people, and are working as hard as we can to return Crar to its former state as a proud trading city. Matters progress apace, and we hope soon to be free of the taint of Baron Starmor, who controlled us for so many years.'
Grimm looked at Dalquist, who wore a broad smile, and he guessed that the mayor was coming to the crux of the matter.
'We Crarians are simple folk, and we feel the need of a strong leader; a patriarch. I do my best to fulfil this role but I was once a puppet of Starmor, as were all the other citizens. I feel sullied, as do they; we were not whole men and women.
'We need somebody to guide us who was not under Starmor's spell. I have been mayor for twenty years, but for fifteen of those years I was nothing more than a smiling, gavel-wielding marionette with no power or will of my own. It will take me some time to get into the habit of making my own decisions again, and I will feel much more secure in my work if I am able to recover my confidence as a municipal officer under the notional protection of a strong and resourceful leader.'
Grimm nodded, waiting for the man to get to the point. No doubt, Chod was on the point of offering Dalquist this position; a position his friend must needs decline, in view of his obligation to the Guild.
'You were instrumental in the defeat of Starmor, Lord Mage,' the mayor intoned, lowering his eyes. 'We of the reformed Council of Crar wish to offer you the title and privileges of the Baron of Crar. To you would pass all the rights and privileges once stolen by Starmor. Considerable wealth comes with the position, and this would all be yours; as you can imagine, Starmor built up a considerable balance of capital from the hard work of his enslaved subjects.'
Grimm gaped, dumbstruck, for several moments. The man was offering him, a mere blacksmith's boy, the lofty position of Baron of Crar?
Granfer will be so proud, he thought, feeling his heart pounding, seeing himself dressed in silk robes and golden finery. And Gramma Drima, too! They will…
The concept was impossible; Grimm was a Guild Mage, above all, and his first and last obligations were to his House and his Prelate. Tempting as he found the offer, he knew he must refuse.
'Mayor Chod,' he said, doing his best to keep the note of resignation from his voice, 'I feel more gratified than I am able to express by this signal honour. However, with the deepest regrets, I must decline your kind offer. I am not a free agent. My fealty is to the Guild of which I am fortunate enough to be a member. I cannot commit myself to the administration of Crar.'
Dalquist, who had been standing at Chod's shoulder, stepped forward.
'Questor Grimm, you would not need to commit yourself to a full-time residency at Crar. I have had several conversations with Mayor Chod on this subject. I outlined the objections I knew you must raise, as a true Guild Mage. Lord Mayor; will you be so good as to allow me to paraphrase your response to Questor Grimm's expected response?'
Chod opened his hands and turned them palms-up towards Dalquist.
'Please feel free to do so, Lord Mage.'
'Thank you, Mayor Chod.
'Questor Grimm: my understanding is that the position of Baron of Crar is expected only to be ceremonial. You would be expected to provide-shall we say-spiritual guidance to the people of Crar.'
The young mage frowned. Was he expected to act as some kind of priest?'
'Now, Brother Mage,' Dalquist laughed, 'I beg you not to panic. Your obligation to Crar would be as a… a figurehead, an ever-present reminder of what Crar must represent to the world. You would not be expected to be a civil functionary or even to reside within these city walls. I know that, at this stage of your vocation, you are required to live within the walls of Arnor House, and Lord Mayor Chod is well aware of this stricture. Believe me, Questor Grimm: you will not be breaching the terms of your Guild Oath if you were to accept this position. An occasional visit would suffice.'
'Nonetheless, Questor Dalquist, Lord Mayor Chod, I must still demur.' The words felt like ashes in his mouth, but Grimm knew he must still refuse.
'The wealth and power stolen by Starmor from his former subjects should be shared by them, not simply given to a mere figurehead. The money and prestige are surely yours; I cannot accept them.'
'Lord Grimm, you do not understand the freely expressed will of the Crarian people,' Chod replied, and Grimm saw sweat beading the mayor's brow, his entwined hands trembling.
He's terrified! the mage thought. What have I said that scares him so?
'You are correct that Starmor's wealth and power were stolen from us,' whispered Chod. 'For many years we laughed and cried, celebrated and commiserated only by the will of Starmor, whether this accorded with our own feelings or not. We lived in an unending nightmare from which we could not escape. What he took from us, he perverted and twisted into something sick and meaningless. We do not wish it to be returned to us; it frightens us as a symbol of our slavery. We wish for a new Baron, one who represents the true precepts of the newly free people of Crar; a Baron who will be the ever-present symbol of the new order.'
'Give the money away, if you will, Lord Mayor,' Grimm protested, 'but, if you find it besmirched, would that taint not pass to me, if I had control over it? I advise you to seek a more experienced person as your ruler.'
Chod shook his head. 'We do not wish to touch Starmor's tainted booty, but we would not see it wasted. We are by nature merchants, and waste is hateful to us. This wealth would be yours to command, and yours to use as you see fit. We refuse to spend it on ourselves.'
The mayor smiled. 'Nonetheless, should our Baron wish to do so in charity, we would accept his gift with gratitude.'
Despite Grimm's former objections, Chod did not seem to act as if he were under duress; this insane proposal seemed to be his heart's desire, and he would not be balked.
The young Questor had to admit that the title 'Grimm, Baron of Crar' sounded alluring, and he had done his level best to raise his objections. Who was he to deny the freely expressed will of the people of Crar?
Drawing a deep breath, he asked, 'Are you certain my acceptance of this post will not compromise my obligation to the Guild, Brother Mage?'
Dalquist shrugged. 'Questor Grimm; so long as the post of Baron never interferes with your responsibilities to the House and the Guild, accepting Mayor Chod's offer contravenes none of the Guild Rules. Several House Mages possess noble credentials, and some of them have become very wealthy as a result. Some even offer their services for hire. There is no rule that requires that a mage, even one of charitable status, must be a pauper for the rest of his life. My advice would be to accept Mayor Chod's munificent offer with gratitude.'
Leaning close to his friend, the older mage whispered, 'Take it, Grimm; if you don't, I will-that is, if Chod offers it to me!'
Grimm cleared his throat and assumed a solemn manner as best he could.
Grimm Afelnor, Baron of Crar! The title sounded ridiculous, but it was better than those he had borne as a Charity Student: 'pauper's bastard', 'traitor's spawn' and 'swamp rat' among the kindest of these.
'Very well, Mayor Chod,' he sighed, keeping a sheepish smile from his face, 'you shall have your new Baron, provided that I am not expected to spend my full time in Crar. As a Guild Mage, my first allegiance is to my House; I cannot and will not abandon that duty.'
Chod nodded. 'Lord Mage Dalquist advised me of this, Questor Grimm. All will be as you wish, I assure you.'
'My first act as Baron will be to offer the former wealth of Starmor to you and the Council, to do with as you will in the service of the city of Crar. It is not mine to take, and I have no experience in the use of money.'
It hurt Grimm to add this codicil, but it eased his troubled conscience to say so. Chod grimaced and shook his head.
'With the greatest of respect, Lord Mage, I regret that I cannot accept your terms. You are free to accept or refuse the post of Baron of Crar as you will, but, should you accept this responsibility, the wealth of Starmor must be administered by you and you alone, on a case-by-case basis. We have proven fallible before, and we lack the confidence to administer our own funds without guidance.
'The Baron of Crar has always carried out this function, since well before the time that Starmor invaded our city. Since his advent, fifteen years ago, we have had our lives directed for us in all respects, and we lack the confidence to fully administer even our own lives. We are leaderless, and we crave governance by someone who
