"The shipment was not of silks, but ingots of steel. Intended for crafting purposes. There's enough good steel there to tools and gears necessary for the mining operations about to start. Several new mines are to be opened soon, and from what I hear, the House Wynt has control of at least one. Mining rights aside, the steel would have been also useful in production of a variety of goods, but last time a shipment went missing we tracked it down to a group of rebels fashioning weapons and armor that nobody<em>sells</em>to outlaws, so they had a few captive smiths meant to forge them some armors." He snorted.<br/><br/>"Pretty much like royal guards wearing leather, using steel for soldiers is limited, only the crown is allowed to keep full-plated soldiers, true knights, in a ready army. Some trusted houses are entrusted with chainmails, but wearing a lot of metal is a sign of status sometimes. Its limited, because steel armored foes would be far more dangerous on the mainland than any leather-clad bandits. That's why it worries me a bit." He frowned and shrugged afterwards.<br/><br/>"However, I hope things will be settled soon. My companion seems about ready to hire the short miss' folks for guards on the next trip over though, from the looks of it. If so, we might be outfitting outriders with more steel in exchange. Provided we are given permission for it." He spoke seriously but nod his head.<br/><br/>Emily joined Tehr on the way towards the queen without protests, smiling and waving to the men as she walked besides Tehr then lowering her voice. "I thought I'd end up alone and looking miserable, isolated. I see a bit less fear of that, the people here seem a lot better than some of the images I've gotten from the outside would suggest. Perhaps its just the worst are the loudest as well." She smiled at Tehr a little apologetically.