Giving Echo the west and letting him be a King in his own right was out of the question. We decided to offer him a stewardship. This began the splitting of our lands. We split the north into two parts and the south into two parts, while the east (from were we rule) and the west stayed whole. Of these divided lands we appointed stewards. The Northlands were to be guarded by William the Red and Folmer of the wood. The South to be guarded by our brother Echo and Raven’s best friend Tal. The West would be guarded by Odin.

It was a conscious decision to appoint Tal to the South, as he was there as much to watch Echo as anything. Along with the stewardship for Echo, he had to agree to a bride of our choice and be wed to her before his appointment. As a bride for Echo we chose Margaret, Daughter of William the Red. This also was a means to control Echo, as her father was now a steward, and to bring offense to his household would be a direct insult to the royal house.

We spent the next day in negotiations for Margaret’s hand. The following day we summoned Echo to the library once more to tell him our terms. Odin, and Ash were present for the meeting as well.