#fenixtj

"You know my thoughts."

"In point of fact, I doubt I have scratched the surface of your thoughts, but some are not mine to know." He admits "Your kith, in their way, are as private as the sluagh. And it would be ill mannered of me to demand acceses to how you feel beyond what you share. Your hopes and wishes I try to take into account because you have more than earned it. And I spent too much time among the Ailil I fear. It is hard not to see angles in how to work things. May I have your word of secrecy for at least a moon?"

"Yes, Your Grace,"

" I will take that as such. Here are the options, as I see them. Option One-I raise you to Countess and you rule from here.... there is pressure to at least affiliate yourself with a House if not outright join, but you are the most qualified of those nobles here for an elevation. "

She pales... nods. She understands,

"Option two- You remain as you are, where you are. I put an outsider over you, and because he or she will be my link in the chain of command you must swear.. I am Liam, it is hard enough to have folks respect me. You know this. Folks will follow your example."

"Option two by the way, has the danger of making me look highly ingrateful to some of the locals. "

"An Oath?"

"Yes, an Oath."

"An Oath to the Count or Countess" he says

"Kind of expected, particularly since the Coperative would make it TWO Holds that wouldn't be swearing if you didn't most likely"

"I'm not quite ready to grant Senior Diego the revolution he wants in one swoop" Amused

"Both those options mean you keep Fenix, obviously. "

She nods understanding of these terms.

"Now there maybe other options... but they seem too radical to be accepted. "

(Pause)