Bertil scowled at the Jarless, his momentary warmth towards her extinguished in an instant. "I expected higher wisdo- no, I guess you have spoke the way I imagined. Praise the Elves, the almighty Elves, whose gifts and excellence in matters of... grace? Have allowed them to lay claim to the whole world. OH, how we, the men of the North, tremble before their conquering armies!" His lips, quivering in anger, smoothed and he sighed. "Apologies, those were hasty words, Jarless Eyildr." 

Kneeling before the Jarls, but facing the King directly, Bertil threw in his lot. "The Elves are weak, they are frightened of us, from a military standpoint. Just look at the few settlements that dot the Galadrian coast line, and the sorry state of their naval assets. We may be men, crude and unfashioned in the eyes of the Elderborn, but we have comprehensively beaten them at sea. Their magic was not there to save them, nor was their wisdom; I see little use in these commodities then. Trust not in the Elves to make Norsia strong, but as Jarl Koval said, my King, to keep it tame - to keep it weak. The Middle Way, as I have proposed, and yes, it is a selfish way too, will be our best bet of rising above those who would see us wither and die." 

Standing, Bertil cast the last of his dice. "Escgor's chief concern is the pirate menace plaguing our trade routes. I have lost much because of it, and my people suffer with me. I will stake eight longships of my mercantile fleet to the cause, but must withhold two to patrol the Icevein Inlet. My sailors may not be courageous warriors, but they are well organised, well equipped and will stand in battle." Turning to Otrygg, the Merchant-Jarl nodded his approval, "I am with you on this, we must cut the serpent off at the head. The King be praised, this darkness will be resolved in months, not years." 

Having made himself an enemy of the [i]hag[/i], donated most of his trade fleet and cemented his dislike for the Elves, Bertil decided to call it a day as far as his input was concerned. Bowing once more and with a slight ache in his lower spine, he noticed, the Merchant-Jarl of Escgor retreated to the safety of his chair with the aim of aquiring more Galadrian wine.