Tiffany's Troubles

Roy looked out through the captain's room window at the fog-shrouded deck.

He saw several elves leaning against the reinforcing braces around the deck masts and casually asked Rodehart, "Why are there so many elves packed onto this ship? What about the other ship? Is it this crowded too?"

Rodehart walked over from behind him, stood by the window, and said awkwardly, "The other ship is carrying more than eight hundred refugees rescued from the island."

Roy frowned and asked, "That ship... is smaller than this one?"

Rodehart shook his head repeatedly and explained, "Uh, no. Besides the rescued elves, that ship also has Imperials, orcs, and lizardfolk. Everyone is unwilling to share cabins..."

Roy cut him off irritably. "So you crammed all the elves onto one ship?"

Rodehart said, "Actually, more than half the people on that ship are elves too. Of the slaves rescued from the town this time, elves and the Naga Sea Clan were the most numerous..."

Roy lowered his head in thought, then said to Rodehart:

"If they don't want to squeeze into the same cabin, send them onto the deck to pitch tents.

In any case, the elves get priority access to the cabins.

Let the refugees of other races squeeze into whatever cabins remain.

Those who can't fit or refuse to squeeze in can stay on deck. If... they don't even want to endure the sea breeze, then ask them to return to the island and live whatever life they want.

Don't make our own people suffer over everything.

What good does preferential treatment for outsiders do?

Just because they can say a few words in some foreign language you don't understand, you have to treat them specially?

In the end, they'll pat their asses and leave. Never mind whether they'll appreciate it;