He pulled the parchment back, replacing it with another. This one showed a map of territories Soren didn't recognize, marked with colored boundaries and tiny notations.
"These are the hunting grounds of House Karvath," Ayren explained. "Rich in timber, poor in defensibility. Their eastern border touches Velrane lands."
His finger traced a winding line that presumably represented a river.
"They've offered us access to their forests in exchange for military protection."
Soren studied the map, noting the sparse settlements, the expansive woodlands, the exposed position relative to what must be mountainous regions to the north. "It seems... beneficial," he ventured. "We gain resources, they gain security."
"Indeed," Ayren agreed smoothly. "And their troops would bolster our northern garrisons, freeing our own soldiers for more pressing concerns elsewhere."
