The truth.

"I suppose it would be a good moment to be entirely honest with you about this situation and why we are excited to be here. If our two peoples are going to exist together at least" you tell the queen. She raises her eyebrow clearly curious and motions for you to proceed.

"It was clear that Lysandra represented something to the Amazons, but we didn't know what that was. We had guessed that possibly there was a prophecy of some sort surrounding her, and frankly we are relieved that is not the case. It is clear that your people value living in balance with nature, and I'm a little embarrassed that we immediately went to prophecy" you begin.

"Why are you embarrassed with that assumption" Lira interrupts you.

"Well to be blunt a prophecy would seem to denote a more simple culture. Which was confusing to us the more we knew about your people. You are not a simple culture, you are different certainly, but in many ways more advanced then any town or city, and you are clearly very clever existing in the Green for generations when so many towns and cities have fallen in that same amount of time. I guess what I'm saying is I'm embarrassed to have made an assumption where I put you as a primitive culture" you respond.

"I see. You mentioned our two people coexisting together. What are your intentions there" Lira asked in a serious tone.

"Ultimately I would like for us to have a defensive alliance. Mutual respect and trade would be default with that, but in the event one or the other is attacked we would come to each other's aid. Realistically I understand such a bond between us might take time, so I would hope to have at least that mutual respect with each other so we can live peacefully together with open trade as well, or at least open trade soon after" you reply.

"Is this the extent of your people" Lira asks gesturing at your group.

"Currently yes" you reply.

"That answer seems to suggest you will grow in numbers" Lira states.

"Yes. My goal is to create a free city. We will liberate and offer runaway slaves the opportunity to live their lives as a free people, which I hold as a basic right to everyone. If my plan succeeds we will start growing in numbers soon" you respond. Lira's eyes settle on Yvette almost immediately.

"I know where your mind is currently. Before you ask, I love John with all of my heart. He has offered to remove this collar, but I have refused his offer. I consider this collar a symbol of that love and through that love I belong to him. Perhaps one day I will take him up on his offer, but for now this collar will remain" Yvette states holding her head high. Lira nods her head looking impressed by what Yvette has said.

"What trade would you be capable of" Lira asks looking back to you.

"Dawn. Rene. Can you go grab our gifts and bring them back" you ask the two of them. They nod their heads and begin walking out to Bruce. "While we wait for them to return. Since we live on the plains we will soon have farming capabilities. That means we would be able to offer grains and vegetables as we get established. As we get more and more people that would expand into various trade crafts we could offer, as well as access to us as a people" you reply as Dawn and Rene return.

"Annabel here is one of the finest potion makers on this continent, and I am not being boastful or exaggerating with that statement. Allow me to demonstrate" you say grabbing a knife and one of the healing potions from Rene. You mentally cringe about what you are about to do, but you know the end result will be just a little bit of pain as you draw the blade of the knife across your finger. Lira and Aella watch closely as a line of blood emerges from where you cut yourself. Taking the potion you apply a little splash to the wound, and immediately feel the warm sensation of your finger healing almost immediately. You wipe the blood away to show them there is no longer any wound at all. Lira and Aella smile and nod to each other.

"Annabel is capable of producing a wide array of potions given the appropriate ingredients and time. From these simple healing potions to antidotes for poisons, and..." you smirk "she has an excellent selection of potions that can enhance...well, sex" you add. Lira, more than Aella, seems much more curious about your last statement you note.

"We also bring gifts of blankets, and some fine alcohol" you say as Dawn hands the blankets and alcohol to them. Lira and Aella examine the blankets for a moment nodding their heads at them approvingly if not somewhat uninterested, and then Lira uncorks one of the bottles of alcohol. She takes a swig and hands the bottle to Aella who similarly takes a swig. You suppress a chuckle as both their eyes widen and they suppress a cough. They look to each other and smile.

"Can you produce more of this" Lira asks immediately.

"Well, no. Not this exact alcohol, but I suspect Annabel and Rene can brew some that tastes pretty good with a good kick to it, and I have some knowledge of how to produce what is known as moonshine where I am from, and let me tell you when I get some moonshine brewed it'll be a game changer. These particular bottles we stole from the people who used to own Rene" you explain smirking.

"We also can eventually offer weapons" you say as Rene hands the swords and knives to Lira and Aella "I do not know what our capability will be, currently, to produce more" you begin.

"With the proper resources available we can quickly produce many weapons" Dawn interrupts you smirking.

"Uh, well there you go, we would just need to get a supply of resources. Something we could hopefully work together towards. I will offer this, if you can supply us with resources I do not see a reason to withhold our production capabilities from you regardless of what agreement we come to today. Your people are free, and should have the natural right to defend themselves when needed. We want to offer our support in that regardless of if we do not come to some kind of defensive agreement today" you add. Lira and Aella examine the blades thoroughly seemingly very impressed with them.

"Finally, we offer some of the services of Nadine and myself" you say as Dawn brings forward the runes "we have several practical items today that have been enhanced with runes. Firstly the clay cups and pots are unbreakable. Give one of them a test" you offer. Lira smirks and looks at Aella as she picks one up. She examines it for a moment before suddenly throwing it at her feet. The cup bounces and finally settles at your feet. You pick it back up and bring it back to Lira who examines it again nodding her head.

"Next we have what we call a compass. On its surface are marks for North, South, East, and West. You will also notice an arrow pointing in one direction no matter which way you turn the device" you explain as Lira twists and turns the compass around. "That arrow will always point towards North. Possibly not the most practical item for your people who I would wager have a very good sense of direction, but it is just an example of what we can do. Another possibility is to have the arrow always point towards this village if desired" you explain. Lira listens attentively as Aella takes the device and turns herself to face North.

"Last but not least is one I consider to be the most, uh, powerful of our gifts to you. It is an alarm system. There are five stones. We have labeled the stones with a number on each of them. One through four you place, at any distance, in a square pattern" you explain setting each stone on the ground in a square "the fifth stone will glow a specific color when a humanoid walks between the stones on the ground" you begin.

"What do you mean by a specific color" Aella asks.

"I will show you. Rene, can you please walk between stones one and two" you ask her. She quickly follows your order and the fifth stone glows blue. "Yvette can you walk between stones two and three for me please" you ask her. Yvette follows your order and the stone begins glowing green.

"As you can see depending on what stones are crossed between the color of the fifth stone will glow a specific color. Which will let you know what direction the humanoids are coming from. It doesn't necessarily show you're about to be attacked, but as long as you set the stones out far enough away it would let you scout out the potential enemy and prepare yourselves better before they reach you if it does end up being an attack" you explain.

"How long does the fifth stone glow when the stones are crossed" Lira asks.

"For about five minutes after the last person has crossed the boundary" Nadine answers for you. "Although the spell for these runes is somewhat difficult, as it requires allowing magic from the natural world to flow into them like the unbreakable cups and pots, while also allowing enough magic to allow for an unlimited distance between the stones. We should be able to cater to any combination of stones. Meaning if desired we could have three stones to place along the border of the Green to know if people are traveling along the border of the Green, or we could use large stones and throw them into a river, or where ever you desire" Nadine adds.

"I have to admit you have impressed me with your gifts" Lira states "particularly with the alcohol" she adds with a smirk.

"The alcohol was Rene's idea" you say giving Rene a proud look which makes Rene blush immediately.

"I will say I am wary of an alliance, it will be difficult for my people to accept, but I do find you to be an honorable people so far. Should the relationship between us continue as it has so far then an alliance may not be too far away. Today is a celebration for my daughter, what tomorrow brings we shall see, but I find myself unexpectedly hoping for this alliance between our people. So I propose a toast" she says grabbing another bottle of the alcohol and uncorking it.

"May the roots of this friendship grow strong and deep" she exclaims before taking a swig. Aella follows her mom's example and takes a swig herself. Lira stands and walks to you to give you the bottle of alcohol. You take it and quickly take a swig yourself. Whatever it is you do your best not to cough from the taste as you hand the bottle to Rene who is standing next to you. One by one the girls each take a swig. You can tell they are each doing their best not to spit it out. It was certainly one you'd consider an acquired taste. After they finish Lira holds out her hand, and for some reason you decide to grasp her wrist. She grasps your wrist in return and smiles at you.

"Come, I will show you my village so you can meet my people" she says gesturing for all of you to follow her.