Michelle
"We should strive towards that goal regardless." *He concluded, keeping his motivations as visible as ever. It would not do to have his drive to eradicate the lawbreakers and criminals of the world questioned by his allies, and playing into her zeal was always a good option.* "Even if it may be unattainable, the journey is necessary - and we shall have our day in the end, I suppose. All possible outcomes will happen, given enough time. Eventually, our efforts will bear fruit, whether it be in this time or far into the future. But one day, good dreams will come true, should we not abandon them." 

*It was a bit idealistic for a statement of fact, he supposed, but there was a need to believe in the ability to be better - to do better - that gave him a will to succeed. One could not strive for something they truly considered impossible, as the effort would be wasted. Goals should be within reach, and the belief that one **Could** Reach the goal often led to progress faster than being cynical. And the last thing he needed was more cynicism, considering his particular struggles in controlling himself. That needed to be possible - the sense of restraint had to be real, and his destiny **Had** To be his own. No other outcome mattered.*

"Don't call them wolves, your Highness." *The reply came from his mouth more firmly than he had anticipated, but such was the solidity and force of the statement that he could not help but stamp it into reality with weight behind it.* "That would be giving them too much credit. They may call themselves whatever they like, but in the end, we are all people, and none of us are any more special than the other. Mystifying them as wolves or bears or dragons is more than they are due, and makes them seem much farther away from us than they really are. They are fallible, and can certainly be the prey in any situation. It is a disservice to us if we name them the predators."

_ _
*The glint in his murky eye revealed a hardened determination to project strength, stand, and face down those who wished to make the allies of Alynthi intimidated. No such concession would ever be given in word or deed to those that thought them weak because they exercised restraint and valued life. And speaking of exercising restraint and valuing life, there was a dangerous edge to Delsandra's perception of those two concepts. It was far closer to that of Gantrick or Lazaroth than he liked.*

"I doubt it will happen." *Many things had gone poorly for any contract struck in the past - not only because of the inconsistent succession system of Dazvaz, but because its rulers tended to be duplicitous, crafty, and entirely driven by strength and wealth.* "And as for conquest, well - What would I have to gain from conquering Dazvaz? There are very little areas of arable land or natural resources to be found in its territory. Our borders, as they are now, are large enough. Vedian is a good source of agriculture, the Greenheart a source of lumber, Lerwick provides many mines. We have allies that trade for what we lack in peace. I only hope to maintain what we have, and keep the peace that the king has governed over."

"I cannot..." *He sighed, tapping his gauntleted fingers against his palm one after the other.* "I cannot say, however, that it has not crossed my mind. Certainly, it is not a good idea, and so it crossed its way back out of my mind as soon as it entered."
John
"I suppose you are right. At the end of the day, they are but mortal dark elves, people with lives to live. Regardless, most wolves don't take kindly to a leash 'round their neck. Anything and anyone when cornered, predator *Or* Prey, is just as dangerous as the other." It was obvious what Delsandra was hinting to; the treaty between Alynthi and Lazaroth. It prevented quite a bit, and should that treaty be broken it would easily be grounds for war. It was not the first time Alynthi had offered freedom to another kingdom or nation. Dasvaz was proof enough of that. At least Dasvaz didn't seem to be as collected or well put together like Lazaroth. A war on two fronts wouldn't be a great experience for Alynthi, or its allies at all. Lazaroth had Gantrick, and while Alynthi had both Thyseer and Findara, the war would be long and terrible.

"You'd gain the mines they have at their disposal, and sure you have the mines of Lerwick but I can gurantee they will run dry at one point or another. Additionally, you'd be putting an end to the countless raids your lands and mine have been victim to; Alynthi more so than Thyseer, and you know that your highness. Umras, from what I've heard from you, seems like he wanted peace. Perhaps it could even be achieved through nothing more than a peaceful conversation." Delsandra's eyes shimmered with possibilities. Should Alynthi gain control over Dasvaz, perhaps peace would reign in the south west once more. "There's also always the possibility that Gantrick takes that opportunity first." Shrugging at her own thoughts, Delsandra's fiery eyes remained in Astalios's. Whether he believed her words to make sense or not, her opinion was obvious.

_ _
Dasvaz should no longer be its own entity.

"No matter. Thunder Fest is not meant to be a political event, but a celebration, right? I'd rather not bore you with such talk." Delsandra's eyes became brighter, a happy smile appearing on her face. Finally, she grabbed herself a second glass of wine. The first had sat long enough, she felt ready for another. Nabbing one from a passing servant with a curt nod in thanks, Delsandra took a sip from the blood red liquid within, before returning her gaze to the prince. "I am glad to know I'll hopefully see you at Sorevelle."
Michelle
"You are quite right in that *People* Do not care for leashes around their necks. I wonder whether they have ever considered that fact in Lazaroth - that when they squealed and struggled against our expectations, they were placing that same noose back around the necks of their people. They disgust me, and they *Should* Disgust you as well. For that matter, they may complain all they like about having to treat their citizens with respect for scarcely a few centuries before immediately violating them." *At this point, he was quite finished hearing what Delsandra had to say. She had immediately ignored the point about not calling them wolves, continued to treat them with more respect than deserved, and implied that he did not quite know the danger he was dealing with. Of course, they had allies, but the quality is such allies was much different. Gantrick's poor climate, low population, and scarcity of resources provided little aid in wartime, while Thyseer and Findara were plentiful each, with aid to spare to the others should one require it. It was a prime example of just why he hated balls with a passion. People versed in the art of passive aggression invariably attended.*

"When did I ever say he wanted peace, Your Highness?" *His voice was cold and clear, sharp as a razor's edge as he fixed her with a glare that seemed to make those muddy eyes churn with a hidden storm.* "And furthermore, you assume that I am willing to kill every orc I come across. Those mines are not worth the lives of the men I command, and my greed is not such that I should want gold more than I desire justice. If I were to erase Dazvaz, what would I end up governing? Still a desert wasteland full of orcs that raid the next place within my kingdom. Gantrick's troop deployment is as slow as molasses, and before they have a force large enough to hold territory, and not simply go about killing, we should know rather instantly. Not to mention, these issues will not disappear for Gantrick."

_ _
*The words were laid out flatly one after the other, each an icy statement of fact, a truth that was evident to him, given a certain set of moral values. Of course, he was no longer sure that Delsandra shared them, and in fact, was beginning to suspect that her proposed solution to the problem of Dazvaz being full of orc raiders would be to exterminate the orcs root and stem, herd them into pens like cattle and kill them all systematically. It was a terrible sign for the future of Thyseer, like the blade of an axe hanging over the head of justice.

And she did it all with such a self-satisfied smile that his skin crawled, the sickness before him on display as he wondered whether the Thyseeri people might be better off with her head on a pike than squarely attached to her shoulders. She seemed awfully willing to start wars for someone who had fought in precisely none.*

"Yes." *He slowly nodded.* "A time of celebration, not of such *Boring* Talk." *Perhaps the tone of his voice was a bit too bitingly cold, but he could not help a little bitterness after the subject matter. It was as if he was watching someone place their hand into a fire willingly.* "I intend to experience Sorelvelle fully, Your Highness, as I am sure it will be entertaining and heartwarming to watch."
John
"I believe you mistake me calling the Lazarothians 'wolves' for something that resembles respect. I do not respect them, and yes they do disgust me. Do you not see a beast as less than a man, Prince Dilitrios?" The shift in the man's tone did come as a slight surprise to Delsandra, but it was obvious he misunderstood her. There was no respect in her words, nor her tone. The princess calling them wolves was something she saw as an insult, and the fact that they themselves went by such a name only solidified her thoughts. "The tighter that leash becomes, the more their people suffer, yes. If they wish to be called beasts and subsequently act like beasts, why not grant them the name they so wish for? That does not however mean we should not grant them the respect any predator, rabid or sick it may be, deserves. I've known you to be a man who even against the toughest or disgusting of foes knows respect has its place, on the battlefield of blade and fire, and on the battlefield of words and tongue."

Yes, Delsandra had wished to move their conversation on from politics, but it was obvious the prince's words reeled her right back in. The last thing she wished to do was make any enemy out of the future king of her strongest allied kingdom, especially given she was next in line to rule her own as well. "Tell me, Prince Dilitrios, if Lord Olagwyen approached you right now, would you spit in his face and say what you've said to me? That his kingdom and people are disgusting and deserve the leash you've kept tied around their neck? Or would you greet him with a hello like you did me and Chieftain Umras? Offer a kind conversation even?" Delsandra's words rang true enough. She knew the last thing Astalios wanted was a war with the dark elves, for the great bears of the north would be at their side. Perhaps not out of fear, but out of the desire to avoid conflict.

_ _
Though on the other hand who knew? *Perhaps the prince loved the thrill of war.*

"I do not mean to come off as rude, your highness. Nor do I wish to make an enemy of our oldest ally. I am simply thinking for the better of Lucidien, as I'm sure you do as well." Taking another drink of her wine, the discussion switching to Dasvaz seemed to cause the princess to shake her head ever so slightly. "Prince Dilitrios, does Chief Umras's presence here not seem proof enough he wishes for peace? This has never happened, at least not to my knowledge; a Dasvaz chieftain arriving in another kingdom without a warband in to, wishing nothing more than to share wine and chat with nobility. Does that not strike you as some semblance of peace, your highness?" Delsandra stared into the prince's eyes for quite some time, her brow furrowed into one of deep thought and slight confusion. Had her words really been misunderstood *That* Much?
Michelle
"Men call themselves beasts believing that it may garner them respect. Why should we do them that courtesy?" *The hissing of breath through his teeth was a symptom of the exhalation of a long-held sigh that he had not realized he was holding in. Perhaps he had misunderstood some of that sentiment she had professed, and she had certainly misunderstood what he meant by respect.*

"I believe that I was unclear as to what I believe respect is. *Caution* Has its place in the battlefield, as well as the decency to follow rules and treaties, as otherwise we might devolve into unrestrained murderers." *His speech was slow and careful, the words coming one after the other like bricks building a small foundation.* "Respect is somewhat different - with it comes a modicum of admiration, and a desire to share a trait or two with the respected body. I respect you enough to give you my honest thoughts, and not conceal them behind the veneer of politics."

"What I *Said* About Lazaroth was meant to point out a hypocrisy, not to keep any leash around their necks. The bare minimum for a country is not to turn into an extermination camp. They have since broken the unspoken agreement not to keep slaves, but I cannot press them there. That is no leash. My words were to illuminate the issue in on one hand decrying our actions while on the other enslaving their citizens, not to suggest that they be kept under the thumb of another nation in perpetuity. They have no leg to stand on if they choose to protest that as things are." 

"Likewise, Your Highness, you have suggested that I conquer Dazvaz without Chief Umras present." *His gaze fixed on her once more, traveling down to that wineglass of hers and back up to her face.* "I am to take this as a sign of trust, am I not? And not a sign that you would willingly spit in the face of the dragonborn just as I have chosen to be cordial with him and Olagwyen?"

_ _
"I... Do not wish to be rude either, Delsandra." *He broke the facade of proper wording for a moment, using her name instead of a title, a more familiar manner of speech than the usual formalities.* "I've been dealing with the Lazaroth court for a good amount of time now, and they drive me insane. It's as if they have no reference frame for what constitutes freedom. I don't know quite how to get through to them. Still, being rude to them would cost lives, while sharing my thoughts with an ally does not."

"And as for Umras, well, I would hesitate to say that his presence here constitutes peace. It constitutes a foray into politics, yes, but to what end? It may simply be that he is smarter than the past generations of Dazvaz chieftains, who chose not to know the enemies they were fighting against. Information is half the battle, and if the new chieftain is finally fighting the war of intelligence, this may be a more concerning development than many of us are ready for. It is good to be cautious in any case." *Perhaps he had overreacted. It felt worse than simply being on the battlefield to play words with politicians and court ladies.*