“Jai?” Yvonne said, glancing up from her workbench. There was barely room to enter as raw leather, partially constructed armor pieces, and tools cluttered the room. The room was a mess, a room that seemed to be in the process of being packed up.

“Yvonne, what’s going on?” I asked in confusion.

“Let’s sit and have tea while I explain,” Yvonne said, frustration evident in her voice. She led me to a quaint tatami room that she’d created for her and her staff to relax. The room, although small, had all the accouterments for a traditional tea ceremony, as well as a soothing Feng shui that redirected Qi to enhance relaxation.

“I hope Senior Clement has had a chance to speak with you about my territory and my request to have you annex it to serve as a vassal-state?” She said as she poured tea, her movements graceful despite her obvious frustration.

“He has,” I admitted, “but the request has left me confused. Why would you need me to administer your territory? Unless Clement was mistaken in his explanation of what you are requesting, you are basically giving me to take full control. You want me to govern, nurture, and protect your new Fief as if it were my own.

“A Fief that has barely been established,” I pointed out. “ Do you even know if you have any towns or people within the bounds of your territory to worry about?

“You selected your territory because of its location. You thought the location ideal for a flock of Kirin to settle. Did you find any?”

“I’ve had a cursory survey of the land conducted,” Yvonne said. “Like most of the island, it is heavily forested, but there are wide swaths of land and a few valleys between mountains that would be ideal for settlement.

“The mountains are pristine, so whatever minerals, gems, and spirit stones they have is still left to be discovered. The run-off from snow melting from those mountains is enough to create streams that feed a massive freshwater lake.

“The place is teaming with beasts, a few notably as high as tier five. There are no current people living in the area because of that. The area is too isolated and too dangerous for anyone not able to fly to navigate past those beasts safely.

“The beasts and monsters that make the area their home would have to be culled before any settlement could be created. I had no intention of developing the area for centuries. At least not until the Sect was more firmly established and there were enough Sect members strong enough to offer missions to deal with the tier five.”

“Why ask for my stewardship then?” I asked in confusion. “If no one lives there, and you don’t want to tame an area for people for now, leave it as it is. A pristine area that you can take your time with.”

“I would if I could,” Yvonne admitted with a sigh of exasperation. “This will make more sense if I give you some context.

“I am a member of Clan Yoroi, a High-tiered Clan if barely one. The Clan is known for its expertise in forging armor. Metal, leather, or cloth, our products are known for quality, innovation, and artistry.

“The recent idea to add storage enchantments as utility compartments for armor that you requested has become widely popular. The Clan had credited me with that innovation, and the rise in the population of our brand had injected badly needed funds at a time when the Clan was worried about losing its position amongst Clans.

“Normally, that wouldn’t matter, but my House is a minor member of the Clan. A member House that the Clan has called on to forge an alliance with Clan Meiyo.

“This alliance would cement our two Clans by ties of blood, by allowing a new House to be established. One that was acknowledged by both Clans as a member House.”

“A House can be a member of more than one Clan?” I asked in surprise.

“It is rare,” Yvonne explained, “but Clans can agree to establish a shared House. This type of House often serves as a facilitator between the parent Clans. The House members are encouraged to remain neutral in dealings with both parent Clans and are called on to sit in and offer advice in the event of disputes.

“The creation of this new House is the reason I requested my territory become your vassal. Clan Meiyo has selected a son from the primary House. That selection demonstrates the importance Clan Meiyo places on this partnership.

“Clan Yoroi would respond with a daughter of the main House, but there are none. The House has been blessed with a small army of boys and no girls. But the honor Clan Meiyo has demonstrated when making their selection must be matched.”

“I would guess that is where you come in?” I said in sympathy.

“My Clan has chosen me to form a [Dao Companion] bond with the son of Clan Meiyo. My success and innovation with armor design and functionality have given me enough prestige to allow both Clans to overlook the fact that I am a child of a minor House.

“The contracts have been signed, and I have been ordered to return to the Clan. I have been tasked with creating this new House. The clans demand four children of my body, one child will be raised by each Clan, and the other two will be raised by my [Dao Companion] and me and become the heirs of the new House we will create.

“I will be able to continue my work with armor, but I will never return to the Sect, or if I do, it will only be in passing. The land I claimed cannot be sold or traded back to the Empire. I already exercised that option when I sold my Barony to accept the opportunity to join Four Element Sect so the new territory will remain.”

“That doesn’t explain the reason for the vassalage,” I said, trying to contain any sympathy or disgust I might feel at her situation. “The are no Elves living on the lands you have claimed; why not keep them undeveloped and in trust for one of your children?”

“There isn’t time,” Yvonne replied with exasperation. “My Clan has managed to level some concessions from Clan Meiyo as part of the [Dao Companion] price.

“Clan Meiyo has agreed to build a city on my lands and settle it with enough Elves to make for a thriving community that can make use of the resources of the area. They have also agreed to establish a Kirin herd, a herd that I will be given the opportunity to choose a bonded Kirin from.

“I need someone that can manage the territory, guide the city once it is established, and establish protections for the Kirin sanctuary that Clan Meiyo will establish. I won’t be here to do any of that, and I can’t delay or stop the town from being constructed.

“The town will begin construction within a decade, and I need someone to decide where to build it, make sure it is clear of beasts, and establish governance of the people that will immigrate and claim the homes and businesses Clan Meiyo and Clan Yoroi will find to settle.

“Why not ask Cai, Helen, or Fiat?” I asked. I didn’t know the three Sect members well, but the few times we had all gathered, they had seemed like good friends. Other than Fiat, who wanted to be more than friends and had been obvious in his burgeoning love for Yvonne.

“None of them have established a Barony on the island,” Yvonne explained. “And while I think of them all as friends, they have no experience. They cultivate enough to see incremental gains, but they have no real ambition or drive.

“Each of them comes from a High-tiered Clan. Young mistresses and masters, the lot of them. They will each take over as head of their Clans at some point, which is fine, but it means they have no real drive to ascend the Realms of cultivation, and the politics of asking one of them to serve as Vassal Lord is too mired in drawbacks even to consider.

“Your House is new. You have no Clan that might come into conflict with Clan Meiyo, and I have watched as you spent your own fortune to build and stabilize your Barony.

“I trust you.

“You will be present as the city is built and populated. You will make sure that the Elves that arrive have a place that has been built with defenses and safety as a priority. I know the favor I am asking goes beyond our friendship, but I would feel better knowing you will serve as the steward of the people, and the Kirin won’t be abandoned to their fate.

“And I am hoping that you manage to earn enough from the territory to purchase it.

“I will add a codicil to any contract we sign that if you decide you would like to purchase the land, the price to do so will be locked into today’s valuation.”