"Oh, only mildly unpleasant, I promise.  Certainly no more unpleasant than being forced to couple with a beast like me,"  he joked.<br/><br/>Then his face settled into it's usual state, alert and eager, and he spoke, "There's trouble brewing in Londinium. Not that such isn't the usual course of events, I'm sure.  However my family has always been loyal to the queen, and I fear that there are gears turning, a great machination, to usurp her authority.  I sense for example, that the church of the one god would like to have more power, possibly even control over the monarchy the way it does in Italia.  I also think that the church has it's allies, and they are going to be moving against anyone they perceive as loyal to the queen.  All of the available guards and mercenaries in Londinium have been claimed.  I have but one working for me."<br/><br/>He paused for a moment, remembering where it was that he'd met Tera, "You know her of course, your friend Tera, as when I met her she was actually in your employ for the hunt."<br/><br/>He put a hand on Emily's knee.  That hunt had been good, it had been when he met Emily at first as well.  "But that leaves me in a very poor position.  I need more security in my house than one elven woman can provide, especially since I am leaving my current home and moving to Hewthorne Hall, which was recently granted to House Wynt.  Now, my family has very few servants as they've been withdrawn from society for over twenty five years now.  The few trained warriors that our family has, I dare not request.  My mother and my homeland has had recent problems with bandits and I'd not desire to leave my mother, the mistress of our family, unprotected.  So I need a few guards and possibly trained services."<br/><br/>Here he came to the crux of what he was planning, "So what I'm proposing is an arrangement that will be beneficial to both of our houses.  I'm sure that there are several members of your house, or maybe not even of your house, but maybe just your people, that would enjoy a job that included room and board in Londinium.  If the person is a blooded member of house Ravos, of course there's standing to consider.  Even a fourth cousin might consider maid duties or being a guard beneath him or her, but it could be looked at as a way to have a...."<br/><br/>Tehr paused and twirled his hand in the air as if searching for the word, but in reality he was giving Emily a chance to absorb and maybe even think of people that would fit.  "...a sort of cultural exchange of sorts?  After all, House Wynt may not be as wealthy as other houses, but we are quite old.  Having a blooded member of Ravos living in Hewthorne Hall with my house would practically lend legitimacy and support to House Ravos.  It's also a clear indication of our mutual support of each other.  Both of our houses would present a unified front, and that would benefit both of our houses."<br/><br/>He smiled, "And to sweeten the pot, I can even offer you one other thing.  If you can help me with this, I can offer you the services of a trained Bard.   Daus Hlaford, a half elf who's been in my families employ since literally his birth, is going to be coming to Londinium after my return.  For personal reasons that have much to do with his cousin and my friend Angelique, I don't wish him to bed down under my own roof.  However the services of a trained bard are obvious and undeniable to anyone playing the game of politics."<br/><br/>Tehr paused again and then said, "If you can help me, and want to find a bedroom for him in house Ravos's compound, then of course he would be indebted to you as well.  A valuable tool to have and use if you're interested."