That conversation eventually led nowhere. Afterward, Simon didn't bring up the taxation issue again, and Maria didn't ask how he planned to prove himself. It seemed neither of them took it to heart.

But Simon did seek out Pierre, asking him about the construction team, and then asked him to help arrange a meeting with the head of the construction team in Andalusia.

He was planning that if this construction team turned out to be as good as he had said, he would negotiate a big deal with them.

In the County of Valencia, two counties away from Andalusia, a bearded man was drinking with his men in a tavern...