Roland's diplomatic Dilemma

Roland quickly figured out that the halflings were there more to seek help than to give it. He had expected as much; their race was hardly known for its altruism. 

He learned that Kyler, Walter the surveyor, and one more halfling would be arriving before sundown with the two wagons of supplies, and a bandit named Jerry they'd caught along the way. His mind drifted until Gabriel stepped back in the room to fill in more detail about the giants that Simone and Shayn were with. 

Jimmy was not getting along well with the other halflings, which was puzzling at the same time that it made perfect sense. Roland thought about hinting that the little man should leave, but the ornery quarter-halfling had settled deeply into a chair and looked in no hurry to leave it, at the very least until after he'd been fed. 

"All four giants," Roland murmured thoughtfully. "And they said the Fae told them to go South." 

The prospect was encouraging and concerning. He'd sent Riley with the army to the sea to deal with some manner of monster that had arisen there. The giants' involvement in the battle could be a great advantage to the humans… but the Fae never acted on their own initiative. They responded to requests for help, and pursued the Sorcerer's will. 

Either it was the Sorcerer's Will that the giants come and fight alongside them, or his plea for help with the coming battle had prompted an extreme response, which meant that the situation was even more dire than he'd predicted. 

The Fae never seemed to help more than what was necessary to resolve a problem with things as large as this. 

He realized everyone was staring at him, and that they had no knowledge of what was going on by the sea. With a smile that hopefully did an adequate job of hiding his anxiety, he turned the conversation back to the halflings. 

"If you wanted a trade agreement with humans, why have you waited over twelve years to ask us?" He queried. 

"We were slaves of your enemy. It did not seem likely that you would want to trade with us, and you planted fullest lilies everywhere in the city." Tom's nose wrinkled with distaste, the largest display of emotion or reaction Roland had seen from any of the halflings so far. 

"Bit of a bad smell is enough to scare the lot of you away," Jimmy tutted. 

"That's enough, Jimmy. These are my guests and you will be civil," Roland's patience was wearing thin, but a knock at the door interrupted the reply he was about to get. 

Standing, he answered the door to his stepbrother-in-law, Kyler. Though he knew the young man was headed this way, it was still a relief to see him in person.

Whether they all were willing to admit it or not, everyone worried about Kyler more than the others due to his disability. 

"Come on in, and take a seat," He invited, gesturing for the man to come in, followed by Walter and a female halfling. 

"Ah, I see they did come here. It was a guess, but given that it's close to evening, we thought you might be found here rather than still at the City Hall," Kyler sighed as he lowered himself into a comfortable chair. Walter and Roland stood, while the trio of male halflings sat together on the sofa. 

Jimmy was still sunk down in the largest chair, grumpily glaring at the sofa, until Roland cleared his throat meaningfully. Sliding his surly gaze towards the king, Jimmy hesitated when he saw the tiny woman at his side. 

"Oh, erm." His arms loosened. "I don't believe we've met." 

The woman lifted her chin haughtily, her small stature at odds with her mature expressions. Though her skin was smooth like a child's, anyone who looked at her for more than a few moments could tell she wasn't all she seemed at first glance. 

When the woman didn't offer her name, Roland looked to Kyler and Walter, who both shrugged. 

"She stayed out of the way during the inspection at the gate and no one demanded her name," Kyler explained. "Is the guard at the gate new? Some reminders about protocol might be appropriate for him… or maybe handing over a kidnapping bandit to his care simply distracted him." 

Roland nodded, understanding the implication behind the words. Now that halflings were active in the area again, children could not be ignored as a non-threat, and the soldiers of Klain should be on guard against all people and creatures, no matter how small and unassuming. 

"Welcome, ma'am," The king said to her. She stared silently, apparently even less talkative today than the enigmatic Harry. 

"Would you care for a seat?" Jimmy asked, jumping up out of his and spreading his arm over it as if offering some great treasure. 

"No." The single word left her mouth and she turned to the other halflings in question. 

Jimmy sank back into his chair, even more despondent-looking than before. 

"Their king is open to trade and sheltering halflings in the coming disaster. He has many questions, but this emotional hybrid seems to be attempting to subvert the process." Tom explained to the newcomer. 

"Emotional hybr—subvert—" Jimmy sputtered. "Roland, you're going to let your guests talk to me this way?" 

"Since when have you needed me to defend you?" The king looked at him curiously. "You've always fended for yourself rather admirably." 

Was Jimmy jealous now that halflings were being extended a trade deal when he'd turned one down years ago, choosing to continue to live apart from the law? Roland turned back to the halflings. 

"As I have already said, I cannot guarantee your safety, only that you will be treated as equals in the quest for survival as the worlds merge," Roland said to Tom, but including the newest halfling to the discussion. "I have discussed this with the council as well, and have received approval to move forward with acclimating you to our city. I can secure lodgings for you." 

"Sure, give them all the special treatment in the world, just don't trust 'em," Jimmy warned with a dark look. The halflings didn't visibly react to his declaration, chafing the speaker, who hated to be ignored. 

"Thank you for your input, Jimmy," Roland eyed him. "If you have any further concerns you may bring them at another time instead of continuing your attempts to offend our guests." 

"Dinner is ready!" Finn called from the kitchen. "Perhaps everyone will feel better without empty bellies."

"That's the smartest thing I've heard today," Jimmy declared, slapping his knees as he stood and hurried to the table. 

Roland took a deep breath, but didn't roll his eyes as he was tempted. Gabriel and Victoria took plates of food and a blanket outside to eat with the children, leaving more room at the table to fit the adult humans and halflings. 

He would have to remember to thank his sister and brother in law later for their consideration. The triplets had attentive eyes and a lot more questions than he had answers lately, and this delicate discussion would be easier without having to guard his speech for their ears. 

"Jimmy hasn't had too much luck finding magical herbs through the portals," Finn said as she sat down. "Tom, Bran, have you been more fortunate?" 

The quarter-halfling glared at her for a moment, but turned his attention to the halflings. It seemed he wanted to know as well.

"Fortunate is not the correct word," Tom explained as he looked down at the food he was being served. Roland wondered if he would eat it out of politeness or if their manners didn't extend that far. "There is a pattern to which worlds' portals appear where. We located a concentration of portals from a windy world where seeds often float through a few years ago. We have planted and cultivated those seeds over time into useful herbs." 

"So why stop?" Finn finished serving the food and sat down. 

"The portals became larger, letting animals, rather than simply seeds, through. The frequency and spacing also has become less predictable, and the other worlds no longer stick as strictly to the pattern we had found." Bran's face was blank as he related the information, sniffing the food before eating it. 

"This is better than the human food from the orphanage," Tom observed. 

"I agree," Bran decided after a few bites. "You must not give your parentless young the best food." 

"I'm sure Miss Jessie does her absolute best!" Finn seemed deeply dismayed by the conclusion. 

"Do not make such rash judgments," Roland shook his head, "My lovely wife is an exceptional cook, and to compare any others to her is simply unfair. She could be given the worst ingredients in the world and still make a meal I remember fondly." 

He winked at Finn, recalling their burnt, bizarre wedding meal of whatever ingredients he'd grabbed for her in the Darkness, and her face colored under his scrutiny. It was nice he could still make her blush.