"For now, nothing changes unless your protection agreement changes."
"So we are not part of the Crownward March?"
Aurelian answered.
"You are under Crownward protection. That is not the same thing as joining permanently."
The administrator seemed relieved and disappointed at the same time.
Aurelian understood both reactions.
Protection gave his people security.
Permanent membership might give them more stability, but it also meant giving up part of their independence.
There was no reason to force that decision now.
The first argument came from trade.
Neris wanted common docking standards and cargo documentation across every Crownward-controlled settlement.
Helion already used one format.
Larkspur used another.
Sanctuary Ardent still relied on partly restored Vhaloric systems that recorded half their cargo under categories nobody else understood.
