Chapter 1
Natonito celebrated with the people of the city of Bravia as he prepared to lead the Constitutional Convention of the Bravian people. In the streets there was dancing and singing for the savior of the Bravian people. Natonito was kind and gracious, not fully reveling in the praise of the people, for he knew that the millennial expectations would be sure to fail, leaving the people disenchanted with what would be a gradual rise. After all, the common folk generally seek success before work, and that only happens in the dictionary.
And yet he celebrated, knowing that this was only the beginning of the hard work again. For Natonito was not a small minded man, only thinking about present gain, but also considering the future, seeking ways that he could improve the future of his life and his beloved land. For even if he was vilified by the people he served, he did not seek their flattery or their fair-weather affection, but he loved them despite their fickleness and unreliability.
�Do you like the celebration tonight?� Oen asked, slightly drunk.
�Yes, this is a beautiful night,� Natonito said. �Never has the city looked more beautiful.�
�Why aren�t you drinking? Come and enjoy the celebration, find someone to sleep with if you feel lonely,� Oen said. �You look so serious right now.�
�I am thinking about the future of the Bravian people. I am sorry if I do not appear to be particularly celebratory, because I have to consider what is ahead, part of the burden of leadership,� Natonito said. �Still, it is a wonderful celebration.�
�Well, I guess we should be glad you plan so much,� Oen said. �For your plans bear fruit and have succeeded.�
�At least they have succeeded up to this point,� Natonito said. �I do not know what the future holds. I am not the sole author of my own destiny.�
�You are far too serious, Natonito,� Oen said, slurring his speech a little. �After all, this night was made for parties; you can think tomorrow.�
�There is never a time when someone like me can stop thinking, for thought is essential to everything worthwhile in my life,� Natonito replied. �I could no more stop thinking than I could stop breathing, and the results would be as unpleasant.�
�Well, I�m going back to the punch,� Oen said. �Enjoy yourself thinking, and try to have some fun.�
Natonito walked to a new club that was just being built. �I wonder what is going on here,� he said to himself.
�Welcome to the Bravian Cantina,� the pretty waitress with smoked skin said. �Please pardon our mess, we still are having financial problems.�
�Do you need capital to fix this place up?� Natonito said.
�I will have to talk to the owner, I am just a simple waitress myself. Would you like anything to drink?� the pretty waitress asked.
�Yes,� Natonito said, smiling. �I would like a root beer.�
�Alright,� the waitress replied, grinning flirtatiously at him.
This flirtation lasted the entire evening, as Natonito and the young lady batted eyes and double entendres at each other, seeing if there was any chance for an alliance between the two people. Natonito had certainly never seen a young woman who was as sweet as the waitress, and the waitress realized he was not an ordinary sot looking to get drunk and rut. After a dinner of chicken parmesiain, Natonito was finally able to meet the proprietor of the place.
�Sir,� the owner said. �You say you can help my problem in buidling up this place?�
�Yes, I can. I have heard that you had a problem raising enough money to build this place to your specifications. I happen to be Natonito Albright, Duke of the house of Albright, and I think this could be a wonderfully successful place. How much money do you need for the construction work,� Natonito said.
�I need 50,000 Freznics to complete this building, and I have been unable to raise that amount of money by myself,� the owner said.
�Have you tried asking the banks for financing?� Natonito asked.
�Yes, but all of them want high interest payments,� the owner said.
�There are two ways that one recovers on an investment,� Natonito said. �Either one receives interest in addition to principal, or one becomes part owner and shares in the profits of what the money was invested in. Neither is without risk, but both can bring great profit.�
�Are you trying to say that in order to get a loan I will either have to pay interest or share ownership with someone?� the owner said.
�That is exactly what I am saying. As we have recently been at war, interest rates are a little high at the banks, even my own bank, the Bank of Bravia. If you want to avoid high rates, you will have to be willing to compensate a potential investor with share of this fine restaurant here. Your food is excellent, and your service is quite friendly. I think this would be a restaurant with good chance of attracting good clientele, as it happens to be near the financial and governmental heart of the city,� Natonito said.
�And you would be willing to lend me the capital in exchange for a minority share of this place?� the owner said.
�Absolutely. I�d say this place is worth about 150,000 Freznics once it is done, so I will take a third share of ownership in exchange for my capital,� Natonito said.
�It sounds like a good deal to me,� the owner said.
�Of course, as I know nothing about the restaurant business, I will leave the active running of the business to you. I will make sure my investment is secure, though,� Natonito said with a smile. �When would you like the capital?�
�How about tomorrow, if that is possible?� the owner said.
�Yes, tomorrow will be fine,� Natonito said. �I will be here right after the constitutional convention ends its session.�
�Alright,� the owner said. �Glad you could help out my problem.�
�No problem,� Natonito said. �I am always looking for more ways to make money.�
�A true Bravian,� the owner said as he happily walked away.
�So, that turned out well,� the waitress said to Natonito.
�Yes, it did,� Natonito replied.
�Will you come here often to see me?� the waitress said.
�Of course. If you would like to go out with me as well and enjoy the city, I would like that too,� Natonito said.
�You would be seen in public with a lowly prostitute like me?� the waitress said.
�If you would prefer, you can be my kept woman,� Natonito said.
�I would much rather have that? Have I made that good of an impression on you tonight?� the waitress said.
�Yes, you have. I assume most of the guys who come on to you are not very nice people,� Natonito said.
�You assume correctly,� the waitress said. �So will I see you tomorrow?�
�Yes, you will. Are you under contract to the owner?� Natonito said.
�Yes, he bought me from the pimp. This isn�t quite as degrading as the work I had before,� the waitress said.
�And before I forget, my dear girl, what is your name and how old are you?� Natonito asked.
�My name is Bathsheba, I do not know my last name, as my past is locked up tight inside of me. I am sixteen years old,� the waitress said.
�You are quite a young girl for one so beautiful, Bathsheba, and you have such a lovely name as well. Can I call you by any nickname?� Natonito said with a wide smile.
�You are too kind,� Bathsheba said blushing. �You can call me Betzy if you like.�
�I will only call you that when we are alone,� Natonito said. �I will see you tomorrow, my dear. And I will try to buy out your contract as well as buy a share in the business.�
�I will sleep dreaming of you,� Bathsheba said.
�And I will do the same,� Natonito said, paying the bill, and giving her a passionate kiss on thelips. Afterward, Bathsheba looked at her tip and saw that it was double the bill.
Upon leaving the Bravian Cantina, Natonito ran into Anias Russ and her prisoners. �Anias, you come brining captive tributaries? What news of victory do you bring,� he said.
�I present as a gift to you the city of Russville for the Bravian nation, and here are the Longberts,� Anias said.
�It is difficult to see in the dark here, and they look nothing like the proud family I saw before,� Natonito said.
�They have been humbled by their capture, I hope,� Anias said.
�Well, thank you for your news. Come tomorrow for your reward,� Natonito said smiling to Anias. Turning to the Longberts he said. �By the way, I am sorry that the feud between you and my brother-in-law has been so ugly. I have no hard feelings towards you personally, except for when you tried to capture me and have me tried for treason.�
�Will you do the same to us?� Duke Longbert replied.
�Only if you do something treasonous,� Natonito replied.
�It is time to sleep now,� Anias said. �Today has been exhuasting.�
�I agree. Tomorrow is the first day of the Bravian constitutional convention, so come back then and we can talk more,� Natonito said.
�Were you just in that cantina?� Anias said.
�Yes,� Natonito replied.
�Just asking. Do you have some business there?� Anias said.
�Yes, I do,� Natonito replied. �Both personal and professional.�
�I see,� Anias said. �Well, you like hearty food and friendly service I take it.�
�Absolutely,� Natonito said, smiling.
�Only a whore would work at the place, though,� Duke Longbert said gruffly.
[ Chapter 2 ]
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