Because if Darion simply walked into Thandor and dropped three thousand gold coins onto the table without explanation, the first question any sensible ruler would ask was obvious.
How?
How did Percvale suddenly acquire that kind of wealth?
A Barony that had spent years being described as dying, starving and collapsing was not supposed to casually appear with thousands of gold coins ready for negotiation. Most rulers would expect Percvale to arrive begging for extensions, reduced deadlines or mercy. Not repayment.
Certainly not even partial repayment involving an amount this large.
So before the coins ever touched the table, Darion needed King Michul to understand something important first.
Percvale had changed. Not magically and completely. But enough that rebuilding had started.
