Tehr laughed, "It takes a surprising amount to shock me, I assure you Emily."  He put on his most gracious smile, then sat and gestured to the sweet tea he was drinking.  "Can I pour you a cup?  It's quite delicious.  You have a skilled staff."  He'd only sampled one of the treats on the tray, just so he could make the comment he'd just made.   He would have said it even if it was dry and tasteless.  Some things were just said to be polite.<br/><br/>"While this visit is a social one," he said, "I must address one point of business first.  My sources have told me that you're house are comfortable with house Saari.  In fact, when we met it was outside of the tent of House Saari, after I'd rescued their champion, an elven woman named Tera."<br/><br/>He assumed she knew and recalled all this, but he wanted to set the stage anyways.  "The reason I bring this up is that my house is old, very old.  Wynt goes back to the founding of the kingdom, but we aren't very wealthy, and the last thirty years we've had little power in court.   This is something I'm intending to change.  Of course with larger more powerful houses like Dale, it won't be easy.  They won't want to see the house of Wynt rise again.  For if my candle shines brightly, it makes theirs look dimmer.   But I can't do this alone.  I'm in need of allies, people like house Ravos, house Saari, house Ferenhel, and house Raes.  These smaller houses, if bound together in support of a house like Wynt, would all rise in fortune together."<br/><br/>He'd specifically listed all three houses that were negotiating for mineral rights, as well as Ravos.  He was watching her very closely, looking for any sign of recognition or well... anything actually when he said them.  But after a moment he leaned back in his chair.  "Now, I'm not proposing anything right now.  I simply wanted you to know that I, that is to say my house, understands the value, the uniqueness, the power that a house like Ravos has.  While others may think Ravos little better than a merchant family, I know the truth.  I respect your house and wish, at this point, to be nothing more than good friends with you and your house."<br/><br/>He smiled,  "That's why I came by today, for business reasons at least."  Time to turn on the charm, "So let's get your thoughts on it and then we can turn to more pleasant social matters, eh?"