"Does that put your mind at ease, High Lord Dirar? Enough to embrace your role as the last High Lord of the Southern Steppe and take your place among the lords of the Bloodroot Empire?"
Most of the great hall was still struggling to come to grips with the sudden announcement that the empire would encompass Blackwell and DuCoumont counties when Ashlynn asked her question.
For those who feared the Eldritch would overwhelm the humans of the Verdant Hills, the news that they'd be joined by one of the wealthiest counties of the Kingdom of Gaal along with one of the most influential was a welcome relief.
For others, like Lady Brighde, it was a ringing alarm bell. Ashlynn had announced her intention to negotiate for peace with Keating, but if she intended to devour one of Keating's three counties in the process… Brighde didn't have to think very hard to guess how her cousin, Duke Argidir Keating, would react.
