*Darien's turn to wake up, and he mutteras harshly to Herve to "Keep yer hands off me!" before addressing Raeburn. Darien allows himself to fall into his own little-used native burr, and speaks: "Mae gurt, bonny man, I can see yer prollum. But I too see a remedy. The Knights're a rich clahn, indeed, with many valuable commodities. If ye'll agree to a contrahct with Lonsdale, I can guarantee trade with the Knights." *Finding it hard to continue thus, Darien phases back into a more understandable tongue*:

"This year and next year, Lord Raeburn, we must ask you to take only one quarter of the windfalls from the tree. Turn over any extras to Lord Lonsdale. We, the Frost Knights, will pay double for your fruits alone, guaranteeing that you recieve an equal amount of money for the apples that you usually do. In the years after this, we ask that you collect only 40% of the apples, as legally the tree is Lonsdale's property, though on your grounds. Therefore, the income from the apples will decrease, but less-so than if you or he lost the tree entirely. i must put a clause into this agreement however, which I fear Lonsdale may not accept. If either party, or employees of either party, are found stealing from the tree, having not been bribed to do so by an outside party, the tree will become completely the property of the other, the one who was not caught stealing.

Do you find this agreeable?"
*Darien begins tallying up how how he's cost the Frost Knights, and grimaces. It'll have to come out of his personal coffers, he realizes, and a vein in his neck begins to throb.*
Darien@frostknights.com


It is the enemy you underestimate who kills you.