Queen Pirouette looked closely at the document in her hands. It was the new charter that her husband, King GarGar had granted to the capital city, Catapolis. She couldn’t believe her eyes. His Majesty was giving the merchants the bestof everything. It gave them the right to summon a parliament comprised of their caste that would regulate taxation. It gave them the right to form gilds. They could even raise funds and organize their own militia. That last point was beyond the pale, as far as she was concerned.

We pay for the war and they profit from it! The Queen thought to herself.