Donlun was an intimidating presence to meet with anyone at the top. It was the center of their arsenal. Kurt was a bit worried about the meeting they were going to. It would be the final step of having a deal with the entire continent. The importance could be ignored.

They were led to a throne room, another power play. Kurt realized these types of meetings could be held in a meeting room where everyone was mostly on equal standing. Throne rooms display the opposite, a misbalance of power.

Layla, Kurt, and Betsy were together at the normal audience position. King Lucas is on his throne and several others are at both his sides. The closest seemed to be adorned in guard uniforms armed with shields and spears but the rest seemed like finely dressed nobles.

"Princess Layla," said Lucas.

"You majesty," she responded and curtsied to the King, Betsy followed and Kurt bowed.

"Welcome to Donlun," said Lucas, "we have much to discuss."

"We do," said Layla.

"I think we should get some of the problems out of the way first," said Lucas.

"This has to do with the spy in my camp then?"

"Yes, this soldier Derek," said Lucas, "you claim he was part of the shadow clan."

"Lord Kurt saw him as a shadow with his own eyes, as well as Countess Talia of the Valentine Clan who I remind you was the one who acted."

"In your kingdom."

"I told your advisors that the soldiers would be held accountable for their crimes. We never hid that we were allies with the Valentines, Countess Talia is Lord Kurt's fiancée. If I had a spy in your Kingdom I assume he would be put to death as well."

"The sad reality," said Betsy, "is all nations and clans spy on each other."

"This is true, Hamlet does spy on us, we spy on them as well as everyone," said Lucas, "the open secret of diplomacy."

"To us," said Layla, "it questions if you ally with the shadow clan."

"We deal with all powers."

"To spy on us? That was not the arrangement we made with your advisors."

"From our reports," said Lucas, "it is possible Derek was influenced individually. I think it's best if we consider the matter resolved with his death. An unfortunate single mishap."

"I agree," said Kurt.

"I was informed you had some trouble," said Lucas to Kurt.

"You mean Kevin, no I wouldn't say that. In fact, the opposite I would commend him for professionalism. It's not every day a strange person walks armed through your cities. I feel I was more at fault than anything, he simply couldn't have been aware of my status. And I was treated well during."

"That's good to hear," said Lucas.

"Are there any more troubles to discuss?" said Layla.

"Not to my knowledge."

"So trade?" said Layla.

"If I may," said one of the men, "your majesty." Lucas waved his hand in approval. "We are a little concerned about what you plan to do with the metal from us. We would prefer you buy armaments outright. Or make some arrangements."

This was definitely the guilds talking through Kurt. Informed enough to realize that what they were actually saying is the guilds wouldn't allow them to be cut out of the equation. They must have held enough power over the king to demand these types of things.

"Kurt," said Betsy, "may I?" Kurt nodded.

"We can drop the pretenses," said Betsy, "the guilds are worried they won't be involved. And they won't allow that type of deal."

"If you must say it so crudely," said the man.

"So honestly you mean?," said Betsy, "And your fears are warranted. We can produce if we so choose. I won't say it will be of the same quality but the quality of the sword that kills you is not always the most important. It would take a lot of investment and time but you have more of both."

"So what are you saying?"

"That we don't make weapons with metal," said Betsy smiling.

"What do you mean?"

"Hinges, nails, barrel hoops, pots, pans, spoons" said Betsy, "we take the basic things that can be molded. And the guilds still keep their skills."

"How can you ensure that?"

"We would have inspections if you wish. Though metal we mine we can use it however."

"But why?"

"Well, most of the metal will be used to make rails anyway."

"And what about your rare metals?"

"We can work out a deal considering," said Betsy. "I think that's more about prices and percentages that can move around a bit. I'd prefer to do that more with you on one, and not here as an audience. But if you could imagine a deal like that, I think we can come to a fair agreement."

Betsy had cut them off, and she was right. They actually didn't need skilled blacksmiths, they just needed an amount of them. The reality was that in the end, they had enough blacksmiths to train them to make simple stuff really. And molds are fairly easy. Bringing Betsy was the right decision.

"And" said Betsy, "there is a lot of interest in our healing medicine."

"Yes," said King Lucas, "the effects are confirmed and known."

"We have found that the best way to keep this medicine is in glass containers," said Betsy. This was technically true but that was only because as long as air tight any container would work the difference was negligible beyond that. "We would be willing to allow a glassblower branch in our Kingdom. If we can buy it directly or if we are allowed a bulk pricing agreement."

"Would this increase the production as well?" said Lucas.

Betsy looked at Kurt who said, "drastically."

A different man in the men around Lucas said "The glassblower guild could facilitate that rather quickly."

Betsy's plan was simple, thought Kurt. Politically the guild would need a presence by inviting the weakest part of them that would be fulfilled, and the inspectors would most likely be composed of them. By denying the major guilds the ability to have their main draw not be reproduced by Wellspring. It made everything come together. Kurt could tell by the faces that there was some disagreement between them. Kurt didn't see it all but it seemed it would cause a divide between the clans that could take more advantage than others.

"I believe we have the start of a deal," said Layla. "I believe we can have some negotiators work out the details."

King Lucas agreed and the audience was over.

"Damn Betsy I didn't know," said Kurt.

"Ohh," she said, "having the king there was the best. The heal paste being tied to glassblowers from him will be of great importance."

"It seems you have a good eye for talent," said Layla, "the reactions were completely different from each other. She turned the negotiators against each other with a simple deal."

"Thank you, your majesty," said Betsy, "they thought they set us up but we had better cards to play. Also, they underestimate how many hinges and nails sell since they all sell them. They are cheap but you need a whole lot of them. By focusing our efforts we can undersell them all actually."

"All under the disguise of following the deal."

"Yeah so what if we have to buy some weapons sometimes," said Betsy. "Can't make everything. And it will only be the metal we buy from them; there are other sources. The key is how much the king wants the healing paste. Hopefully, he will encourage the deal mostly as is. It benefits him the most as everything involved for him becomes cheaper."

"The real problem is which guild is dealing with the shadow clan," said Layla.

"That's true," said Betsy, "unfortunately they will have to have some access."

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