the overall Morale towards the Castle governing was high? Profit would be enough to battle any threat. But the first thing Kings in this medieval times think, is any method that's brutal and easy.

I mean 4,000 Houses x 300 Bronze Coins results to 1,200,000 Bronze Coins a month! When converted, that is 120 Gold Coins! The Value is indeed great and would cover a good portion of the Kingdom's monthly expenses if the Arena wasn't around.

Getting only 300 Gold Coins from the female slave sale is only something to ease their expenses with a huge profit tagging along with it. Travelling 1,000 kilometers to the border and back with 4 sh.i.p.s who have a crew of 30 people each costed around 100 Gold Coins. So this is a 66.6% profit for them just from the females. Imagine how much the enslaved Farmers and Miners will bring in 10 years! It is people who can work be it paid or free is what the Kingdom urgently needed when they witnessed the "Revolutionary Alliance" growing stronger by the day with a ground shaking army, plus the Zamerian Army too.

By having 120 Slaves working for free 10 years straight instead of paying 50  Miners 800 Bronze Coins(each) a month and 70 Farmers 620 Bronze Coins(each) a month to work for 10 years for the Kingdom, they will be saving over 1,000 Gold Coins Combined for 10 years instead of just giving it to Miners and Farmers. That is a lot of Gold! Not to mention, the Slaves bring ore and crops. The value they bring is far beyond the transport cost. Meaning the King can invest this gold in something else. Like a further army build up.

The Castle however is unique. It seemed to have been built over a higher elevation. As if a little mountain was specifically designed so the castle can be built on it. Giving the King an even greater view from above where he can look down upon the Civilians with his 100 room Castle. If a training yard was attached to the Castle, it would take way to much space where housing can instead be built.

Because at any Kingdom, roughly 10% of the population would be willing to work as Patrol Guards, Castle Guards or Soldiers. So that means Hawk Kingdom should have around 1,800 Combined instead of 3,000. The reason behind it of course is the fact that they have slaves now, being able to upgrade the army. Hawk Kingdom needs every soldier available if any other Kingdom from the dominating "Revolutionary Alliance" chose to attack. And with the Arena bringing a wealthy profit, King Mendebal Griffin the sixth isn't stopping at 3,000.

The Castle Guards and Soldiers are given free food too without lowering the salary as an aftermath, so that of course means more expenses for Hawk Kingdom but a better life for the Soldiers. It's not something people would refuse upon really. Because after the Soldiers for example pay the rent, they are left with 1,100 Bronze Coins(11 Silver Coins). Here, its considered middle class living.

It is a deal stupid to pass while a lot barely earn anything in this cruel medieval world and a lot struggle to cover monthly food expenses. To cover a month's worth of food expenses for a family of four, 400 Bronze Coins would be needed to provide one or two meals(If pushed.) a day. ONE! So the Soldiers and Castle Guards are beyond lucky, the Patrol Guards earn a whopping salary of 1,200 Bronze Coins(12 Silver Coins) a month, so they don't live badly either. 

Aaron also saw a lot of people working, doing various tasks. When he passed the forge, he saw apprentices providing leather straps for the experienced Blacksmiths from a leather rack using a Dagger, providing it for the Blacksmiths who were seen hammering pieces of Iron, trying to form them to what they please. Most of the Weapons and Armor are put together with leather straps, it is a valuable item for Blacksmiths but they simply don't have time to get them, considering they hammer Iron most of the day.

Shopkeepers however were usually inside while their apprentices carried items from the storage area to the shop when necessary. Bargaining is something they need to master bit by bit before they try it unsupervised.

The odds of these people working up to 12 hours a day for survival is highly possible. A lot of them saw at Aaron as a lost cause. They all could predict where he will end up. In the dungeon, 10 feet under the dirt or down the river. 

Reaching the Castle which was almost located in the very middle of the Kingdom, the first thing that caught his eyes after the Patrol Guards had to walk uphill in order to reach the Castle, were the abnormally large entrance doors. They stood around 12 feet tall, were 26 feet across and required the strength of two men to push one of the two doors open. Of course the two Patrol Guards couldn't set Aaron James down and open the door, so the two Castle Guards guarding the entrance of the Castle had to push it open, they are more able bodied so its a lot easier for them. The consequences however of the door dropping on anyone would be irreversible. The best choice would be to put the victim down for good, no one can handle three feet thick large doors over them. Hopefully the doors are well constructed and stable.

When they entered the Castle, the first thing he saw was what appeared to be a throne room, not a small one either. With 3 feet wide Stone Columns holding the ceiling up, accurately placed 10 feet away from each other who were close to the main walkway located in the middle of the room(there are columns on both sides of the walkway), a flooring made from planks of quality good enough that it seemed like the floor was dark but yet sparkling and polished, and torches hanging on the walls and on the columns too, those hanging on the walls were 10 feet away from each other illuminating the place, but when seen from the main walkway, the torches on the walls are clear to see that they are located precisely in the middle of the columns, it is clear to see that the King spared no expense designing this throne room.

It is a 50 feet wide and 80 feet long throne room after all. And forgive me by saying this but, from head to toe the throne room was filled with decorations. Where there weren't torches, there were shields, swords, battle axes, ore. Some decorative and some decorative with a story behind them. There was even a large bookshelf 15 feet away from the throne, standing 10 feet tall, almost reaching the ceiling which is 20 feet away from the floor. I doubt that the King reads them though.

"My King. I am very sorry to interrupt, please don't punish me. We got a new one!" Explained one of the Patrol Guards in a low tone, hoping not to alarm the King and hoping there aren't any consequences. The King has the power to ruin the Patrol Guard's life for any reason possible. Such as not liking his shoes or his face. He has the power to do it!

"Give me a moment sweet thing. I need to handle this." As the King was flirting with a maid who was almost sitting on his l.a.p, he was considerably in a mood good enough to not take a life today. "What do we have here. What power does he posses?" Asked King Mendebal in curiosity instead of much expected rage.

"He...he is a EarthQuaker sir. I mean your high...highness. he caused an earthquake in the mine just a while ago. We...still are digging out victims." Said the other Patrol Guard trembling on his own Combat Iron boots. Hoping to flatter the king well enough to live longer.

"Hmm. Give me a moment maid." He said in a bit of an angry tone when the maid kept invading his personal space. "Hmm. A small price to pay for another valued tool. He will bring more Gold than we can count." Explained the King in a low thick tone as he stroked his own beardless chin.

"What do you mean I will bring more Gold than you can count?" Exclaimed Aaron James, feeling like an item to filthy plans of his royalty.

"Why are you allowing this tool to talk to me? Do you two want to die?" Exclaimed the King in a loud angry tone as he banged his fist on the arm support of his throne, but wasn't nearly enough to damage it and he even hurt his hand, but his ego was big enough for him to not let anyone know.

"We apologize Sire. Shut your mouth Slave." Yelled one of the Patrol Guards as he punched Aaron on the face.

"You sons of bitches!" Yelled Aaron who was being triggered by any pain brought upon him. How much will be able to tolerate? Ever since he arrived, physical abuse doesn't seem to stop!

"He is a temperamental one. I like it. Send the jackass to the dungeons!"