HONOR BOUND (The Spare Heir) by Michael G. Southwick Read Free Book Online

them to beg for money.  I’ve heard they do quite well, better than many.”
    “I find that hard to believe,” Jaf’s eyebrows rose at Jorem’s words.
    “It’s easy enough to see,” Jorem continued.  “At days end, as the lamp men are lighting the street lights, watch where the beggars go.  You have to watch closely because they don’t want anyone to know, but if you’re careful, you’ll see them getting into carriages.  Every morning, before daylight, they are dropped off at their corners, and every night after sundown, they’re picked up.”
    “Are you trying to tell me that there are no poor in this city?” Em asked in an accusing voice.
    “No, ma’am,” Jorem answered.  “I’m told that in every area there are those that have more and those that have less.  It’s the responsibility of those that have more to help those that have less, especially those with nothing.  The hard part is figuring out which ones really need help.”
    “What about this food?” asked Em.  “I’ll not begrudge the King a fine meal, but what about all the rest.  Surely everyone needn’t eat such extravagant food.”
    “This?”  Jorem said pointing at the food on his plate.  “Beef and potatoes are the most plentiful foods in the area.  If you go to any of the local inns you’ll find they are serving much the same foods.  The cook here at the castle does have a knack for adding just the right spices though.”
    “You’re telling me you have beef all the time?” Em asked incredulously.
    “Not every meal, no,” Jorem said with a laugh.  “We have pork and chicken as well, and occasionally some fish.  Beef is the most common because it is less expensive.”
    “That’s a bit hard to take in,” said Jaf.  “We don’t have beef more than a dozen times a year.  Where we are from, beef is quite rare and very expensive.”
    “Where are you from?” asked Jorem.
    “We’re from Sunrise,” Jaf answered.  “It’s a small coastal village in the west.”
    “It’s a beautiful place, right next to the ocean.”  The pride in Em’s voice was obvious.  “Jafrey is the head of the village council.”
    “So being right next to the ocean, I guess you have seafood the same way we have beef,” Jorem stated.
    “Well, yes,” Em said with a sigh.  “It would be boring, but there are so many different kinds.”  Seeing the interest in Jorem’s eyes, she continued.  “There’s herd fish, that’s what we catch the most of.  Then there’s pink fish, white fish, and rockfish, just to name a few.  But there’s more than just fish.  There are clams, crabs, squid, eels, skimmers, not to mention tubers and sea lettuce.”
    “I’ve had herd fish a few times and pink fish once.”  Jorem’s mouth watered at the memory of the flavorful pink meat.  “Father said that it was terribly expensive to get it here.  It’s a shame that there isn’t a way to ship the fish here and the beef there.  But I suppose it would be difficult to keep fish fresh for the time it would take to get it here. I’ve heard of crab before from my Father.  He said it was like prying gold from rocks.  Does it really taste as wonderful as he said?”
    Em was delighted to find someone interested in what was apparently one of her favorite topics.  She went on to explain the different ways to cook the various denizens of the sea.  Jorem was amazed that anyone could talk so much and still manage to eat a meal.  Jafrey, on the other hand, had become very quiet and was making notes on a paper he had pulled from his pocket.
    A hush had fallen over the hall and Jorem looked up to see his Father standing.  The King often chose the end of evening meal to make announcements and to discuss minor matters that concerned him.  Jorem hadn’t heard any rumors from the servants so he didn’t know what was on the King’s mind any more than anyone else.  Everyone in the room looked to the King expectantly.  Only the King’s