Chapter 588: Before the Royal Council

The Royal Advisory Council convened inside the eastern wing of Kingsford’s Royal Palace, where matters involving the Kingdom’s laws, territorial privileges, and major institutions were regularly examined before being submitted to the King.

Sage arrived shortly before the appointed hour, accompanied by Lucan and Boren. Unlike his previous meetings with Crown Prince Richard, this consultation involved a considerably larger gathering of officials, several of whom had already expressed reservations about the Adventurer Guild’s proposed Royal Charter.

The chamber itself was spacious, with a long semicircular table positioned beneath the royal crest of House Alden.

Minister Aldous Pembroke occupied one of the central seats, while Lord Thomas Ellery sat beside several senior legal advisers.

Lord Percival Harcourt was also present, accompanied by representatives from the departments responsible for territorial administration and commercial regulation.

Crown Prince Richard attended as the royal official who had introduced the possibility of formal recognition, although he had made it clear that the council’s examination would proceed through established administrative procedures.

"Guildmaster Sage, welcome," Pembroke greeted him as the visitors entered. "We’ve received your revised proposal and the accompanying administrative documents. Today’s consultation will focus upon the legal consequences of the Charter rather than the Guild’s general accomplishments."

Sage inclined his head respectfully. "That suits me perfectly, Minister. I’d prefer resolving the difficult questions now rather than discovering them after the Charter has already been approved."

Several officials exchanged glances at his response.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Pembroke formally opened the proceedings.

"The Adventurer Guild requests recognition as an independent institution operating throughout Westmark," Pembroke began as he consulted the documents before him. "Its proposal includes protections for internal administration, standardized branch registration, and recognition of lawful dungeon management arrangements. However, those protections must be reconciled with existing royal and territorial authority."

He turned toward Sage.

"Guildmaster, let us begin with a specific concern. Suppose a regional magistrate discovers that one of your branches has violated a public safety regulation. Your proposal protects the Guild against arbitrary suspension. Would that prevent the magistrate from ordering the dangerous activity to cease?"

Sage shook his head.

"No, Minister," Sage answered. "If there’s an identifiable violation presenting a genuine danger, the magistrate should possess the authority to take appropriate action. Our objection concerns suspensions imposed without lawful grounds or any reasonable opportunity for review."

Ellery leaned forward.

"And who determines whether those grounds are lawful?" Ellery asked. "Surely you don’t expect the Guild to decide whether an investigation against itself is justified."

"Certainly not, Lord Ellery," Sage replied. "That determination should follow the Kingdom’s established legal procedures. The Guild should have the right to challenge an unlawful decision before the appropriate authority, just as other recognized institutions can."

Pembroke made a note.

The distinction appeared to satisfy several officials, although Harcourt remained unconvinced.

"Your proposal repeatedly refers to independent internal administration," Harcourt observed. "Yet the Guild employs individuals capable of exercising considerable force. Shouldn’t the Crown possess some authority over the appointment of senior officials responsible for directing those individuals?"

Sage regarded him calmly.

"The Crown already possesses authority to enforce laws governing criminal conduct and public safety, Lord Harcourt," Sage answered. "That doesn’t mean every merchant company employing armed guards must allow royal officials to appoint its managers."

Harcourt frowned slightly.

"Merchant guards aren’t necessarily comparable to powerful Adventurers," Harcourt replied.

"Then the distinction should be based upon the activities being regulated," Sage responded. "If an Adventurer commits an offense, investigate the offense. If a Guild administrator facilitates unlawful conduct, investigate that administrator. But requiring outside approval for every senior appointment doesn’t prevent misconduct. It simply gives political appointees control over our personnel."

Richard listened without interrupting.

The council’s legal secretary recorded the exchange before Pembroke directed the discussion toward territorial rights.

"Consider another situation," Pembroke continued. "The Guild applies to establish a branch in a regional city. The territorial administration refuses permission because the proposed location conflicts with an existing development plan. Would the Guild’s Charter allow it to disregard that refusal?"

"No, Minister," Sage answered. "The Guild would need to comply with legitimate planning requirements. However, the administration should identify the relevant regulation and explain its decision in writing."

Ellery examined the proposed appeal provision.

"And if the Guild disputes that explanation?"

"Then we should be permitted to appeal through an established administrative process," Sage replied. "The appeal wouldn’t automatically grant us permission to build. It would simply allow the decision to be reviewed."

Lady Cecily Arkwright, a senior adviser responsible for territorial administration, raised her hand.

"There’s a complication," Cecily observed. "Regional development plans aren’t always uniform. A regulation appropriate for a crowded commercial district may be unnecessary in a rural settlement. How would your proposed standardized procedures accommodate those differences?"

Lucan consulted the accompanying documents before answering.

"The standardized process concerns how applications are submitted, examined, and decided, Lady Cecily," Lucan explained. "It doesn’t require identical construction rules in every settlement. Regional authorities would retain their lawful discretion, provided they apply their requirements consistently."

Cecily nodded thoughtfully.

"That distinction should be made more explicit in the Charter," Cecily replied. "Otherwise, disputes over local regulations could become unnecessarily complicated."

Boren immediately recorded the recommendation.

The consultation then turned toward the Guild’s dungeon operations.

A senior treasury official, Lord Osbert Wainwright, opened the petition submitted by the coalition of dungeon-owning nobles.

"Guildmaster, several noble families have expressed concern that your organization is accumulating an increasingly large network of dungeons," Osbert stated. "They argue that unrestricted expansion could concentrate valuable resources under a single institution. How do you respond?"

Sage considered the question before answering.

"Owning or managing numerous dungeons doesn’t automatically establish unlawful conduct, Lord Wainwright," Sage replied. "If the Kingdom believes concentration of resource rights creates a genuine economic or security problem, it should establish standards applicable to all dungeon operators, including noble households."

Osbert raised his eyebrows.

"You would accept restrictions that also applied to the Guild?"

"If they’re justified and applied fairly, yes," Sage answered. "But an arbitrary limit imposed only upon the Guild would be difficult to defend as anything other than protection for existing dungeon owners."

Harcourt leaned forward again.

"The Guild’s Dungeon Pass arrangements differ substantially from traditional noble agreements," Harcourt remarked. "Adventurers retain all recovered loot after purchasing entry passes. Doesn’t that create an unfair advantage over owners who rely upon tribute arrangements?"

Sage looked toward him.

"Different commercial terms aren’t automatically unfair, Lord Harcourt," Sage replied. "A noble may negotiate lawful access conditions for a dungeon under his control. The Guild does the same through Dungeon Passes. Adventurers decide which arrangement they prefer."

Osbert considered the answer.

"Then your Charter wouldn’t prohibit nobles from maintaining their existing tribute agreements?" Osbert asked.

"No, Lord Wainwright," Sage answered. "We’re not asking the Crown to force other dungeon owners to adopt our model. We simply want our lawful arrangements recognized without unnecessary interference."

Pembroke examined the relevant section.

"There’s still the matter of dungeon safety," Pembroke observed. "Suppose a Guild-controlled dungeon develops an abnormal threat affecting nearby settlements. Would territorial authorities have the power to demand emergency precautions?"

"Of course," Sage replied. "The Guild would cooperate with lawful emergency measures. But the specific responsibilities should be established clearly, including communication procedures and the authority responsible for coordinating the response."

Richard finally spoke.

"That distinction was also raised during our discussions concerning Marrowford," Richard remarked. "The Kingdom benefits when responsibilities are defined before an emergency rather than disputed afterward."

Several officials nodded.

The meeting continued for another hour as the council examined financial declarations, inspection procedures, and the consequences of violating the proposed Charter.

Boren explained how the Guild could submit periodic financial reports without disclosing unrelated confidential contracts. Lucan addressed the procedures for reviewing territorial disputes, while Sage answered questions concerning the limits of Guild authority.

At one point, Harcourt proposed that repeated violations should permit the Crown to appoint temporary administrators to oversee the Guild.

Sage immediately objected.

"Lord Harcourt, if a particular administrator commits misconduct, the Kingdom can prosecute that individual under the law," Sage stated. "But transferring control of the entire Guild to external appointees would be an extraordinary measure. It shouldn’t become an ordinary administrative penalty."

Ellery considered the issue before speaking.

"Perhaps the appropriate remedy should depend upon the violation," Ellery suggested. "Fines, corrective orders, suspension of specific unlawful activities, or judicial proceedings may be sufficient without interfering with the institution’s entire administration."

Pembroke nodded.

"That would be more consistent with existing legal principles," Pembroke agreed. "The Charter should establish proportionate remedies rather than granting unlimited intervention powers."

As the discussion progressed, Sage began to recognize an important difference between the council’s members.

Some officials genuinely wanted to establish a workable legal framework. Others appeared more interested in preserving the influence of existing institutions. Yet even those who disagreed with him were required to explain their objections through specific legal arguments.

That made the consultation considerably more productive than a simple political confrontation.

Eventually, Pembroke closed the section concerning administrative accountability.

"We’ve identified several provisions requiring revision," Pembroke announced. "However, the discussion has clarified that the Guild isn’t requesting exemption from Westmark’s laws. Its principal concern is preventing lawful oversight from becoming direct control over internal administration."

Sage nodded respectfully.

"That’s correct, Minister."

Richard glanced toward the assembled officials.

"Then I believe today’s consultation has served its purpose," Richard remarked. "The remaining questions can be addressed through the formal legal review."

Before Pembroke could conclude the meeting, an elderly council member seated near the end of the table raised his hand.

Lord Chancellor Alistair Fenwick, one of the Kingdom’s longest-serving legal advisers, had remained largely silent throughout the proceedings. His responsibilities included reviewing matters concerning royal authority and the continuity of legal institutions.

"Your Royal Highness, Minister Pembroke, there’s one question I believe we haven’t adequately considered," Alistair stated as he adjusted the documents before him.

Richard turned toward the elderly Chancellor.

"Please proceed, Lord Chancellor," Richard replied.

Alistair examined Sage’s proposed Charter for several moments.

"We’ve discussed the Guild’s obligations, its independence, and the Crown’s authority to enforce the law," Alistair began. "But a Royal Charter is intended to establish rights that may endure for generations. We must therefore consider what happens when the circumstances under which it was granted no longer exist."

Sage listened attentively.

Alistair raised his gaze toward the Crown Prince before continuing.

"His Majesty King Edmund currently possesses the authority to grant such recognition, but His Majesty will not reign forever. When another monarch eventually ascends the throne, that ruler may hold entirely different opinions concerning independent institutions."

The chamber became noticeably quieter.

The elderly Chancellor placed his hand upon the Charter proposal.

"So I ask you, Guildmaster Sage: are you requesting privileges that exist only at the pleasure of the reigning King, or do you expect the Adventurer Guild’s rights to remain legally valid even after Westmark’s Crown passes to a new monarch?"