#anywhere

"Thank you, Dagmar. You've been very kind. You've never met a sidhe before?" He seems curious about that

She shakes her head. "I've met a satyr. And other trolls."

"Are your parents sidhe?" Curious, following up on a theory.

"Oh no," He says with a sad look, "I"m afraid not. Good folk"

"Zane said it skips generations, sometimes."

"Most sidhe are an exception to that, while it's true some of House Liam went the Changeling way, and House Scathach's majority did as well... most sidhe are, are," he frowns, "I hesitate to say it. It doesn't reflect well on us and I'd hate to give a bad impression on my entire kith."

"Wait - you aren't a Changeling? What are you called, then?"

"I thought only Changelings could see, but you... you see me, right? The blue? I see you." A pause. "Does that make you a chimera, then?"

He nods, "First of all, I see you. I'm aware you're blue , tall, and a troll. I have a body, just like you do, in both worlds, and thus am not a chimerea "He takes a breath and continues, " I'm still called a Changeling, Or Kithain, but well, the terms aside, the methods are differet for most sidhe. You see, We're ,well, some would dislike the term, but we're body jackers. We possesses a mortal form by kicking the moral soul out. While we are influenced by what remains, we don't 'merge' like the Changeling Way did. We're from Arcadia, which is the center of the Dreaming. Many of us have been exiled, or returned for other reasons, and to survive, we need mortal bodies as shelter from Banality. Frankly, I think the Changeling Way is far more honorable, but we don't always have a choice. "

Stares, looking a bit overwhelmed.

"Yeah, I don't blame you, it's a lot to grasp. Um, ever see a movie where someone is..possessed? "

"Sure. So you're like... a demon? You don't seem like one. I don't feel like... I still feel like me, just..."

"Just more" He nods, "And...not quite a demon, but the metaphor is close. I don't advise using it near some other sidhe mind you. We're not evil. we're not out to drag anyone to hell. Well, maybe the Balor and Leanhaun each in their own way, but I have biases against those Houses. "

"Do all sidhe have houses? How do you get one?"

"Most of us learn what house we belong to during our Fostering or certainly our Saining. We reaffirm it by oaths and ritual and such. Each House has it's boons and downsides. Almost every sidhe I know has a House membership, but one does hear stories of exceptions."

Bristles. Fostering, again.

"I say something wrong?"

A tilt to his head.

"No. Just... no. You didn't."

"I was told oaths are dangerous."

"Oaths are...important. They're a source of great power, but yes, they have a price.Your own Kith is known for their ties to Oaths. A troll gains more from one given, and loses more from one broken. I think you should talk to another troll about that, but I can tell you I think Oaths should never be taken lightly." A sigh "I fear House Liam is considered hypocritical on that matter."

Abruptly. "It was near the water. We might be able to spot the boats."

She turns on her heel and starts walking. "Do Liam not take oaths?"

"Interesting" He moves along following her if she leads.

She has only been there once, but she remembers the bright colors and the warmth that radiated... a place that felt like welcome.

"Liam takes oaths very seriously, but we are among the Oathbroken. You see, our Founder, well, stories vary, but in a nutshell? A Sidhe King of another House kidnapped a mortal under his charge and hid under the fae laws ... Liam violated those laws to rescue her. He was tried, and convicted by a less than just council in my view. Frankly, many of us think that our founder's real crime was being right and throwing that abuses of other Houses back in their teeth. Like folks who deny global warming are usually the first to assume scam artistry on the parts of scientists? Others will say differently. Liam was declared Oathbroken. It was an attempt to break his power. Every one in his House was allowed a chance to spurn him. To denounce him and break trust with him. Instead, we stayed Loyal. And so the Silver Oak on blue became uprooted, and any who are of this House are treated as Oathbroken. Some aspects of Fae Law's protection and more no longer apply to us, or at least, we are treated so. That's our tragedy, that we are loyal to our lord, devoted in our cause, and dedicated to those who dream- And we are punished for it. Forever."

"That's stupid. Getting in trouble for rescuing someone? You break a promise, and punished forever?"

"Everybody breaks promises."

"Yes it is very stupid," he sighs, "Sidhe are, born to rule, but that doesn't always mean we're born to rule well." He glances back at her mention of everyone breaking promises "Dagmar, you definitely should talk to a troll about oaths and promises."

A snort. "I know what promises are worth."

"Yes, but that strength you're enjoying?"

"Because trolls are strong. Yes."

Dagmar pauses, checking her bearings. She brings up a hand to shield her eyes as she searches for the white of sails.

"Well, " A hem "When trolls break Oaths , they lose that strength. They get sickly. "

"Now many Oaths have a price if broken, period, some will strike you blind for a year and a day, and so on, but Oaths broken for trolls carry an additional price. In our world? Oaths and promises and Contracts have power"

"That's why they're dangerous.... well, fine. So I won't make any oaths, easy enough."

"Sounds like they're for suckers, anyway."

"It's..more complicated than that," he says "But, again, you really should talk to Sir Franklyn or other trolls"

Geffron seems a bit worried for her.

She hesitates, one hand against a tree, the other using her staff like a walking stick. "I don't know."

"You don't know... about talking to other trolls?"Clafifying

"Well, Sir Franklyn. Or the rest of them. I don't know."

"Well, I haven't met them, but everything I hear is positive. If that helps alleviate your worry?"

"You shouldn't believe what you hear. What people are seen like and what they are ain't the same. How do you know they're safe?"

"...I mean okay.."

"Oh, well, trust is a factor, yes, but also? Research. House Liam has a reputation for being great scholars. House Eiluned maybe fancy itself the House of Secrets but we're the House of Wisdom and lore. Some of the greatest scribes, librarians, and yes, historians there is. So yes, we index well. Rivervale has a history, as does the folks in it, that have been confirmed."

"I think I see it." Diverting.

He follows, "Chieftain Brekke is called the Shacklebreaker for freeing slaves. Sir Franklyn has helped mortalsand fae alike. Sir Vali is a scourge of Thallian. Rover Olgar has saved more lives on the silver that I can probably count slew a basilisk once I think. And so on."

"Look, you see it?"

"Yes, thank you..." Geffron says as it comes into view, "I can get there from here."