Counter proposal

"I do not wish to deprive one of my most loyal lords for the sake of a wedding gift. Once we marry our lands will become one and your people will have access to all the resources they need. Once we release your warriors we will both send word of our upcoming marriage. As a Wedding gift, your people will become citizens of Itheria, gaining the benefits and rights you wished to gain by this invasion. You will give Duke Oliver some land in compensation and the rest we will decide who rules." You conclude.

"I Accept this offer, however, I must warn you, The Dragon-Kin do things differently than you Itherians and some changes to your laws will have to be made to accommodate our race. My Kin will only except a ruler or a regent if they can prove themselves. Those most powerful below me already rule over sections of Arxkesttelgdn under me much like your Dukes. However, you will have to prove your worth to them for them to be loyal to you as well as me. Many of the Dragon-Kin will relish the opportunities citizenship will give them but others will challenge you till they die. One of you rules, however, my Kin will respect and that is the right to appoint a champion to fight in your stead. Dragon-Kin inherit the love of gold from our dragon ancestry and some even inherited the hoards of those ancestors. Wars over this gold ravage our land often with some using their gold to buy champions and armies to guard their land and what remains of their gold." Burtrexx informed you. This conversation had taken you to the edge of your camp where Duke Oliver was waiting for you by the makeshift prison.

"I have been told that you wish to realise the prisoners and that you plan to ally yourself with theses untrustworthy, war thirty, half-breeds. I fear you let this one's beauty bewitch you last night" Remarked Duke Oliver.

"Fear not my friend. This alliance will see both your borders and Itheria's expand. Burtrexx has agreed to relinquish some land to you to repay you for the damage to these mines. Furthermore, I am glad to announce that Burtrexx and I plan to Wed. This union will bring peace and unity through the merger of our two great kingdoms." You Reply

"Your Majesty, although I will do nothing to go agents your wishes, as my family has always been loyal to yours, I cannot rejoice in this knowledge. The Dragon-Kin have been the sworn enemy of my family for generations. I will bow to your wishes but I will not attend your wedding or celebrate this alliance. " Concluded Duke Oliver. With that, he ordered the guard to prepare the prisoners for realising and to get ready to pack away the camp.

Upon realise, Burtrexx ordered some of her men (and women) to spread the word of the newfound peace with Itheria. You had agreed that after the wedding you would tour Arxkesttelgdn to set up regents and assert your rain over the land. You will take with you the second born sons of current Dukes and Lords to compete in Duels in your stead. If they won they would become the new Regents and be given a new title becoming the start of a new family. If the Dragon-Kin ruler won they would be given such a title if they agreed to serve under you. If they did not agree you would have to concur them yourself and distribute their land to other regents. Burtrexx informed you that this was similar to how she took power, except she bested each ruler herself.

This way you would set up a new set of Human and Dragon-kin Duchy to help govern your new northern territory all loyal to you. The were a few Beastfolk Lords newly established in Itheria but none of them currently had more than one air to they name and you did not wish to take them on such a dangerous mission as some of the duels could end in ****. You hope by setting up some Human Duchy in the area (preferably covering all of it) will bring some stability and encourage migration of humans and beastfolk to the area. You also hope to encourage migration of Dragon-kin South.

You also wish to recruit some Dragon-kin into your army as they are great fighters and could help defend your borders from those unhappy with the merger of your kingdoms.

The remaining of Burtrexx's soldiers mainly women will become her personal guard and search her old campsite for what remains of her gear and clothing, then she can finally change out of her battle scared and dirty armour.