Chapter35

royal problem, they begin measuring what price they can place on their strength."
"Even so," the minister said, refusing to back down, "they have the strength, and this is exactly the kind of matter they like attaching themselves to when glory is involved."
The Magic Master glanced toward the king after that.
"If Your Majesty is willing to pay, then they will come," he said.
The king had been quiet for a while now, listening to the room argue itself into circles, but at that line he finally straightened a little in his chair.
"The Great Families are not lacking in money," he said, and that alone was enough to make a few people sit up straighter. "So if we reach out, it will not be silver that moves them."
He stopped there for a moment, letting the words settle before his gaze moved slowly across the table.
"There are other things they value more," he said, no one interrupting him.
The ministers looked curious, the Knight Captain looked wary, and even Didi forgot her irritation long enough to watch her father closely.
The king rested one hand on the arm of his chair, "contact the Flint family, tell them, I have decided on what they asked for."