The fey woman's demeanor did not slip.  "I thank you for coming, Captain.  I confess, when I conjured the winds to call for aid, I had not expected so many.  But I would have been a fool to call and not be prepaired to pay."<br/><br/>She gestured and a group of servants came forewards baring chests, which they sat down and opened to reveal dozens of glitering bars of silver, five small tight red bags, and five huge white bags.  "All I can spare and still hope to feed my people through the winter.  A talent of silver," a talent was 64 pounds, a hefty sum even in silver, if only one fifth the value of an equal amount of jade, "5 quintals of salt," a quintal was 160lbs, variable in worth, but generaly worth about a half obold of jade, or about a month's wages for a common laborer, "and five pounds of fire dust.  I'm sorry I was not prepared enough to seperate the treasure into individual offers, but I didn't know who or how many would answer.  I am further prepared to offer my continued good will as queen of a city state.  If my hearthstone is retrieved, I'm prepared to negotiate for it's use in return for a continued alliance.  I pray you, diivide the fee amongst yourselves now, rather than come to blows over it later."<br/><br/>Shining Bright's dark eyes flickered momentarily to the gleaming wealth, then shrugged, "I'd come prepared to fight and bleed as a sign of the leopard's good will and the power of Ahlat's blessing, but firedust is too scarce in Harborhead to be simply bartered away like coin.  I request the firedust as our reward, and half in advance for use in the battle.  In return I place no claim on salt or silver.  If any of you use firedust, I am prepared to divide evenly."