Several days go by and still there is little change in Jessa's condition. Dhiren's peace is interrupted by a messenger. "Forgive me prince, but that human merchant that Princess Jessa signed up to protect is demanding your presence." The messenger swallows in fear at the reaction his words bring.

Dhiren has been in a foul mood the longer Jessa stays unconscious and the slimy human demanding, not requesting his presence just sends his temper soaring. "He does, does he?" Dhiren says marching out of the room and the messenger runs the opposite direction not daring to stay near his enraged prince.

Dhiren strides to the stable and grabs his horse. Not bothering with a saddle or even a bridle, Dhiren sets his horse into a gallop towards the border where the officious snake is being carefully watched over. None of them trust him and the guards keep their hands on their weapons just waiting for an excuse to use them against the merchant.

Dhiren comes to an abrupt halt in front of the angry human, he has trouble keeping his own anger under control as he confronts the arrogant ass. "You demand to see me? What right have you to demand to see your better? The only reason why you still live is because Jessa signed on to protect you. Had it not been so you would have been summarily executed for the disrespect you've shown me and my people.

"The few men that survived are still a long ways from being healed enough to travel with you to Castlerock. You are, however, free to leave without them. You will give them the wages they've earned saving your worthless hide and I'll make sure that you do by having Frosnak oversee that it is done. You will also give the families of those that died the money they earned saving your ass.

"Is there anything else you wanted to see me about?" Dhiren is all but spitting fire at this point and Culeb backs up, more than a little scared of the elven prince in that moment.

"Yes, I demand that you supply me with guards to take me back to Castlerock. It is your duty to do so. I also demand reparations for the loss of time and men. I have been kept overlong here in these primitive conditions and have need to return. Since those of my men that survive are under your care you owe me to give me guards."

Dhiren narrows his eyes, he's beyond furious at this pompous ass. "I OWE YOU? In what way, shape or form do I or the elven nation owe you? If it wasn't for me and my people there would be no survivors from that death trap. If it weren't for Jessa and my scouts fighting those bandits your men and you, would be lying in the sun with the animals picking your bones clean.

"It is due to Jessa and her incredible skills and that of Nathan that there were any still alive for my people to heal.

"No, human. I and my people don't owe you shit. You on the other hand owe me and my people and Jessa everything. You are not being kept here against your will. You are free to go at any time and we wish that you would. There aren't likely to be any bandits between here and Castlerock so you shouldn't have any trouble getting back with out assistance. If you are in that big of a hurry," Dhiren motions with his arms, "Leave.

"If you wish for an escort you will need to sit down, and shut the fuck up until such a time as Jessa and the other survivors are able to return to Castlerock. Jessa still hasn't awakened but we are hopeful that soon she will.

"I would suggest, rather strongly at that, that you never demand to speak to me again. In the future you will treat me and my people with respect or we will start giving you the same respect you give us. If you keep it up long enough we will take the caravan in reparations for the death of my people that stood in your defense against the bandits. Now that I think of it, I do believe that is a good idea." Dhiren narrows his eyes at the human before him and smiles to see the fear on the merchants face. It is well within Dhiren's right to demand payment since so many elves did die on the behalf to the human with out the elves being hired by him for protection.

"If you demand reparations then demand it of YOUR king. It is his duty to keep the bandits and thieves clear on the route. It is his duty to protect his borders and that of those that travel the road. He failed in his duty, he is the reason you were attacked. Take your damn demands to the one that truly owes you. But I have to warn you, I did let your king know about the bandits. I told him that if he didn't do something about them that I would. I told him that if I have to do something about it that I will secure the elven border and will extend the territory of the elves to the pass if necessary to do so.

"You can be the one to let your king know that the pass is now part of Silva. We will be taking care of our borders and we will be the ones making sure that there are no further gatherings of bandits like this one. We will make sure that the pass remains clear and we will be the ones collecting the toll to make sure that it stays that way." Dhiren smiles nastily at the sickened cowardly merchant before him.

Dhiren had just hit Culeb where it hurt him the most, in the money wallet. A toll means higher prices and lesser profit. The people of Castlerock aren't terribly well off, there is a large population of poor and it grows daily. The king cares nothing for his people and so poverty and sickness runs rampant through the streets of Castlerock.

That has been the project Dhiren has been working on with Frosnak, setting up some way for the people of Castlerock to rise above the poverty and earn enough to live and support their families. Especially the females that are all to often left without husbands and fathers to their children for one reason or another.

They are just looking for the right way to launch the project and they still haven't found it.

This is the gift that Dhiren wants to give Jessa more than any other. Proof that he no longer detest humans like he had when they first met.

Just the thought of how frustrating it is to get this project launched makes his temper boil over. Dhiren goes to Kallen to demand a sparring match with the only one that is able to fight him any length of time without being injured.

They are both frustrated and so they stay sparring for hours to work out the anger and frustration. When Dhiren makes it back to Jessa's room he sends Sorid to bed to rest. "You aren't to come back for two days. You haven't been resting enough, Sorid."

Sorid bites back her words. She knows that the prince will have her banned and removed from the palace if she doesn't do as he orders. "Yes, Prince." Sorid finally nods and leaves the room.

Dhiren holds his love's hand and gets lost in his thoughts. He talks to her about what he just did to Culeb and what he wishes he could do to that ass after his ridiculous demands.

Dhiren is so lost to his thoughts and memories that he doesn't notice the stirring of Jessa on the bed.

"Good, he deserves everything you told him," Jessa manages to get out before her dry throat causes her to start coughing.

Dhiren is quick to help her sit up and offers her water. "Why am I in so much pain?" Jessa's waist is covered and so she doesn't realize that she is wounded. 

"That last bandit you went against was a dragon kin. He managed to swing hard enough to rip through your armor and embed his sword in your side. Had I not gotten there when I did you and the remaining humans would have died from wounds."

Jessa looks at Dhiren in horror and pleading, "Nathan?"

Her voice so full of pain it makes Dhiren's eyes lose the tears he'd managed to hold back earlier. "I'm sorry, Jessa. He did his job of body guard until the last. He died, but he took down nearly ten opponents. Possibly more if he had been the one that left the group for dead not far from him. Kallen wasn't sure if it was him or your work on that group. The ground was too scuffed up and the sword wounds were too similar for him to differentiate."

"I would need to see the area to tell you." Jessa manages to get out before she bursts into tears.

"There are three that are still living besides that merchant you hired on with." Dhiren holds his heartbroken wife to him. "Against the odds you managed to save some of them. The merchandise from the caravan before you is yours to keep if you wish it. I have secured it and will supply horses to carry it when the time comes to return to Castlerock."

"What about the pass, Dhiren?"

Dhiren smiles nastily at her words, "The human king was warned and paid no heed. He granted me the right to do as I see fit. I see fit to claim the pass as part of the elven territory. We will keep it bandit free, but the humans that pass through it will be required to pay a toll now."

Jessa shakes her head sadly, "The human king cares so little for his people.

"I don't wish to keep the spoils of the other caravan. I wish to return it to the family of the merchant that was bringing it to Castlerock."

"I will endeavor to find out the name of the merchant that it belonged to. If he has no family then we will have Frosnak sell the items and distribute the money among the poor to help them."

"Thank you, Dhiren."

Dhiren smiles gently, "You are most welcome, Jessa. Now I had better call Sorid and Jenna in here or they will both have my head for not calling them immediately upon your waking. Then later, once you feel up to visitors Sorsha would like to speak to you."

Jessa merely nods as Dhiren gently sets her down before calling a guard to summon both Sorid and Jenna. "Prince, is the princess better or worse?" The guard swallows nervously.

Dhiren smiles broadly, "She's awake and would like nothing more than to see her mother. Better send for Kallen as well."

"Yes, Prince, I'm glad that the princess is awake once more. That is great news." The guard says even as he leaves to look for those the prince requested.

"Yes, it is," Dhiren says in reply but the guard is long out of hearing range. Smiling Dhiren returns to his love and just lets tears of relief fall down his face as he holds her hand and rubs circles on the back of it.