"Of course, of course," he says, gesturing to the table, for Draiss to take a seat, before ringing a bell for service, servers arriving with their meal a couple of minutes later, departing almost as quickly. "Things could always be better. Drellin's Ferry has certainly encouraged more trade in the region, which is useful, and we've expanded the farmlands, so there are far more people living in the Vale than ever before. Brindol has shrunk a fair bit, though, in the last decade, but a lot of our poorest folk have found work, so I suppose it's for the better." "The children have been quite a handful. The oldest two have finally left home, off on their apprenticeships, but the youngest is still here, stirring up trouble occasionally. He's quite bookish, so I suspect he might become a mage, eventually, though there isn't really a mage's guild, here, any longer, since Immastrel passed away. There's a few younger fellows, but for the most part, no one of any real prestige has settled here." "Aside from Katrina, of course... she's been incredible, and every year, there's always a huge crowd to watch the auditions. I suspect they'll make it into a full-fledged festival, next year."