The thrill of spinning wheels and cheering crowds was fading. In its place came parchment. Ink. Numbers.
Lots of numbers.
Sharath sat hunched over a slate, surrounded by scrolls, feathers tucked behind his ear, scribbling with the intensity of a field general planning a siege.
Because that's exactly what this was: a siege on inefficiency.
❖ Counting the CostThe first page read:
Trike Mk. IV: Material Breakdown
Oak frame (single unit): 3 silver coins
Metal gears (4): 2.5 silver
Copper for chains: 1.8 silver
Bearings, leather straps, glue: 2.2 silver
Paint, crest stamp (optional): 1 silver—————Total Material Cost: ~10.5 silver coins
Then came:
Labor time (average 5 hours per unit)
Tool wear and tear
Failure rates
Storage and transport
Sharath looked up from the mess.
"If we charge like nobles, only nobles will buy. If we charge like bakers, we can't keep the forge running."
He leaned back. The numbers stared back.
This wasn't about magic or motion anymore.
This was about math.
❖ Who Would Ride?Sharath drew a circle in his notes labeled: Target Riders
He filled it in:
Messengers – Need speed and silence
Market Traders – Carry light loads quickly
Scholars & Couriers – Transport scrolls across cities
Village Stewards – Check on farms faster
Youths & Adventurers – Prestige + fun
He labeled each by:
Income level
Willingness to experiment
Propensity to brag if it works (important)
Surprisingly, the top two audiences weren't nobles—but middle-tier professionals who could afford a small luxury and benefit daily from speed.
❖ Strategy, Not CharityMina argued for bulk production to reduce prices.
Dayo suggested making parts swappable and repair-friendly to save money later.
Thermo, as usual, knocked over the inkwell.
Sharath began outlining a tiered pricing strategy:
Model Features Audience CostBasic Trike No paint, simple chain, wood frame Villages, runners 9 silverCity Glide Reinforced wheels, dampened steering Traders, officials 12.5 silverNoble Rider Custom crest, leather seat, polish Rich fools 20–30 silver
They would sell to the top tier to subsidize the bottom.
"Every noble paying double lets us get two more messengers on wheels," Sharath said.
Even Uncle Aldric (grudgingly) admitted it was clever.
❖ Building the BusinessSharath, with help from Lady Ishvari's steward, sketched the first business model on parchment:
The Turning Circle Co.Motto: "Motion for all."
Workshop Hub: East Wing, Darsha Estate
Regional Sellers: Appointed per region
Maintenance Training: Free with purchase
Parts Supply: Centralized forge
Short-Term Goals:
Produce 30 units/month
Expand to 3 neighboring fiefs
Create training wheel version for children
He stared at the name: Turning Circle.
Fitting. Symbolic.
It wasn't just about gears.
It was about momentum, shared.
❖ Log Entry – Innovation EconomicsTotal Cost (avg): 10.5 silverMinimum Sustainable Price: 11.3 silverIdeal Tiering Strategy: 3 levels
High-Interest Customers: Messengers, Market Vendors, City StewardsSales Plan: Premium model offsets cost of common-use modelsFuture Steps:
Hire accounts keeper
Draft guild-friendly contracts
Set maximum price for public riders
He paused and added:
"An invention isn't done when it works.It's done when anyone can afford it."