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Assembly of the Labourer’s Council
April 19, 01|10
Minister for Mineral Exploits Thomas Stoutwell Presiding
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The assembly was an unusually small one. The Labourer’s Council usually met only when multiple senior members or the Duke Nicholas himself were present – a board of trusted and skilled engineers, traders, industry chiefs, and activists, the Labourer’s Council had the role of serving as appointed advisors to the Duke and the rest of the Wysteria’s officials. As such, it almost always befitted them to convene only when there were enough members there to hear of new developments personally; the fact that over half the Council was missing seemed out of place indeed.
As he peered surreptitiously around the empty seats – avoiding the hot-tempered gaze of Stoutwell, blathering on in increasing rancour about the second beacon mine recently installed in Gallen – his suspicion was confirmed. Eyes moving past the empty seats, on either side of Nicholas’s, assigned to Minister for Architecture Liserett – overseeing new international construction in Chester-le-Ford, he believed – and Minister for Agriculture Merry – no doubt off cultivating new breeds of wheat – Minister for Environmental Affairs Toby Stern was finally able to put the creeping trepidation into words. There was not a single member of the Council here who had served more than two years – except, of course, for Stoutwell. The ten-year veteran of the Council now held an uncommon degree of seniority and influence over the proceedings.
“To conclude, ladies and gentlemen: our second beacon mine is not only a triumph of Wysterian skill and resources – Captain of the Guard Kern led the party that fought the wither himself – but now puts us in a position to generate even more.” The man had done his job and made his report, and as gregarious as Stoutwell could be none in the room doubted his efficiency or his results. The pristine diamond pendant around the neck of Minister for Papercraft Evans was testament enough to that.
And so Stern banished his unease, mentally awarded Stoutwell some credit for the continued success of Gallen’s mining industry, resolved to bear with the man’s less than amiable personality, and waited for him to resume his seat so that he himself could deliver his report on harbour erosion.
“Now, with that routine business taken care of, I’d like to take a moment to discuss another current event. One that is a bit more … controversial.” Instead of resuming his seat as politeness and custom would dictate, the Minister remained on his feet with a renewed edge to his voice. None of the other Ministers contradicted him.
“As you are all no doubt aware,” and here the Minister’s words took on the all-too familiar smugness, “Gallen’s beacon mines have been pulling up vast amounts of raw stone from the ground. Now,” and the familiar smugness was replaced with a new hard edge to his voice, “this is stone that we urgently need to complete Gallen’s walls, to protect us and to finish this great project. But do you know where this stone is going instead?”
Stern knew. He knew most if not all of the other Ministers were also aware; though it has grown quickly since its early days, Gallen was still a close community in many ways. But none answered Stoutwell.
“To build a road! Yes, a small, country road that connects the great city of Gallen, with walls unfinished – to that tiny village. Why, I ask you?”
Stern frowned as Stoutwell’s motivation became clear: the man had worked to build up Gallen’s stone resources but was angry the stuff was not remaining for use in Gallen and instead being "wasted" on connecting the capital with the small farming village of Batesonburg. The decision, approved by Nicholas himself, was in Stern’s opinion the right call: beyond the fact that it was always necessary to reach out to those around them, the villagers were looking for a much better trading infrastructure and were eager to begin bulk shipments of crops. The road would benefit Gallen just as much as it would the farming community; but, as Minister for Environmental Affairs, it was hardly his area to challenge.
Looking to his right, Stern saw that Stoutwell wouldn’t receive a challenge. While a number of ministers were frowning at Stoutwell’s tone in describing a pretty benign infrastructure project, no one spoke up to the man that was eight years their senior. Ministers Abernathy for Trade and List for Diplomacy, both fierce in their commitment to communal cooperation and both close advisors to the Duke, were, of course, also both absent.
Stoutwell’s increasingly angry denunciation of – gasp – a road continued.
“I mean, it’s not like it’s going to be used by anyone going from Gallen. What’s the rationale, anyway?”
The sober, painstakingly crafted double wooden doors of dark oak that connected the Council chamber to the adjoining lobby of the Wysterian Parliament fairly blew open. Striding through the doors and looking remarkably spry for a man of age – here Stern caught himself, for he remembered Jenkins’ warning – was none other than Duke Nicholas himself. In tow was the ever-present scribe himself; Stern caught a sly wink from the wizened man and fairly gaped at the rare show of humour from the taciturn scribe.
“And so that Wysteria be able to fully engage with and form lasting friendships with all of which we are comprised, we will hold as our central mission to connect with others, to build a diverse yet solid realm, and to seek to learn from new perspectives.” Nicholas quoted the well-known passage from his predecessor Sean’s Thoughts on Perspective with eloquence and a touch of what Stern could have sworn was amusement as Stoutwell struggled to catch up with the Duke’s abrupt entrance.
“My good Minister,” and here Nicholas allowed his tone to grow more severe, “none here doubt your commitment to Gallen and to Wysteria. But you must realize that it is crucial we reach out to our neighbours, for only then can we both grow. The road will go ahead, and the stone used will make but a dent in the supply slated for wall construction – a dent which I have no doubt your new beacon mine will fill admirably.”
He paused.
“Now, as to how you managed to schedule this assembly with over half the Council away… let’s take that up outside, shall we?” He addressed the remaining Ministers, most of whom had been watching, almost mesmerized, as he put the gregarious Minister in his place:
“Assembly dismissed.”
As Stern left the Council chamber, he spotted the Duke and the Minister in close discussion as they strode up the main staircase; the Minister seemed conflicted between sheepishness and anger. Then Stern was off; he was late for his daily check on harbour erosion.
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Wysterian Labourer's Council
Currently Holding Stewardship of Wysteria
Minister for Applications and Settlement
Forums Administrator
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