"It's kinda fabulous," Merlan says with a laugh. "Nothing to fight if you don't want to and plenty of others are out there fighting things that need to be either chased off or put down for being too aggressive." She shrugged a little. "I could just train war horses and tinger with metal for the rest of my life and it would be fine. Hell, maybe I will. It's been hard but gratifying work so far. Might take in some people who want to work the land, some as well. Or people who want to help with the horses or building cabins."

She looked thoughtful.

"The clearing has enough trees that can be cleared and used for building that the forest won't lack for it."