Isil nods along with Garon. "Yes, isn't everyone familiar with it? It's hardly a secret."

Coaul meekly nods his head with a stoic face.

The dwarven Troubadour nodded, clearly impressed with their literacy. Her eyes were sad as she spoke, "It seems that while your people have reaped the benefits of Theran ingenuity, you have forgotten that all of this," She waves her arms around the room, obviously meaning the Kaer, "came with a price."

"And now the Theran's are coming to claim that price. Would you like to see your peoples in chains? Because that is what the Theran's bring!"

As the dwarf finished speaking the council immediately burst into loud conversation and argument, only Navic and Minas stood quietly the three youths could see. For a moment it seemed that things had spiraled out of control, and each youth wondered if their elders would come to blows! But just then Navic slammed his staff into the floor three times, each time it made a sound like thunder. The room fell quiet.

Navic sighed audibly, and handed his staff back to his page. Spreading his arms wide he leaned downward on the table. "I am an old man, and all of this excitement has begun to wear me out." Before anyone could speak, and the three men could see strained looks on the faces of the council members and the dwarves. "However it is clear to me now, that a decision has been reached. It is clear that we can no longer hide from the world, and that perhaps we may no longer need to. There is much confusion, and even more debate. But we can not afford to sit in this chamber and listen to the sound of our own voices forever."

As the council burst into argument, Navic waved his hands until they were silent again. "Easy now my friends, I agree that we can not simply throw wide our gates, and hope for the best. But neither can can we afford to wait on our Laurels my friends. As such I agree with Minas Harker, that we should send forth a small party to represent our Kaer, and to explore the outside world."

"Were we to move our people outward it would take several weeks, maybe even months before we were prepared. Therefore while we begin to make ready, and scout the immediate area I am sending a smaller scouting party with our Dwarven friends, back to Throal to speak with our new found friends, and to gage the threat of the Theran's."

"Isil. Garon. Coaul. You three have been chosen to represent our people."

Garon's voice nearly squeaked in surprise. "Us? To Throal?" He tried to regain his composure, his guard-trained calm, but he was not entirely successful. "Surely there is someone more," he searched for a word, but the closest he could find was, "...diplomatic?" Isil tended toward dark, cutting comments, and Coaul's attention seemed focused inward unless he was tending his animals. And no one had ever accused Garon of being diplomatic; his only experience with negotiation was in stopping fights, which generally consisted of holding both combatants off the floor until they relented.

Surely, a trip outside was warranted, and Garon could think of none other than the three of them to do it: all three were young and talented, but not so critical to the daily experience of life within the kaer that their presence would be greatly missed. But to walk to Throal under the watchful eye of a group of Dwarves? Something outside his understanding must be going on behind the scenes.

Coaul, quickly recovering from the rapidity of the meeting and its final resolution, nods his head and says, "Very well." Yet the arching of his eyebrow indicates that he is a little surprised that Navic would decide to include a shepherd on such important business.

"When do we leave?" Isil says, perhaps a little too eagerly. "We should start preparing." He is half out of his chair already.

Navic smiles, proud and understanding of each of their reactions, just to his side Minas wears an even bigger smile. Others look less happy, perhaps even dour at this announcement. As the room once again broke out into chaos, Navic again silenced the room.

"Much has yet to be discussed and decided, and the day draws on longer. We shall break for our midday meal, and refreshments. We shall meet back here in two hours." This they all seemed able to agree upon. "Isil, Garon and Caoul, please join me for a bit, if it pleases you." They were each certain that this was no request, no matter how it was couched.

Coaul consents with an emotionless "Certainly." and joins Navic wherever deemed appropriate.

Once everyone else has departed, Garon will take a seat. He won't be slouching or anything, but he's willing to be more informal in a privy council setting.

Isil joins Navic and the others wherever the elder chooses.

As the youths, Minas and Navic exit the main chamber they find themselves in a smaller well anointed chamber. The carpet is thick, and well cared for, and warm. The walls are covered in reliefs, and embossed with a variety of scenes depicting the great hero Thratick slaying the three headed lion of Ghedes, and cleaning the stables of the Troll King Vagar. Two couches, and a large, but squat table covered in food and refreshments were it's only other decorations. A small light quartz, with a soft hue illuminated the room.

Navic motioned for everyone to take a seat, and serve themselves food and drink. After heaping food onto his own plate he produces a small bowl of red thumbnail sized balls. "Our dwarven friends brought these with them, their quite marvelous. I'm told their a fruit known as wild strawberries. Some are tart, but others are amazingly sweet!"

He places the bowl with in reach of the younger men, and smiles. "Please help yourself!"

Isil, ever the explorer, takes one of the strawberries delicately. He bites the merest bit off of it and his face lights up.

"Well, if they're poisoned, it's a sweet poison indeed." He pops the rest of the strawberry in his mouth, including the cap. He winks at Caoul and Garon before straightening to address Navic.

"Elder Navic, is it decided then? We will go with the dwarves to Throal as ambassadors and scouts? And our people will leave the kaer while we do?"

Isil, ever the explorer, takes one of the strawberries delicately. He bites the merest bit off of it and his face lights up.

"Well, if they're poisoned, it's a sweet poison indeed." He pops the rest of the strawberry in his mouth, including the cap. He winks at Caoul and Garon before straightening to address Navic.

"Elder Navic, is it decided then? We will go with the dwarves to Throal as ambassadors and scouts? And our people will leave the kaer while we do?"

Garon grumbles a bit at that. It's clear he doesn't think much of the idea of sticking with the dwarves while someone else explores the area around the kaer. His mind, however, is mostly consumed with one point of consideration: did he want to try putting something so brightly-colored in his mouth? It'd be like eating a windling's wardrobe; real food was grey, or brown, and the only red was freshly-slaughtered meat. Which these tiny berries certainly weren't.