Indirik: How about we attack Talerium, if we don't like long-distance wars? Let's put your character where your mouth is, to mangle a saying.
Ha! You picked the wrong example.
You have no idea how many times Kende has proposed marching right through Talerium to knock on CE's back door. (I hate marching all the way over to Menedor...) I even outlined the plan in some detail to the Royal Advisors. Unfortunately, KK won't let me.
He seems to have some funny idea about honoring treaties and all that jazz. And since KK is the King, we have to do what he says.
