A man in blue clothes and a woman in a yellow dress entered the room together, the castle guard flanking them. The man was unremarkable, with the exception of his clothes, and the woman was young. Pretty, if Casser cared for such things. They closed the door, leaving the guards outside. Safe enough, considering Casser was a knight himself, and Bertold an ally of theirs. Lord Robb and Lady Uthain, the royals responsible for the beast.

“My lord, my lady,” he said, standing and bowing to them.

“Sir Casser, please, have a seat.” He took it, the two of them rounding the table to the other side.

“Shall we start with Darstin and Mythel? Or the beasts?” Bertold asked, starting the conversation.

“If I may give my opinion,” Casser said, looking to Lord Robb.

“Please, speak freely,” said Lord Robb.

“Thank you my lord. The issue of Mythel should be discussed first, in my opinion, considering the circumstances,” Casser offered. Darstin, a land of fools it seemed, had declared war on the Uthain kingdom, and with the First Princess and the Queen in Mythel, concern of their safety should take priority.

“Indeed. I’ve received word that they’re pushing through to Mythel’s capital. If they make it there, they’ll have two royal families under siege,” said Robb. A quick offensive, but a bad one. Darstin was serious, but weak. They wouldn’t last long in a straight offensive. Resorting to hit and run tactics or wanton slaughter of the populace would be their best fallback, hitting a little of everything to deplete resources and lower citizen morale.

“Could we send a small force to evacuate them?” Lady Uthain suggested.

“Perhaps. However, if they have sense they’ll evacuate themselves to a hidden location.” Casser replied.

“Would they hide two royal families together?” She asked. They wouldn’t, except in extreme emergencies. Too dangerous to keep them together.

“They have already sent word. The Queen and Princess Lora are hidden near the northern border, somewhere in the Rudduck forest,” Lord Robb said. “They should be safe for the time being, but my brother and I would much prefer them on our soil.”

“Could ya go, Casser?” Bertold asked.

“I would need more men, at a minimum another Domicus to work with and a few riders.”

“Done,” Lord Robb said.

“I will ride when needed, my lord.”

“Now then, what of Nalmet and his pets?” asked Bertold. Always quick to make it about his investments. There was no tact to be had with him.

“Is there a reason we should not kill them?” Robb asked bluntly. It seemed he lacked tact, himself.

Casser sighed as they looked to one another for an answer, then to him when none came. They must have seen it on his face. The reluctance. “It would take a lot of men that would be best used defending the border and the fields.”

“Do you think them not a threat, sir? After all they have done?”

“Oh, they are a threat, my lord. But only we make them one.”

Lord Robb looked at him quizzically. “Could you explain, sir?”

Lady Uthain interjected in his place. “They are intelligent, uncle. And not entirely violent, considering their actions in Lorwood.”

“What would ya suggest, my lady?” asked Bertold.

“Make use of them. They are a powerful race, but yet lack numbers. Resources. I say make them a deal, food in exchange for fighting Darstin’s army.”

“Do they have enough forces?”

“Just one well fed one could kill a dozen men, maybe two, if given the right weapon. If they are taught, given armor, I fear to imagine,” Casser replied. They were powerful beasts. One, malnourished and on the edge of death, had nearly killed him and his men. Two would have finished them off. It was not hard to imagine the carnage they would bring.

“But what of their temperment? Do you think they would turn on us?” A difficult question. With a beast the answer was simple. With humans, not so much. Combine the two…

“I cannot say. I don’t think anyone could, besides the Beastmaster looking after them.” Lord Robb nodded, silent, a hand caressing his chin as he stared off in thought.

After a time, he spoke. “We will send an envoy to communicate with them. What should we send as a peace offering?”

“Meat,” Casser replied. “I have no doubts that they are hefty eaters of meat.”

“Cattle, then. Perhaps a few deer.” He fell to silence again. “Should we arm them?”

“Seems one of them is already armed. A cuirass and a mace, as I recall?” Casser said.

“That would be my doing,” Lady Uthain said.

Casser raised a brow at that, but spoke nothing of it. “Regardless, I believe we should hold it off, for now. At least until we are certain they will agree with our proposal.”

“Then that settles it,” Bertold said.

“Indeed.” Lord Robb stood, Lady Uthain with him. “Good day sir Casser, Bertold. It has been a pleasure speaking with you both. May you have victory in your upcoming endeavors.”

“You as well, my lord.”