Lady Sunny responded on behalf of her husband:
"There are also some tribes living at the junction of Transylvania and Ice Bay whose affiliations are difficult to determine. If we include them, it totals eighty thousand people."
"700 to 800 vacancies, fantastic. What a cost-effective deal."
Murphy's eyes lit up.
He pretended to be torn and looked back at Ellen, a touch of reluctance surfacing in his blood-red eyes. After a few seconds, Murphy turned his head to the two cavalry commanders, raised three fingers, and said:
"Send cavalry messengers back to the mountain woods immediately and ask the Elders to honor their loyalty pledge. I do not force the Highlanders to come down the mountain, but those who once lived on the plains must, as much as possible, come back. They can choose between Count Cadman's Domain or West Coba's Earldom; my Governor will dispatch someone to register their information.
This is the first request."
"No problem."
The Valande Knight immediately agreed.
