Chương 448: 443. Rewards - III

Kivamus glanced briefly toward Syrene before continuing.

"Two people, including Syrene, have received the Medal of Science for discovering something new. They will receive 15 gold coins each." The reaction was immediate. Excited whispers spread through the maids and servants, while several guards shouted approval. Syrene herself looked caught between surprise and discomfort at being named so publicly.

"Ridono was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor for giving his life in defense of the village," Kivamus said.

"So his widow will receive just around a year's wages—30 gold—as a small compensation. It can never replace what she lost, but it's the least we can do." The cheering that followed was more somber and rougher, and this time it was mixed with the sound of fists striking chests or palms.

"Those guards who received the Medal of Sacrifice for being injured in the line of duty will receive 3 gold each—around a month's wage," he continued.

"And those who were awarded the Medal of Courage for extraordinary bravery will receive 10 gold coins—around three months' wages." The whole training ground seemed to break into noise again. There were loud cheers, calls of approval, and then chanting rose from somewhere near the guards.

"Glory to Tiranat!" someone called out loudly from the roof of the barn. Others picked it up at once.

"Glory to Tiranat!" was repeated many times over.

"Long live Lord Kivamus!" someone else added. That spread even faster. Kivamus waited with a smile until the noise ebbed enough for him to continue. Hudan was adding to the cheers as loudly as he could from beside him, while Duvas also had a rare grin on his face.

"Now the next announcement. I have been told," Kivamus continued, "that some of you, including Syrene, have said you do not need the coin immediately, since your food and shelter are already being provided." That drew some uneasy looks, and a few people shifted in place.

"I know those of you with families need the money," Kivamus went on.

"But those who do not have any dependents often do not know what to do with it. And now that the alehouse is open to all of you, I know there will be temptation to spend all of it there or somewhere else you should not." That brought some frowns and some confused looks. A few guards glanced at their neighbors with furrowed brows, probably wondering where he was going with the announcement.

Others looked away with expressions that made it obvious the thought about spending it all on drinks had already crossed their minds. Kivamus did not smile.

"Let me be clear," he said.

"It is your money, and it is your choice what you do with it." That eased some of the tension.

"But for those who want to keep their gold safe for a future day when they will need it, there will now be another option. Maybe someone who is single wants to save coins for the time when he marries or has children. Maybe someone wants to start saving for renting a room in the tenement blocks once they are ready. Some of you may also be wondering where you would even keep that much gold safely, especially those who are getting the rewards for medals. Even 10 gold is three months of pay.

Some of you will probably be digging holes in the ground under a certain tree to hide it. Others will be putting it under floorboards and in the rafters." That got a different kind of reaction. There were grins now. A few awkward smiles. Some people laughed quietly because what he had said was likely too close to the truth.

"That," Kivamus said, "is why I am announcing a new savings facility for those living in the manor or directly employed by us. That means all the guards, servants, maids, and grooms living here may use it." The crowd became quieter, but they looked far more interested now.

"In the future," he continued, "I intend to expand this facility to the whole village as the Bank of Tiranat. But for now, you are the first and the only people to have access to it." This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. There were a few pleased smiles at that, and some straighter backs, feeling proud that they were getting a privileged option.

"What I mean by a bank," Kivamus continued, "is this. Those who do not need their money immediately can deposit it with Duvas. He will record it in a separate ledger under your name, and he will keep that deposited coin in our own strongbox. That means nobody can steal it, and you can withdraw the amount whenever you want. In simple terms, you may use my strongbox as your own, and your gold will be as safe there as possible." That earned uncertain nods, but also hesitation. He could see it plainly.

Some of them did not like the thought of handing over their coin back to the manor the moment they had finally received it. Kivamus expected that too.

"I know what some of you are thinking," he smiled.

"You think that I want to take back your hard earned gold right after giving it to you. That's why many of you will want to keep it on your own person, or hidden in your own rooms, simply because that feels safer to you." A few embarrassed looks and sideways glances passed through the crowd.

"That is fine," Kivamus shrugged.

"This banking facility is only an option. You can choose whether to use it or not. However, those who use it will gain another benefit. They will be paid an annual interest of four percent on whatever they deposit." This time the confusion was immediate. People glanced at each other with confused expressions.

"That means," Kivamus explained, "if you deposit 100 copper coins for a year, then after a year you receive 104 in return. If you take the money out in 6 months, you receive 102. If you take it out in 3 months, you receive 101." The faces in front of him ranged from interested to openly baffled. Someone in the crowd called out, "What do you mean 104? Where do those 4 extra coins come from? What do we have to do for it?"

"The full explanation is complicated," Kivamus said, "but the short answer is this. Those who need money in a tight situation can borrow from the bank. The bank will lend money at an interest rate of 10%. So if someone borrows 100 silver coins, he must return 110 in a year." There were more murmurs at that.

"That loan facility will be most useful to merchants and craftsmen who need money to buy stock or equipment," he went on.

"But for those of you who earn wages, the more useful part is the savings side. You do not need to do anything to earn the extra coin. If many of you keep your gold with us, then we can use that money productively to improve Tiranat and keep the village safe. In return, we reward you with a bonus amount of 4% for trusting us to keep it safe and helping the village." Most of them still looked uncertain, but some were nodding now. The word bonus was far easier to understand than interest rates and loan facilities.

A few had begun speaking quietly to their neighbors, likely trying to decide whether it was clever or suspicious.

"Anyway," Kivamus said, "like I said, leave the details to me and Duvas. So anyone who receives a large amount today because of medal rewards and doesn't know what to do with it, or anyone who wishes to save part of their wages, can speak to Duvas any time to find out more." He drew a breath and raised his voice again.

"Now," he said, "the time you have all been waiting for!" The cheer that came then was the loudest one yet.

"Hudan will call your names one by one," Kivamus said over the noise, "and you will come up to the stage to receive your wages for the first week, along with any reward amount if you are owed it." He glanced at the crowd, then continued.

"This is the first time wages are being paid in coins, so we are holding a gathering for it. In the future, I expect Kerel will handle the payments for the guards, while Madam Nerida will pay the servants and maids. The senior workers—Madam Helga, Madam Nerida, Hudan, and the others—will be paid directly by Duvas." Then he turned his head toward the majordomo and gave him a short nod.

"Let's start."

~ Tesyb ~ Tesyb had been standing in the crowd, listening to the speech of the silver haired baron. He did not understand half of what Lord Kivamus said about banking and savings, but he understood enough. His father, Pinoto, was going to start earning good coin too, and more than Tesyb in fact. That meant his father could take care of whatever his mother needed. Tesyb himself did not have much to spend money on. The first thing that came to mind was his sister Isuha.

He could not wait to go to Cinran again and tell her that coin payments had finally begun. He had already asked the baron before and learned that if Isuha came here, then with her skills and experience she would be paid 25 coppers a day. That was nearly double of what she was earning now. He still did not know whether his sister would agree to move here. She did not want to live in the longhouse blocks, and he could not blame her for that.

Still, knowing that wages were now being paid in coin would certainly make the idea more tempting. As for himself, until last year, he used to go for a mug of ale sometimes after coming back from coal mining. Back then it had mostly been for company. A few of the men from his mineshaft liked getting properly drunk, and though Tesyb did not care much for drinking even then, it was just something to do at the end of the day. But he was a guard now.

The responsibility was higher, and he could not afford to get blind drunk even if he wanted to. Either way, most of his wages would still be left over. So it did sound like a good idea to hand the coin over to Sir Duvas for safekeeping. If he got a few extra coins in return for it later, then all the better. He watched as the captain began calling names, one by one.

Guards, servants, and maids climbed up to the makeshift stage and came down again with small amounts of coin in their hands, and huge grins on their faces. Every time someone turned back toward the crowd and showed what they had received in the light of the setting sun, there was another round of clapping. Tesyb glanced to his right again. Savomi was talking to her older sister, and suddenly he could think of one thing he might actually spend coins on. Maybe he could buy something nice for her.

He had heard that one of the refugees from the west used to be a baker, and that he and a few others planned to open a new bakery stall in the market square. Maybe he could buy Savomi a fresh sweet bun or something like that. He had no idea what she really thought of him, but nobody disliked sweet buns, did they?