Diplomatic Solution

Diplomatic Resolution

"Landen Gallop! Don't forget, I was the one who agreed to let your caravans come to Girislav to do business, and it was my Knight Order protecting them in the forest. If you think none of that is necessary, then we'll just wait and see!"

In the communications room, Landen looked at the blustering, hollow-at-the-core Count Larzan. He wanted to laugh, but did not dare. "My Lord Count, please allow me to state three reasons. If, after I finish, you still feel that wolf is a threat to you, then I will make certain she does not appear in the forest."

Larzan breathed heavily, held himself in for a long while, then spat out one word. "Speak!"

"First, to the west of your territory is Frost-Wolf Forest, and west of Frost-Wolf Forest is the Gallop Plains. The Gallop Plains are already part of the Human Empire now. If the entire forest is now incorporated into Girislav as well, then where, exactly, is the border for you, a frontier-development count?

"Dragon White-Owl Territory to the south? Gallop Territory to the west? Or the polar lands to the north? Without your status as a developing frontier noble, your army would have to be cut by at least one-third, and your taxes would increase by forty percent. Are you prepared for that?"

Landen's first reason struck straight at the part Larzan cared about most.

"Second, if His Majesty promised to hand the whole of Frost-Wolf Forest to you—of course, I do think that's very possible—then why did he send his own sixth son to the westernmost barony? And why, when the attack first began, was it the kingdom's Knight Order that was deployed?"

Larzan no longer spoke. He blinked, indicating for Landen to continue.

"So, leaving Frost-Wolf Forest in a state