We had been busy since the securing of Veii and Ostia. Two months have passed.

We found somebody to act as my representative for the city of Veii. Sparax, bastard of a Neapolitan noble as he claimed, had immigrated north to make a living. He had led the guilds during the war between us and the east and continued to do so after supporting the new baron. And after the baron fled he was the first to switch sides and share information on the baron's supporters.

The man was by no means the definition of a loyal vassal, but he was competent, had local connections and we had plenty of dirt on him. Some provided by himself, others by Juladia. We would keep an eye on his performance and, if necessary, replace him. The threat of replacement should motivate him further to perform well.

The cities also elected their councils. Ten people for each Veii and Ostia. Most seats were seized by the guilds as most people were associated with one. The temples managed to secure two seats in Veii and one in Ostia. Another seat each was claimed by the wealthy citizens and one for the poor ones.

That gave the guilds six out of ten seats in Veii and seven out of ten in Ostia. The wealthy had protested the election result, claiming it was not fair that each vote counted equal. Of course, they did. But their protest would not find any support with both of their former barons out of power.

The first thing the cities did was redistributing land inside and outside the settlements. Former assets of the barons and wealthy citizens were split up and given to the families of craftsmen. The land outside to the peasantry.

Old debt owed to the former lords was erased and everybody got the chance for a new start with an own plot of land or own workshop. My representatives had watched over both processes and ensured that the ones ruling the guilds did not enrich themselves, not too much. They also stopped them to take too much from the wealthy citizens. Those families had lost wealth and influence, but still were the elite of the cities.

The taxation was also reformed through a new system developed by me and Statilia. The first project we had undertaken after her arrival.

Every family paid tax depending on their yearly income. It was a percentage-based tax with several different stages. The first stage was reached at 30 ducats a year, everything below that was free. Seven percent of that income was to be given to the state. Three to the local government. In that case the cities. The more you earned the more percent were to be given away. The last stage was at twenty percent to the state and ten to the local government.

This was for now the only tax issued for our subjects. We were working on some more taxes right now.

"A tax for the land you own?", I asked perplexed. "Wouldn't that discourage people to buy land?"

"No it would not, not as long as the tax is lower than the possible lease or rent", Statilia explained.

"How would you determine what the landowner has to pay?", I inquired. "It is a big difference if you own a hectare of farmland or several inns in a city. The value depends on its location."

"I know", Statilia replied. Sounding a bit annoyed. She pulled several stacks of papers out of her bag. Each package secured with a hemp rope.

She went through the first papers of every one of them. Until Statilia finally seemed to have found what she wanted. The node was untied and the papers placed in front of me.

I gave her a questioning look.

"The first two and last three are the important ones", she supplied.

The first papers described how to calculate the value of a plot of land. The paper had three formulas. The first for farmland and the value was determined through the addition of the last ten harvests, divided by ten. This gave us an average to work with. There were different variations of this formula for different crops and cattle.

The second formula was about developed land outside of major settlements. This was for the villages themselves. Their farmhouses or the shop of a local craftsman. It was a fixed rate linked to the size of the buildings. Coops and stores were exempted from this tax.

The last formula was for ground in the city. The value of the land was determined by the income of the adjacent buildings or the income of the owner if it was a residence. Again added together and divided by the numbers of buildings.

The last pages described who was to ascertain those numbers. Those plans had crossed and erased lines. Notes on the sites. Statilia had adjusted her project to the system of the representatives and councils.

The representatives were to either put together a commission themselves or to instruct a commission send by their superior. In the matters of tax collection that was the treasurer, Statilia. The council had the right to oversee the process but could not intervene otherwise.

If a conflict arises over the value of land and they don't manage to reach an agreement then they move on to the next plot of land. The treasurer then sends a small independent group of people to determine the value for the ground in question.

"While this does bring with it a bit of bureaucracy, it should also allow for effective taxation", I mumbled as I put the papers back into the pile. Careful to not make a mess.

"So what do you think? This deals with most of the problems", Statilia asked. Not having heard my mumbling.

"Yes, I do agree. This is a good system. Two small things to adjust", I started and the demi-human gave me an expectant look. "First reduce the rate from ten percent to five. And second, organize the commissions so that they collect both taxes at the same time. No need for several commissions to collect several taxes."

"Okay got it. It should take me a week to make the changes", Statilia beamed as she recollected the papers. It looked like she couldn't wait to perform more work.

"Don't overwork yourself. I need the second … or to be precise the third hand in statecraft."

"Who is the second one?"

"Alaric, he is not bad at it but … let us say he is less enthusiastic than we are. He enjoys the lessened workload."

"Speaking of the devil", Alaric said, appearing at the open door. "I have finished our 'order' of goods and..."

"Just a moment", I spoke, stooping the vampire mid-sentence. "Statilia be on your way and if you have time, look over the tariff plans. We will need to set rates for our imports and exports. Your insight is highly valued."

Statilia wore a proud expression. Standing tall and confident. She flashed Alaric a smile. Exposing her long carnassial. Furry ears twitching and foxtail swinging left and right. "Did you hear? HIGHLY VALUED."

Alaric bared fangs as well. Before stopping the gesture a frown and an annoyed expression appearing. "Be on your way fox"

They had a small starring contest before Statilia left the office with her notes. Alaric looked at the door frame for a while after she disappeared.

"Smitten my friend?"

"You have no idea", he turns around back to me. "And no, not smitten. More annoyed, but father's monthly proposals for brides doesn't help."

"Tell me all of it", I made a point by heavily gesturing with my hands. "And remember mermaid's breasts are..."

"more tender than naiad ones", he rounded off the sentence for me. A grin on both of our faces. "But I will manage. He can do little to force me into an engagement. But enough of that. Quintus, any new sightings?"

"No none. He is heading north. The injury is healed and the new saddle is finished when he returns."

"And when would that be?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Who knows. Now back to our 'order' when will Neapoli and Aegyptus deliver?"

"Neapoli will send local cattle and plants in a week. Together with stone, wood and marble. Plenty of more resources for construction and interior decoration. Logging in the surrounding forests can start soon as well. Aegyptus and the company will send exotic seeds and cattle over in a month. Bringing with them construction materials as well, but most importantly, tools."

"Dwarven made? Has Elddis succeeded in striking a deal with the Syrian governor?"

"Yes. In exchange for helping in expanding the Syrian fleet."

"Good. Is there more to discuss?"

"Your suitors are nearing Roma."

"We will deal with them when they arrive. Make a list of who my house owes favour, treat those with adequate respect. The rest can get an empty house or temple. Let me show you something interesting."

I stood up and marched with steady steps out of the office and temple. Four guards joined us as we did. We went to the stables. I saddled up Timere, Alaric followed doing the same to his mount. Night, if I remember correctly. Soon all of us were on horseback and trotting to the western gate.

We entered the fields around Roma and Alaric's eyes settled on the object in question.

"A watermill? … But", he started. We kept trotting towards it.

Duvira had managed to arrive two weeks ahead of schedule. My dwarven friend stood in front of a building. A mill to be precise. But there was no water to power it. A wooden pole stuck out of the stone cube. Twelve horizontal sails attached to it.

"Duvira!", I exclaimed.

"For the gods' sake can you peasants just let me...", Duvira stopped as she turned around. Now facing us as we dismount.

"Lucius! What brings you out here?", she came towards us and gave firm handshakes. My left hurt a bit afterwards. Alaric gave me a knowing look.

"Boredom, mostly. Could you explain how the windmill works", I asked. The engineer spotted a smile.

"Enlighten the witless about mechanical wonders? What better purpose is there?", Duvira marched into the building. I followed with Alaric right behind her.

She began to explain how the wind-powered the sails. Making a comparison to the sails of ships. Then there were the millstones. The lower one was fixed in position. The upper one was connected through a row of gears to the pole and sails.

Duvira began to explain how the power from the wind was transferred to the sails and then to the gears and finally to the upper millstone. She lost me halfway through. Alaric seemed to follow with difficulty. He asked questions back and Duvira was happy to reply.

"Where do you pour in the grain?", he asked.

Duvira motioned to a hole in the upper millstone.

"Right here, but not too much at once.", she answered.

"It is amazing. Right?", I interjected. "More flour means more bread. More bread means more citizens and soldiers. Fed citizens and soldier are happy ones."

"Bread and games", Alaric added. "I see the potential in windmills. We no longer need to only rely on water streams to make flour. Are they comparable to water mills?"

"No, not really. Unless you have a very weak stream. Water power still beats wind with ease", Duvira explained. "But you are right. Farming further away from rivers just became a lot easier and more profitable."

"Was this your own idea? Or do they come from abroad?", Alaric inquired. My interest in their origin was also piqued.

"Eastern dwarves. Late Sassanid Empire. They mostly used them near the eastern coasts", Duvira shrugged. "Don't know much more."

"Interesting. Makes you wonder why the empire never copied them", I added.

"Maybe they were too far east, or the empire just failed to see their value", Alaric guessed. "Have you more of", he gestured at the stone around us" those projects?"

"Some. Most will need more testing. Lucius said to focus on the city first", she sounded a bit sad at my priorities.

"Housing, buildings, sewage systems, roads and the repair of the Aqueducts are more important. We need fountains with fresh water and baths for the citizens", I argued.

"I agree", Alaric joined.

Duvira sighed and mumbled. "Nobody appreciates the wondrous ideas of a craftswoman."

I put on hand on her shoulder, smiling wide.

"I do and I can't wait for wondrous streets and sewage systems", my attempt at good humour was rewarded with two smiles.

"Aye, I will build you a wondrous way for your shit into the river."

We spoke a bit longer about small matters with Duvira.

Then we were back on horseback and headed towards Roma.

The streets were busy as we trotted through them. I used this chance and listens to the conversations of the commoners. The conversation of two rather loud women caught my interest.

"No trust me on this. The nobles of Ostia and Veii were kicked out and the wealthy ones lost much of their influence. Things are changing for the simple folk."

"So what? Just because for once they don't exploit us, doesn't mean things will change. Nobles will never change. They can't and will never understand our struggles."

"Why did you come here then? You don't look like an easterner."

"Of course I am not. Those leeches can go back to the east. I still don't understand what the duke wants with people from the east. I could understand serfs or slaves but this", she gestured at a group of eastern elves and humans. "I don't understand. I am just here for the free plot of land and low density of nobles"

"Scared of foreigners. How unexpected", now both women glared at each other.

"And why did you come here?"

Before answering the woman lowered her voice.

"I am actually the bastard of a powerful northern noble. Or former powerful noble. I search for a man that can restore my title"

"A northerner? Great, first came the easterner then the northerners. What is your plan? To marry a noble with that ridiculous claim?", somebody tapped the woman on the shoulder. "Not now. Are you going to throw yourself in front of the prince and offer yourself up?"

She copied a fainting maiden.

"Oh my prince, doesn't this look like love at first sight", she made a good performance. Putting effort into picking the right tone and body language. She suddenly realized that nobody was reacting to her show. Everybody, the woman she had been talking to included, looked past her. She turned around and froze.

"Good day my ladies", I replied smiling. Spurring Timere. She began to trot again.

"My ladies", Alaric gave a slight bow as he followed. I suppressed a chuckle as a new argument broke loose behind us.

"Why didn't anybody warn me that 'he' was there!"

"Who knows maybe your performance was enough to be invited into the prince's chambers"

I failed to hear the rest as we neared the temple.

I eavesdropped on more conversations to get a better first-hand picture of the situation. Reports were good, but sometimes it is better to hark into the hearts of your citizens.

A lot of people were sceptical over the news about Veii and Ostia. They didn't believe the elections for the councils were fair or that the nobles wouldn't return in one form or the other to reclaim their power.

It was a bit depressing to hear so many doubts about my decisions. Especially when I aimed to reduce the power gap between commoners and nobles. I will need to put in more effort then. Maybe Juladia's spy network can spread a bit of propaganda.

Other conversations were more centred around Roma. People were flaunting their new houses and exchanged plans on how to renovate them. They talked about businesses ideas and the lack of guilds or big companies in the city. The people were eager to earn ducats. And that would benefit the economy.

The peasants were talking about which plot of land to chose. Talking about which hectare looked more promising.

On the other hand, we had negative rumours as well. People talked about going back to their homes. Sometimes because of the foreigners, other times because they thought that what happened to the upper class in Veii and Ostia would happen to them as well if they prospered.

Other problems were the lack of water sources. The Tiber and a few wells were all we had till the aqueducts are repaired. The lack of work was as well a problem. With few tools and fewer materials, most people had nothing to do except cleaning the city or working on their homes.

The tensions between the local population and eastern immigrants were also rising. It would not work to suppress them by force for long. I needed a better plan. The first council meeting would need to address that. Speaking of it…

"Alaric is there new information on the date of Aellelorn's and Anaitis' arrival?"

"The last message claimed the couple would arrive in the next three days. They should manage as long as no storm brews up."

"Splendid. Schedule the first council meetings in six days then."

We handed our mounts over at the stables and re-entered the temple. Instead of going to my office, we head to a different room.

To the left of the entrance hall was a smaller chamber for sacrifices. Ten metres wide and long with a five-metre ceiling. A hexagon, around six square meters big, out of stone served as the sacrificial altar. A white cloth covered the table. A map of the province on it.

Roma, Veii and Ostia were marked with our crest. The yellow phoenix on purple ground. Numerous villages were noted down as well. Some had only a single-family living there, others had over three hundred residents. Everything bigger was considered a town. And towns with more than ten thousand residents were considered cities.

There were three cities, twenty-eight towns and 221 villages on this side of the Apennine Mountains. The mountain range split not only Italia, but also my province in half. While the western half had three cities the eastern one had none. They had however thirty-nine towns and 158 villages.

The most important ones were Spoletium, which guarded the easiest part through the mountain range and Firmum Picenum, positioned next to the Adriatic Sea, controlling the sea routes and trade. We had sent messengers east after the takeover of Ostia and Veii.

All towns and villages replied the same.

We are under the full authority of our governor.

"How long till we know the exact population of the province?"

"We are still counting a few villages and the eastern part will need a few more days to send their numbers."

"And how about a rough estimate"

Alaric nodded. Donning thoughtful expression as he crunched numbers.

"The western half around 90' 000, the eastern one around 50'000. Immigration from the east and south should make us exceed those numbers fast. More so if people immigrate from the north as well."

"Yes. I need to have a talk Juladia. We need to spread the news of free land more. The northern humans should be the easiest ones to convince. They don't like to live under the dwarves, if rumours are to be trusted"

I looked up to Alaric.

"Anything else for today?"

"No. For now, we have to wait."

"Good. Let us prepare the topics for the first council meeting."

And prepared we did. A list was crafted with all issues in need of my attention or that of a council member. It was time to start my job as governor in earnest.