or profession.Rohyrsmiled humorlessly. Do you understand what liege homage entails?Its far more than simple fealty. Are you prepared to swearyourselves to the service of the Crown, even to your children andgrandchildren?TheElders exchanged pained glances. But they looked with resignation atDael and he stoutly declared, We are prepared.Beforeany could respond, Imcael spoke none too patiently, his northernaccent becoming more pronounced as his irritation mounted. Butwhat use have you for a backwater town, Nephew? What in heyascan they possibly offer that is worth our time and trouble? Verily,all they have in significant quantities are trinkets. And whilstthoseareadmittedly pretty enough, not all the jewel smiths of Ylandre comefrom this town. Why, the bazaars and shops of Rikara offer anabundance of baubles from all over the land!Unusedto such open contempt, the Elders shifted uneasily in their seats.Rohyr raised a hand to stay his uncles diatribe.Butfew are as beauteous as what the folk of this town create, YovanSeydon interjected. He pointedly stared at Imcael. As you wellknow, Imcael, since yourmost prized trinkets come from Tal Ereq.Theyoung lords hid their smiles behind their hands while the Eldersgawked at the counsellor. A red-faced Imcael glowered at him.Whencemy property hails has no bearing on whether this town meritsprotectorate status or not, Yovan, he growled. And Ill thankyou not to discuss personal matters in the presence of strangers!Swallowinghis mirth, Rohyr said, Nonetheless, I laud your taste, Uncle. TalEreq is renowned for its jewel craft and deservedly so. He glancedat the Elders, then swept a keen gaze over the others. Alone, thistown isnt much of a prize. Apart from Lord Imcaels arguments,it is quite far from the main trade routes and any major hub ofcommerce and industry or center of education and culture.Helooked at Keosqe Deilen for confirmation and received a nod ofassent. Its a problem Tal Ereq has in common with itsneighbors, Keosqe elaborated. This part of Velarus isunderpopulated and underdeveloped. Furthermore, the towns andvillages are fairly distant from each other and the citizens keep tothemselves for the most part. They are insular folk, these easternVelarusians.Yeta score of Tal Ereqs neighbors have made the same request of us,Rohyr pointed out. Put their populations together and theirnumbers would equal that of a city-state. Should more follow, theycould swell to the size of a fief.Whichwould warrant the installation of a full-fledged regionalconstabulary in lieu of a border outpost, Keosqe said.Andencourage commerce with the fiefs should they pool their resourcesand cooperate in the distribution of their goods and produce abroad,Gilmael added.Finally,consider the benefits of having a united populace on our easternfront, Yovan quietly finished. Cattanias belligerence wouldbe significantly reduced. Until now theyve depended on theisolation of this regions communities from each other to hinderany concerted resistance against their incursions. Prevention isalways more desirable than retaliation. When foreign aggression ischecked at the borders, we need not worry about possible attacks onthe fiefs and Crown lands farther within or bother to expend effortsin rebuilding diplomatic ties with chastened would-be conquerors.Ithink that sums up the benefits of taking this town into the fold,Rohyr said. Are there any other objections? When none wasvoiced even by a scowling Imcael,