Despite the dark circles under her eyes, she was still fierce and commanding in her presence.

"I sense I should have wished you a good sleep as well, Lady Saorise," Peter stated.

"It would not have done much good, well wishes or not," Saorise replied. She held her hand out to General Lowan who sat beside her, and he handed her a scroll which Saorise then held out to Peter, "The revised demands".

Peter raised an eyebrow. She'd done well to revise them overnight. After his talk with Nathan Caramort he was sure they'd be talking for much longer.

He untied the ribbon and unrolled the scroll, placing weights to keep it in place as he read.

***

First, the surrender of the Eastern Peoples on the condition that an Eastern Representative be appointed in the Wendolan Court for consultation regarding matters of the Eastern Lands and Peoples. This representative shall be given the same rights and respect as any Wendolan Official.

Second, the transfer of Eastern Lands and Peoples from autonomous rule, to Wendolan rule.

Third, the disarmament of the Eastern Armies. Nobles shall be allowed to maintain private forces of no more than 100 men for Barons, 200 for Viscounts, 350 for Counts, 500 men for Marquis, and 1000 men for Dukes. Private forces shall be offered to the Crown under the condition of war when called upon by the Wendolan Banners. Eastern Noble Ranks shall remain, with the Wendolan equivalent bestowed by the Wendolan Crown. The Wendolan Crown, for a period of 20 years following the signing of the accords, will not have the right to revoke the status of an Eastern Noble, nor appoint nobles of Wendolan Blood to Eastern Lands. The exception to this shall be marriage, or treason on account of solid evidence.

Fourth, one individual between the ages of 16 and 30 from each family shall be conscripted into five years of service in the Wendolan Armies. Those who perform well shall be given merits and ranks as any other Wendolan Warrior.

Fifth, the Trade of Eastern products shall no longer be taxed in Wendolan borders. Foreign trade and tax rates shall be dictated by Wendolan Laws under the jurisdiction of the Wendolan Court and Crown in consultation with the appointed Eastern Representative.

Sixth, a Citizen Tax shall be paid annually by every family to the Wendolan Crown. Those unable to pay the Tax may appeal to their appointed Noble to pay in their place. The Noble shall reserve the right to dictate how those in debt shall resolve that debt (i.e. through labour, repayment deals or other agreed alternatives approved by the Wendolan Crown).

Seventh, any noble marriages between Eastern and Wendolan nobles shall receive a gift of 1,000 Ruis for promoting the unification of both peoples under the Wendolan Crown.

Eighth, going forward, the traditions and culture of the Eastern people shall be respected as the traditions and cultures of the Wendolan people are. Acts of Undermining, Insulting or Vandalising by either party shall be punished by Wendolan Law.

Finally, the Eastern People will be required to treat Excavor, God of War and Patron God of Wendolan as equal to their own Patron God, Liesha, Goddess of Life. Clashing ideologies shall be met with appropriate respect, and compromises will be handled by appropriately ranked priests/priestesses, and, should the need arise, Wendolan Law.

It is expected that in matters regarding Eastern people being suspected or investigated under Wendolan Law, appropriate Eastern Representatives will be consulted.

***

Nine points. Not ten. After what she had said yesterday, Peter was not all that surprised that the seventh point regarding concubines had been removed. He was surprised however, that all the other points had either been left alone, or had been rewritten with clear compromises for both parties. The Eastern Representative was a good idea, but the problem was that Peter knew they would be suppressed in his court. If he showed favouritism to them, things would become even worse for not only the representative, but for him as the Wendolan King. Showing favours to foreigners wouldn't be viewed lightly even if Peter was doing it to unite both peoples.

The fact that they'd changed the conscription to clearly include both men and women within a particular age range bothered him until he thought of what Madame Helena had said about the women being very capable warriors as well. Saorise had more than proven that and many of his prisoners were women as well. He'd had a hard time keeping his men away from them.

Then there was the point about weddings, they'd taken 9,000 Ruis off of his initial gift. He frowned at this and couldn't help but go to correct it as a mistake as they'd been writing it.

"Forgive me, your majesty, but 1,000 Ruis would be more than enough. We wouldn't want the Crown to go bankrupt and Tax more from their citizens," Saorise spoke as she noticed what he was doing.

Peter decided not to comment on that. He wasn't going to throw another 9,000 Ruis per wedding away if it wasn't wanted. On the Ninth and Tenth points he wanted to argue. One Religion for one people, but what Nathan had said again made him hesitate and think. The tenth point only asked that the Easterners take a second Patron God, not the Wendolans. He could see this starting many disagreements in future, but he had come to accept the reality that building an empire could not rely on suppression. Though it was much easier, as Saorise had said, it was not lasting.

"The point about the Crown being unable to remove noble titles in the east for twenty years, that seems a little excessive, don't you think?" asked Peter, "Twenty years is a long time".

Saorise sighed, "Then how long do you think is appropriate? After all, the people will need time to accept Wendolan Rule. Placing a new Lord in lands they were not born in will not breed trust among the people".

Peter thought for a moment, "10 years?"

Saorise looked up and down the line of noble representatives. They murmured among themselves before they each wrote on small slips of paper and passed it up to Saorise. A vote. Saorise read them in turn before she looked up at Peter.

"9 votes to 3, Majority agrees," she said, "10 years shall be fine".

"I thought you wanted a united front," Peter said with a raised eyebrow.

"We agreed last night that certain stipulations shall be placed to a vote if you suggested reasonably," Saorise stated.

"And unreasonably?" asked Peter.

Saorise gave a small smile, "Then we would be meeting again tomorrow and no doubt the circles beneath my eyes would be larger and darker".

Peter couldn't help but smile in return as he leaned forward and changed the number himself. He had to admit that despite her sharp tongue, her diplomatic way of speaking was beginning to entertain him.

"How will the Representative be elected, you haven't specified," Peter stated.

"So, you agree to it?" asked Saorise.

"I agree it is a good idea," Peter said as he put down the pen in his hand, "However, I think it is prudent to point out that the members of the Wendolan Court will attempt to isolate any foreign individual. And, despite my goal of unity, I will not be allowed to take sides. They will be on their own, and a place like the Wendolan Court without allies will mean more losses than victories".