Eyildr simply gave a small smile at Bertil's words. She raised a wrinkled hand pre-emptively, and the shadows that had begun to stir behind her with agitation ceased immediately. The Jarless paused for a moment, smoothing down the front of her robe. "I am glad that we find each other so predictable, Jarl Bertil. Your theatrics are most amusing," She noted as he made a display of kneeling and devoting his fleet to the king. "Here as they were at the moot where we selected our new King. Very amusing indeed,"

"But you have a lot to learn. I do not judge you - men not born to this life cannot possibly hope to fully comprehend the complexities of the existence of the Jarl," She smiled sweetly. "The Elves are weaker than us in a naval sense. However, if you believe that the only way to prove a nation's weight is its army and its navy then you are not just an oiled snake in this room but you are a fool," 

The old woman took a small swig of mead. "I will not stand by and let this kingdom be drawn to and fro by the wants of men concerned only with lining their own pockets. We must deal with the pirates, aye, and I will devote all coastal resources to this issue. Firsthold will keep a constant watch for pirates along our coast,"

"The other matter, however, I will not bend on. There is no 'middle ground'. You cannot play both the Elves and the Dwarves. To attempt to use them as if they were commodities is to anger both and incur the wroth of both. I will not let my people suffer and die from Elven fletched arrows because the men in this room could see nothing but the glint of gold," Her words hung heavily in the air, almost a threat. "I have served this kingdom duly my whole life, and I will not stand by now as it is torn asunder by the greedy hearts of new men. Gold is worthless when your cities burn and your people starve,"