They Open Diplomacy, Not Wishing To Fight You.

The Patrol knows that stealth is pointless now, so they rise from the shallow water and talk. "<This is not your land Dragon, we have let you and your kobold servants live in peace but you now encroach on our lands. We will let you have the camper but ask for payment in exchange.>" Their leader says, a tall dark green scaled individual with broad shoulders. If you had to guess you would say the leader was a 'she', as she has wider hips and the slight belly puffiness that indicates she has laid eggs recently, but it would be no more than a guess.

"<Squad leader, this is not your land, the terms of your recognition by the crown are that the road and it's attendant campsites belong to the crown, you may not **** the people traveling and camping along it.>" You counter, and the squad leader hisses.

"<The Crown has not paid their due for ownership of the road in three years, the compact is broken.>" The Squad Leader informs you.

"<Then allow me to escort my charge back to my castle for the night, and I will renegotiate with your chieftess. I have petitioned the crown for the status of titular lord over this swamp. As such it is my duty to renegotiate the compact and pay any back-due in the king's name,>" you state, and the patrol leader smiles.

"<Very well Dragon, but we will come with you to your castle and escort you back to the great mound.>" The Patrol Leader says.

"<Alright, but I warn you, it's a long walk.>" You state.

The Patrol Leader shrugs her shoulders. "<Excercise is good for the legs, walking does not worry me>," she says.

"<Very well, follow me,>" you reply and head back up the hillock.

At the top, you find Squire Maria Jessel Columbia Montana of Valencia struggling to control the horses which are terrified of you. (Rightly so, under other circumstances, you would probably kill and eat one and give the other to the lizardfolk as a peace offering.)

"^Squire Maria Jessel Columbia Montana of Valencia, I am here to bring you to my castle for the night. In the morning you are free to depart as long as you give no **** to me or mine in the meantime. I also bring you the word of your liege, Dame van Norden: she instructs you to choose between seeking out the Duke Wocino of Ithica and petitioning him in her name to find you a new squireship or choosing to join her in her imprisonment at my castle if you still would prefer the tutelage of one who allowed themselves to be captured. Furthermore, these lizardfolk have claimed this road as part of their lands, you are not free to go anywhere but my castle unless under my escort until I have negotiated a new deal with their chieftess for use of the road, which I intend to do tonight. Do you understand these terms?^" You ask in the common tongue.

The Squire gulps. "^I understand, and I thank you for your, hospitality,^" she says with a slightly quavering voice.

The Lizardfolk help calm the horses and you make the long walk back to the castle without incident. There is a little conversation along the way, asking the Lizardfolk to outline the terms of the broken compact, but they plead relative ignorance: "^The lore-keepers and skalds know the old compact, we are mere warriors and know only that it was broken when the agreed payment did not arrive three years ago. The king had three years to repay for the lost productivity and renew regular payment, that has expired, so we are again independent and free to do as we wish.^" Their leader explains but then goes on, a little, "^I do know that one term of the compact was a new steel spearpoint or dagger blade for each tribe member and another was one square yard of tough and mold resistant cloth per tribe member each year but there was more too it.^" With that, you let the matter lie, traveling on with only hoofbeats and footfalls to break the silence.