The Luthor household servants were quick and efficient in bringing Kara's saddlebags up to the guest room the governess found for her. She could tell that it was kept clean but not often used. Nothing looked moved or touched in quite some time.

Kara pulled open a saddlebag and rummaged through for the pouch of jerky she brought with her. Alex warned her before leaving their home about the fasting. The Zorels were known for their appetites.

What people didn't know or understand was that there was a reason for it, a pact made long ago by some ancestor of hers to some all powerful being who granted the Zorels slightly better strength, speed and sensory skills than the average human. The downside was an increased appetite. She had to eat more, or she would weaken at a faster rate than most humans.

She really hoped Lena would make up her mind quickly. The Zorels went through a form of fasting to train once every 2 years to ensure they still knew and understood how to maintain a fight even at their weakest, but she did not look forward to feeling as such if she could avoid it.

Kara dug through her saddle bags and pulled out nicer, evening wear. She pulled out a white shirt and blue vest she knew would bring out her eyes. The trousers she would wear, were a dark, navy color. The boots a worn, dark brown.

Satisfied, Kara called in a maid to help her remove her armor. Sometimes she had Alex help, but she was going to allow the woman to relax.

Kara chewed at her jerky as she changed. She hoped it would be enough to get through her time there.

A servant knocked at her door to notify her of dinner time. Kara was relieved to hear it. She was beginning to feel her hunger again.

She followed as they led her to a smaller dining hall meant for family meals or when they had very few guests. Kara stood by the seat the servant led her to, Lena not yet arrived to dine.

It was an awkward few minutes of waiting before her extrasensory hearing picked up voices arguing. Kara tried not to listen, but she heard, nonetheless.

"Mother, the Zorels have done nothing but good for our people, if not for them, we would have all starved to death a long time ago." That was definitely Lena.

"If not for a Zorel, your brother would have never drained the land in his battle against him, causing the famine in the first place." That muse have been Lillian, the mother of Lena and Alexander.

"He knew he didn't have to use such power, he could have tried another way or even just-,"

"Are you suggesting he should have given in?" Lillian's voice turned hard.

Kara heard their heeled footsteps stop. They paused.

"I am saying we cannot blame anyone except Alexander. He did this to us." Lena was breathing hard.

The footsteps resumed, but accompanied by silence.

Lena soon appeared in the doorway. Kara smiled at her, warmly. Lillian gave her a cold glare from beyond Kara's shoulder. Kara remembered that look from years before.

Lillian had not liked her dance with Lena.

As Lena approached her seat at the head of the table, Lillian took the seat opposite Kara. Kara ignored the way the woman was still glowering at her to smile at Lena instead.

"Lady Lena," She tried to hold back her eagerness. "I-, you look lovely."

Kara swallowed. She wasn't supposed to say that. It had slipped out, she meant to comment on something else but Lena currently wore an evening dress in a dark, deep red color that contrasted with her eyes. Her black hair was pinned and pulled back, a few curls framed her lovely face.

Lena's eyes lit up.

"You look quite lovely yourself."

A throat cleared. Lillian. Lena clapped her hands. A servant stepped forward. She whispered into his ear, Kara hearing, "Begin serving."

Lena sat. As head of the household, it was impolite to sit until she did so. Kara was relieved to take her seat. Though she spent much of her afternoon lazing, five days in the saddle were still written into her body. She still wanted to enjoy as much time relaxing as she could.

"I do hope your quarters are to your satisfaction." Lena began.

Kara smiled. "They're quite nice, though I do hope you consider my cousin's proposal."

Lena eyed her mother. Lillian pretended to be interested in her fingernails, a rude gesture at the dinner table.

She turned her attention to Kara. "What is it, exactly that your cousin seeks?"

Servants entered, they brought with them jugs of water. Kara thanked them as they filled her cup. The servant started, surprised, but then continued.

Kara hesitated. Should she reveal Kal's plan? He told her to do what she needed to, to get Lena to either agree to come or send someone in her place as her representative.

"Kal thinks he may have found something that will restore the life force of your lands." Kara decided to go with the truth. Lena needed to know how important this negotiation was.

Lena sat back. She maintained a calm exterior, but her body language held surprise at the information. As servants began to serve soup, Lena straightened and tasted her own. Kara did not realize the way with which she watched the woman, forgetting her own food at the moment. She was enthralled.

"These negotiations, he wants something in exchange for restoring the life force of our lands?" Lena asked carefully.

Lillian's cup spilled. Kara and Lena both turned to stare at her.

"Forgive me, I can be so clumsy sometimes, in my old age." She gave them a falsely self-deprecating smile. A servant hurried forward to clean the mess and replace the cup.

"Kal merely believes we can negotiate a formal agreement, something much more solid that would create a permanent alliance between the houses of Luthor and Zorel." Kara replied. She didn't speak of what her cousin really wanted to propose. It was much too soon to think of that. She wanted to see if Lena would be open to it first.

Lena toyed with the bracelet on her wrist. Kara knew what it was. It bound her magic. Perhaps she wished access to her own? Lena was not entirely a Luthor. Perhaps Kal could be convinced to let up?

Kara released that thought with a sigh. He would never allow it. He did not trust the Luthor house, even after all these years, he sent her to speak to Lena with a warning, "Never trust a Luthor". Yet Kara, seeing Lena, and being in her household, her extrasensory hearing picking up on the servants' gossip, knew Lena was well-liked and well-loved by her people. Even if she was scorned solely for her name by others outside of her lands.

No, Kara was willing to trust her and give her a chance.

"I would have to have someone govern in my place if I were to come." Lena stated as the main entrée was served.

Fish was the only game that could be caught in the Luthor lands and one of the only foods they maintained a healthy amount of despite being unable to grow anything. Their water supply was fine, but it was as if the life itself had been sucked out of the land. Nothing would grow, trees were lifeless, some turned to petrified wood. Grass died, dried then turned to hard dead lands. Much of the ground was dry and cracked. Even rain could not restore the land.

Kara tried not eat greedily. She was a noblewoman after all.

"I can govern in your place, many of your deputies can handle things fine in your absence." Lillian spoke up. Lena eyed her oddly.

"Why mother, I would almost think you were complimenting them." Lena teased thought Kara could tell it was not entirely joking.

Lillian chewed her entrée and swallowed before answering, "They're a capable group of commoners."

"There's the mother I know." Lena taunted. She returned her attention to Kara.

"Send a messenger to your cousin, we will ride out in 3 days' time." Lena declared. "Let us see if this solution your cousin has is worth the negotiations he has in mind."