“No doubt it will do him well,” Regal agreed pleasantly. He turned his smile on me. “A vexatious day, Fitz?”
“A troubling one. First, there was the small matter down at the stables. One of Duke Ram’s men was down there, claiming that the Duke had purchased four horses. One of them Cliff, the stud horse we use for the cart mares. I persuaded him there must be some mistake, for the papers were not signed by the King.”
“Oh, those!” The King chuckled again. “Regal had to bring them back to me; I’d forgotten to sign them at all. But it is all taken care of now, and I am sure the horses will be on their way to Tilth by the morrow. Good horses, too, Duke Ram will find them. He made a wise bargain.”
“I had never thought to see us sell our best stock away from Buckkeep.” I spoke quietly, looking to Regal.
“And neither did I. But with the treasury as depleted as it is, we have had to take hard measures.” He regarded me coolly a moment. “Sheep and cattle are to be sold as well. We have not the grain to winter them over anyway. Better to sell them now than to see them starve this winter.”
I was outraged. “Why have not we heard of these shortages before? I have heard nothing of a failed harvest. Times are hard, it is true, but-”
“You have heard nothing because you have not been listening. While you and my brother have immersed yourselves in the glories of war, I have been dealing with the purse to pay for it. And it is well nigh empty. Tomorrow, I will have to tell the men working on the new ships that they must either labor for the love of it or leave off their work. There is no longer coin to pay them, nor to buy the materials that would be needed to finish the ships.” He finished his speech and leaned back, considering me.