Kurt continued to learn to put together his gate correctly. But felt he could do it without help. Not under any kind of pressure. He was much slower than Layla was. And still needed to create a fairly large one. The idea of a doorway-sized seemed too far out of reach to him.

Eventually, he started his daily routine and Betsy was there instead of Kyle.

He knew she was going to have a lot to say for this one so he skipped right to making Betsy practice her powers. So they wouldn't be interrupted later.

"Did not miss that," said Betsy.

"But you've gotten so much better."

"Thank you, now for Belwark Harbor."

"Yes, did we secure a deal?"

"In a way, for every five boatloads of product, we would have to pay a single port fee while in their domain."

"Not terrible."

"They also wanted the courtesy extended to them."

"What do you mean?"

"Preferred pricing, basically vouchers, for certain shipments. I assume they intend to load up more valuable stuff extending the benefit. Basically for every other potential port fee we avoid, they want to avoid a similar fee from us."

"But it gives us a foothold only while in their domain right."

"It's the only right they have."

"So there is a bit of a change you should know."

"And what's that?"

"We have two movable gates now."

"That's not a bit of change sir, it changes the whole dynamic."

"But this is welcome news."

"Very. We should immediately put one in the Arrow mountains to negotiate with Lake Longbow and Dakota Springs."

"But can't you just go there?"

"And walk?"

"Fly?"

"We can't fly until after the negotiations. That's the whole point here. Or it was…" Betsy stopped in thought.

Kurt took a moment to explain the process of the gates. And how they could work. Layla could move Kurt's anchor, but Kurt still had to start the process himself. In other words, it was the same problem as pulling Kurt, they wouldn't be able to signal each other. So they would have to arrange times and hope no one got delayed."

They had also found out Kurt could do the same with Layla's anchor though that didn't seem to help as much. As Layla could leave her domain without Kurt holding his anchor and guardians had no such restriction to begin with.

"This definitely helps our status. We had the cold magic from the goblins before now but having two openings means we can move from one continent to the other in the same day, same hour even."

"I thought you'd like it," said Kurt.

"It would have helped in Belwark."

"I honestly didn't know, blame Layla. We could easily reopen Bright Flame Castle's Gate too."

"I want to discuss building my castle on that subject," said Count Betsy.

"Your castle?"

"Yes, I have been informed about… something…involving Horus."

"He's dead."

"I know."

"But you want to have a bit more control."

"Yes, my office is not enough for my status."

"The status you demanded."

Betsy looked a bit annoyed by that. "Yes."

Kurt smirked, "Not as easy as I make it look is it?"

"You would be broke without me."

"And you would still be in a small warehouse somewhere."

Betsy turned her head agitated. "I guess…I did ask for it."

"You know you can build your castle, Tiffany should be included obviously. You know how to organize it. As a guardian, I would expect it to be there."

"Thank you, Sir Kurt."

Kurt didn't like how Betsy responded. Like she was a bit defeated. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, no," said Betsy, "I just wasn't used to being the one making all the decisions."

Kurt laughed, "I don't understand that at all."

"As I do, push options, but," Betsy paused, "I wasn't expecting to second-guess myself as much without anyone else."

"See what you do then is get one of the people under you to talk and explain stuff."

Betsy looked at Kurt confused, then angry, then started to smile. "Damn you." She realized Kurt had used that tactic using her as the 'people under him' the entire time.

"I basically just try to agree with the smartest idea in the room and object if it's stupid."

"Objecting is the hard part."

Kurt looked at Betsy, "You don't seem to have many problems with me about that."

"That's differnt… I'm informing you and you.."

"It's not different anymore Countess."

"Kurt!"

"You should probably have a conversation with my wife."

"Talia? Why?"

"Just tell her you need some lessons in high society, she'll set you straight. One of the reasons I married her."

"I'll try to find time," said Betsy, "it's not like I can…wait…" she paused.

"Yes, now you can, Countess."

"Okay, is there anything else?"

"You heard about our VIP?"

"No."

"Mistress Lilly."

"Does Talia know?"

"It's Mother Carla's daughter: and yes she does know."

"Ohh. And…"

"We want to encourage her to stay, and she has free rein to go anywhere in our domain."

"What?"

"She has the right to a large portion of our army."

"What?"

"So if it involves Mistress Lilly you should provide for it generously, you can inform Layla or me, about anything too excessive."

"It sounds like you want me to spoil some child."

"I do, but she's not too unreasonable herself."

"Do I out rank her?"

"In your castle, yes. Among goblins no."

"That's not very clear."

"Just don't piss her off too much, if it costs a bit let it happen. Talk to me if there are real problems. She's not setting up shop, or won't just yet."

"So I should talk to Joshua a little."

"Or actually Hank apparently."

"Hank really?"

"Yeah, he would know more than most about Mother Goblins."

"So if she stays we double our goblin forces in the long run."

Kurt nodded.

"And if she leaves we lose people."

Kurt nodded. "This is something we want to avoid."

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