Ava did not react initially to the Queen's demand that a third of each of their armies be sent to defend the borders. Her thoughts shifted to calculate where those men would be pulled within her own realm and the responsibilities they would be abandoning in favour of their new obligations. It was a lot to focus so intensively on the possibility that another attack would be made so shortly after the first. The Danaan had lost their element of surprise. It would be obvious to a blind man that the Fae would be strengthening their borders. If they wished to attack, Ava highly doubted that they would march straight into Fae territory.
She was saved from nodding her understanding when Mikino spoke, drawing her attention. It was not something pleasant to consider, the Danaan having a foothold already, but there were truth in his words. Finding and eliminating such a foot hold would prove to be just as significant as holding their borders. The threat lingering there would build around the misplacement of their strength.
With his request, her eyes flicked briefly to Lord Mekhal to gauge his reaction to both the Queen's words and Mikino's suggestion before returning to settle on their Queen. Ava held her own tongue, waiting instead to see how this would play out.