Eric asked "How are you going to try, Dad?"

"First we have to capture or execute the traitors" Richard pointed out. "Any act of good will I could try would be undone by their actions. I need the motions I have in mind to stick, plus I'm also taking in ideas."

Vxal stated "You could always meet with the Fellythr leaders."

Richard leaned back and said "That's going to be very difficult."

"You'll have to pay reparations if you ever want them to accept you as a neutral country," Amelia spoke up. "We're in peace times, but the writing they've put out over the years on Elodus is still rather caustic. If certain people in Fellethyr had anything to say about it, they would attack while we're recovering from the rebellion." She looked at her father. "I know a lot about Fellethyr from the library. Their traditions, their culture, their taboos, their beliefs, their opinions on us, I've read all of it."

Ryker glanced at Percival before following after Galahad.

Percival didn't have much of a reaction on his face, clearly used to this mindset from Galahad. He just followed along.

Bradley was thoroughly surprised by the princess standing up for the people of Fellthyr, not something he expected from any of these people. Perhaps he should've expected it though, the few times he'd briefly interacted with the princess she always seemed the caring type. The complete opposite of her sister, Bradley thought, before remembering Amelia and Kira were not sisters. They looked somewhat similar, but only by coincidence.

Eric fired back "They plotted and they killed the Queen of Elodus!" he clenched his fist "They're Greka forsaken traitors! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!" He growled a bit "The only good thing they've done is leave us alone."

Richard firmly said "Eric, that's enough"

Eric looked at him with rage "Don't you start! YOU GAVE THE ORDER!"

"DON"T!" Eric locked up at that as Richard's voice echoed screaming authority with just that one command. "You're acting like a child, Eric." saying it firmly. "A true ruler should not let his emotions control him. Bad things happen when reason dies" Richard said knowingly looking at his hand, "Your sister is engaging in a civilized debate with you."

Kira spoke up looking at Amelia "And she's making good points, Eric. I thought we talked about this." piping in. "I know it hurts but..." Richard gave her a nod "...things went to far with the Snow Elves. Those who plotted should have faced justice," she quoted her father "Swords used on the innocent are tainted blades"

Amelia furrowed her brow. She’d heard that before. Had she read it in one of the journals? She thought she had. “Who said that?” She asked.

Bradley personally felt it telling that Richard immediately looked at all of Fellthyr as intolerant, when they were scraped-up survivors of a genocide attempt stemming from Elodus, by the very man who is only saying he won't finish the job, not that he has any intention of making it up to them for the horrible thing he'd done. Of course they wouldn't trust him, anyone with an ounce of intelligence wouldn't trust this monster to not bite them again.

Richard looked at Amelia and sighed "Sadly, you are right. However, we could still invite their appointed leaders to the Castle." He took a look at Eric then back to Amelia. "And since they'll be here, I'd love to have you be there with them as well. I feel like your input might be warranted here." 

Eric asked "Father?" this is something the next in line should be doing, what's going on?!

"Royalty by bloodline, not appointed leaders," Amelia corrected her father quietly. "And they won't come here. That'd be idiocy, to walk into a suspected wolf's den. Your only hope is to go to them, or meet on neutral land, if you don't want to spark another war."

Bradley wondered if they were putting the cart before the horse here, worrying about the setting for the meeting before seeing if Fellthyr was even open to communicate.

Richard took a deep breath and said "You're right, one step at a time" relief flooding his face.

Emily asked "What's wrong with Hollow?" she shrank very quickly with Richard giving her a look.

Vxal sighed "It's not Hollow, it's the Ruler of Hollow. Long ago, he, myself, and..." Richard looked at Vxal as Vxal stated "Alex" which got Kira's full attention, she knew this of course. "We were unique in the Templar Order, most Elite Templars are made up of 10 people...we were the Entire Squadron. Grouped by my father after some tough love, and him viewing Alex and Aliester as weaklings. We struggled and fought and became known as "The Elite" "

Emily looked at him in awe. She's not a Squadron Templar like her father was, though she always wanted to be one.

Vxal stated "I would love to tell you stories about our adventures sometime, if you would like" looking at the table in general.

"That doesn't answer what's wrong with Hollow though," Amelia spoke up.