The boy was a mess when he had arrived. Exhausted, with shot nerves. He couldn’t blame him, he was sent by Drystan himself. The pressure must have been crushing the boy. Everyone walked on eggshells when in the presence of the red haired demons. Even Siraj had calmed his emotions when in the presence of one of the family members. He’d come to far to let it all be ended by a random outburst.

Rushing to arrive promptly so the boy would not face any punishment. Drystan was the cooler mind of the family. Yet, there were times when Siraj had felt a meaning presence about the man. Shu also felt it, an was particularly quiet when around the man. Nodding at the guards, they eyed him as they opened the door for him. They didn’t like seeing a Dresmondi with position, he had seen that look in many of the soldiers that had came with the family.

“My lord.” He said as he bowed after entering. Shu stiff on his right shoulder, eyeing the room. She was on heightened alert, never trusting of the Eldouirs. Always thinking they had something up their sleeves so to speak.

If there were two things Drystan was particular about, they were competence and then manners. Competence was a higher priority, one that he looked for in anyone that entered his employ or even thought about it. Manners were preferred but if they had the competence he desired, then their manners were not as important. It was better to be able to get things done effectively without them falling about their ears later down the road than to be polite and not have the skills to back them up.

When Siraj and his dyr entered the room, he turned to acknowledge them. "Thank you for your prompt arrival, Siraj. And you, Shu."

In himself, Drystan was a man of both competency and of manners. For those that met his standards, they received both from him. Even the dyrs, regardless of his opinions on them.

“Yes my lord” he said, still bowing for a moment before rising back up to attention. Shu was as stiff as Siraj was, Drystan was known for his expectation of those who served him. Siraj did not want to waste the opportunity he had been presented with. “How may I be of service?” he asked, wondering what this was about. Things had been running as usual, it was not normal but as normal as things had become since the invasion. As normal as things could be when being run by the Eldouir family.

Drystan considered the Dresmondi for a moment before he spoke. There were a few things he had in mind, but right off the top of his head he had one concern. One that he had been considering prior to the Tribute and his trip to Nevermere. Keeping Dresmond functioning and that meant-

"How are your people faring with food sources right now? I know that it was hitting lower than it should have been prior to the Tribute but unfortunately I was not in a place to look into it at that point. Be honest, please." Specifically, he wasn't in Dresmond to be able to curtail his family, unfortunately. Even if no one knew where the man had gone but the rest of the Eldouirs.

With a nod he knew to speak as true as possible to Drystan, he was the more level headed and cunning of the Eldouir family members. “The rations are not sustaining the people. Many have resorted back to their more…basic nature.” he had to control his emotions in this, he had heard of a few people turning to cannibalistic practices. Not outright killing each other…yet, but there were some instances of those carving up dead bodies. “The children are the worst, many have no parents left to provide for them. An are subject to crimes of the roaming gangs that have formed, preying on the weak. The harsh hand of the guards isn't improving the situation but only making it worse. Resentment is high.” he said with more confidence, regaining his composure and giving the report as a true adviser should.

“I have formulated a plan to help ease the strained food supply.” he added. Now was his time to begin his plan, this was his shot to finally get his people on the track to some kind of normalcy. With the blessing of Drystan, it could be the first step for the Dresmondi to have a true kingdom. The path was a treacherous one, but someone had to take the risk.

Drystan felt the corners of his mouth twitch downwards because this was decidedly not the way things should have gone, even without him being the one to manage it. Adeline had talked to him about it prior to her queenship, so she was aware of it. But it had festered and worsened without his eye on it. Hiram wouldn't have a kingdom if everyone in it died from starvation and food shortages alone, not counting the rising violence from outside the family.

"What is it that you have in mind?" Admittedly, he was curious because so many came to him with problems and expected him to solve them. But coming to him with a solution as well certainly piqued his interest.

Siraj gave a nod as he reached into a small satchel, producing a rolled piece of parchment. Walking over to a desk, he unrolled the map he had been working on. "If you would my lord?" He asked motioning his hand to the map. "I've been speaking with the remaining elders and planners of the harvest from the days of the roaming caravans." He started, confidence in his tone. It was finally his time to shine. It was time he offered his plan up to the only person he felt would understand. The moment had come, everything he sacrificed for.


"Despite the lack of upkeep and the tear in the land, we've been able to estimate. Many of the fields, orchards, groves and thatches that we cultivated over the years will still be viable. Nature will grow wild without the hands of man to tend them. But, they grow regardless. The yields may not be large, but it should be enough to ease the strain. There would be no need for the people to go lacking. Give them food, and slowly gain their trust." He said, pointing to areas of different colors. Indicating the different sites for food and materials. As well as the route that would be taken out and back.


"I propose we send out a caravan my lord, to survey the land while gathering what bounty remains on this side of the schism. By allowing a secure and tended caravan, you give people some hope and familiarity. Many of the people are lost, this will calm them and give them purpose again. We take those who have joined the ranks and volunteers that are deemed useful for the joureny. Give some Dresmondi officers charge over the Desmond Civilians, and those of the Eldouir army to watch over the Dresmondi officers. It would provide familiar faces for the people and lessen the chance of abuse from the eldouir soldiers. It might also inspire those who join the caravan to see opportunity in working with your family, if they see those among them rise in status." Siraj pulled another scroll out which detailed the organization of the survey caravan. Which included the skills which would be needed most, and the needed number of each skilled person. The estimated provisions needed for the journey, and estimated time to complete the journey at 3 weeks.


"Spring is almost upon us, if the survey proves well. Perhaps new caravans can be sent to seed the lands once again. There is also the possibility of setting up what the Lorendale call farms here, for those who are without Dyr and those who were not approved for the survey caravan." Siraj had said his peace on this matter, who looked to Drystan for his reaction. Silently hoping for the best, he eyed the man with the cold stare and blank demeanor. The anticipation was eating away at him from the inside.

Drystan's interest was piqued near immediately. The map that was laid out before him was committed to memory as Siraj spoke, mental notes being taken as he leaned forward towards the table, eyes moving from detail to detail. Fingers were steepled with his chin resting on his thumbs. He was silent but so very blatantly attentive and focused on what Siraj presented to him.

In his mind palace, he stalked around the map laid out. The orchards, groves, fields and thatches were laid out in blocks of color to highlight each one. The possibilities of what was growing in each location was tacked to it like pins stuck in a butterfly collector's prize board. A list came into being, a mental to-do list once it would be safer to implement further down the road. Farms would have to wait, the knowledge required was not something he had. Not yet but that could be arranged. Would require visits, certainly. A project that would take time and very careful, very discrete work.

Outwardly, his hands lowered as he stood.

"This will be a very delicate project, certainly discrete as can be done." There were calculations already being made, routes forward being determined. "Which would have the most productive yield in the short term and which for the long term?" 

His heart wanted to explode, it felt like it would leap from his heart. It had already been beating overtime during his explanation. The lords words were few, but they gave hope. The plan had merit. Siraj could feel the pride within himself rising. He did his best to not let his emotions get the better of him. Although a curly at the edge of one side of his mouth betrayed him. With a slight smirk, he turned to answer Drystans question.


"The carrots, beets, potatoes and heads of cabbage and lettuce would be the largest yields. They would be the most likely to have survived the winter" he answered, indicating the locations marked in green. Questions were good, they proved interest in the matter.


"The thatches and groves would provide nuts. All these options would be for the short term." Pointing out locations marked in blues. He was proud of his map, it had taken a year to put it together, tracking people down then gaining their trust in order to gather the info they had. He had gone hungry a few nights from trading his rations over for info.


"Long term the orchards, and these fields would be ready by mid spring to mid summer." Pointing to red colored areas. But he sighed. "Their yields may not be as high for those areas, at least not without some care early on in spring. The lands need the people. Without the dyr and Dresmondi to help nurture the lands. They will not survive much longer." he had to admit. He wanted his plan to be perfect, but he knew he had to remain realistic. You did not want to lie to an Eldouir. The land was tough, but for years the Dresmondi kept the land. Without them to tend to it, it would fall barren in a few more years.


He then paused a moment wondering. What Drystand was thinking. The mans concentration was solely on the map. His eyes darted around it. 'Is he formulating his own plan?' Siraj thought to himself, and then it clicked. "...how to navigate the family." He said mostly to himself. Looking back at the map, placing a finger on his temple and a thumb under his chin. He had not noticed his words slipped out. 'Those weren't inside thoughts!' Shu scolded. Siraj realizing what Shu meant, slowly turned his head to glance over at Drystan.