Tehr nodded, "Well, thank you for that."  He smiled at Angelique to let her know how much she was truly appreciated.  She was too, Tehr didn't know how he could run this house without her.  Her initiative, her drive, was one of the reasons she was so free to make choices.  In a different world, one where station, rank, and nobility didn't matter.  One where odd whisperes and gossip wouldn't ruin entire families fortunes.  A world where such a fantasy was possible, Tehr would have taken Angelique as his wife.  There was no doubt in his mind that he did love her, in a way.  Not the burning desire of love that he thought he needed to feel, but in a comfortable, best friend, trusted confident type of way.  He'd never want to hurt her.<br/><br/>"I'll draft a letter inviting ir'Dale to spend the night here and offering to find him a female companion of willing attitude and lose morality.  I doubt it would be too much money, and I already know of the houses where such women can be hired."  He smiled at Angelique, "By reputation only of course."<br/><br/>He took her hand and kissed the back of it, "Truly you're a wonderful friend and servant and none of my needs have gone wanting."  He wagged his eyebrows at her with a smile.<br/><br/>He settled back into his chair and picked his coffee back up taking a sip.  "But to the other matter, the ports," he looked at the map.  "Forgive me, I want to understand this though.  Explain it again.  Saari controls ports here?"  He pointed at the marks on the south and east shores.  "While house Remes controls these.  But house Dale, controls these, and most importantly, these three here?"  He pointed at the three ports closest to the city.<br/><br/>"But if I understand you correctly, these ports are only under their control by the grace of the queen and a ten year contract?  Now the contract is about to come due, and what... Saari and Remes haven't been invited to the ball where house Dale will make a bid to renew their contract?"<br/>