Sara had cut it pretty close to Kurt's wedding only serving the night before the day before. So he hadn't had any time to talk to anyone who had come back. Sara, Layla, Talia, and Kurt would talk about what happened as it would be important.

Kurt's parents had decided not to sell yet and had worked out an arrangement with a neighboring farming company to sublet the land to them, generally renting it for a bit more than the taxes would cost. He had worked out a similar pasture arrangement for Sara's parents.

They didn't want to completely let go or just have a backup option.

The additional people in the form of refugees would help them start out farming to something more real.

Various plows would have to be made, and some of the land's own creatures would have to be specially outfitted. But the wedding was taking a bit of precedence.

However the pressing concept was Hamlet, and Sara hosted the meeting this time. Not everything needed to be in the Pilar. She also needs to catch up on the activities in the Dutchery in her absence.

"So when did they say that?" said Layla.

"They are obviously not very happy about how everything has been working out. And with what we have done it is obvious that the normal arrangement might not be feasible."

"You're not really saying all that much," said Kurt. "Was our offer of wyverns rejected?"

"Not entirely," said Sara.

"So what's the issue?"

"Well, they want it to be a lot more restrictive."

"What do you mean?"

"We would be required to only come to territories with the explicit invitation of the local lord. And would have to be guided there and back."

"They are basically asking for bribes," said Layla.

"Yes, it would appear so, and it's unlikely the local lords would accept traversal without some sort of kickback. And that in addition to the crown's own. We would also have to have every non-human we send over, individually approved."

"Just great. They are going to try and grind as much out of this deal as they can."

"Unless…," said Sara.

"Unless?" said Layla.

"There was a lot of talk of one of our nobles marrying this lord or lady, then that person would have a special place or something. Which is why there were a lot of volunteers as it would instantly increase any of the lord's positions."

"You realize that basically means you?" said Kurt.

"Not necessarily, there is Betsy. I heard."

Layla giggled, "I thought that's what you wanted, I remember when I first met you…"

Countess Talia was also smiling ear to ear. Having explained her situation when they met there were now several similarities to the situation Sara was currently in. She grabbed Kurt's arm, "Make sure you pick a good one."

"Stop, I get it. Careful what you wish for and all that."

"Betsy might actually be easier," said Kurt, "she has a particular type. One we might easily find from their lot. And I sort of promised you," looking at Layla, "would make her an official Baroness." Layla nodded back smiling.

"Still," said Sara, "I can't believe how out in the open that stuff is to them. Selling people off."

"Well, I was thinking we needed a few more people in those types of positions."

"We are lacking in some officers now," said Layla, "with the territory on the other continent, I swear when we win this war we are going to get everyone to agree on one of those names."

"It's surprisingly a huge point of contention," said Talia. "There are like five main ones. Like whole deals have been called off because of the word to be used in the deal. I feel like everyone wants theirs for some pride issue."

"That's stupid," said Kurt.

"What isn't in politics? How long did it take you guys?" said Talia. Kurt looked away, longer than he should have.

"So we would be heavily constricted and forced to pay perhaps an absurd fee in places. And have to negotiate individually with each lord," said Layla.

"Yeah," said Sara. "Do you have anyone in mind to promote?"

"No," said Kurt, "what about you?"

"I mean the obvious choice would be Steve and Tyler. But I don't think they are fit for it."

"And interspecies?" said Layla

"You mean like marrying someone to Travis or Boris?"

"Well not to a goblin, their mating rituals are…strange. And I doubt we could get one of the minotaurs. But your friend Jacob seems fond of a particular elf girl, and there is also Jacob himself. But there are various elves I would think satisfied, Lord Victor is without a mate, though he is a widower. Master Trenton, as well as Peter."

"See," said Sara, "it is not just coupling, it is about producing an heir."

"Ohh," said Layla.

"And we don't know if that is possible or if that heir would be sterile, which can happen."

"Jacob seems willing to volunteer for that test."

"Test?" said Kurt.

"Well I don't know, why are you all so weird about mating everything does it. Except you know fae."

"Betsy is going to hate this," said Kurt. "But I have a feeling Carl already loves it."

"Yeah, I'm sure Carl sees this as something he can exploit," said Sara, "if anything right now we need connections."

"It could be worse," said Layla. "We could have been expelled. We do have one thing to offer."

"And what's that?"

"Nelson's Guardianship."

"Nelson?" said Kurt.

"He's the one still at Bright Flame," said Layla. "This should be considered basically a marriage, not in the mating way but of joining two clans."

"Isn't that a lot harder to facilitate?"

"I guess," said Layla. "I would say Jessica but I doubt she's do it."

"I thought Maliki," said Sara.

"It's a bit different for an apostle like that, the blessing would have been done through the Kitsune. But it's really irrelevant to the issue."

"Well," said Sara, "that may give us options, I think we would have to negotiate that per lord now though, and find one that we convince is equivalent."

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