Ragnar had chosen this very day to test the new advisors Leofric had carefully selected from the brightest minds across the Midlands. Ragnar intended to discover which of these men possessed the spark of true genius.
"Gentlemen," Ragnar began, "three months ago I sent each of you across the realm to walk the land, to count every grain of coal, to measure every forest, and to see with your own eyes the problems that winter will soon bring. Since then I have waited. Now speak. What troubles our empire most?"
The first advisor, a lean scholar from the coal fields of Leicester named Aldric, rose slowly and bowed before delivering his report.
