Ladron nodded. "I… I understand that Alterra Village is in a league of its own," he said. "But I assure you that our V—Yasof Village—will be more useful as an ally than as anything else."
"Shall I continue to read?" Mathilda asked with an eyebrow up, evidently not appreciating the interruption. Ansel smiled awkwardly, symbolically waving the platform back to her. "Yes, Elder Mathilda."
Mathilda looked at the room, as if waiting for anyone else to speak again. Everyone sat up properly under her silence. When she saw there was no one who'd be speaking over her, only then did she continue to read the letter.
/As for why I did not want to renew my contract, all I can say is that I have suppressed anger with that territory because they caused me to lose my precious daughter. I do not want to be attached to them anymore, but I cannot do this without endangering my whole territory because I did not join another force./
