#anywhere

"Jeeze, Olgar, turn your head when you make that face. You'll scare children."

"Pff, the young need to buck up. Members of the society for the VIsually unpleasant aren't going anywhere"

"Shut up and make the call."

"Sure, shut up, talk... see, this is why it's a good thing you're not chief, contradictory orders like that?" He calls

"Hey, Kerri, it's me? Got some news for the lodge... the chief in?"

Olgar relays everything, in his own style

Frank can hear half the conversation "Yeah, guy doesn't want to risk at at HIS hold, as Extraction compliates things to eeither a huge suck, or the chimerical version of that explosion in ghostbusters"

He nods, then sounds surprised, "Okay. Sure. By the way, I'm taking my TV set out during this just to save it it from the risk." He hangs up, "Paid too much for that widescreen beauty. " He marches for a minute then looks to Frank, "Oh, the chief says agreed and understood."

"Right." There are things on his mind, but he carries them easily. "So do we go back to the DeBukes or take the long way home?"

"That's what I was asking you? But, since you're leaving it to me? Long way. the DeBukes are mannerly, but theyr'e also nosey about things like local sidhe , and it' easier for them not to know than to lie to em if they pry again.. Though the baron there seemed pretty harmless as would be tyrants go."

Frank nods. "No, I agree with you. Better to keep... you know, keep the streams separate."

"Also, this way we might avoid that stag party, and while the dirty playing cards look to be fun, I don't want to wear a silly hat when we get home"

"-Dirty-!?!?..... Look, ditch those things or hide them before we get back, ok?"

'No frank, I thought I'd leave them on the table for the kids to find..." A grumble "Of course I'm hiding them."

"Fine, fine.... "

"You'd think after I got him to agree to help with Dagmar's situation if need be you'd give me some credit for brains. "

"Now now, Bessie, don't think I don't appreciate it. Extra contacts with that kind of skill is always good. I do have a few of my own, still; we can get her hooked up with or without a noble's assistance."

"Yeah yeah, Lambchop, you're almost as good at finding solutions as you causing headaches. " The way back, it turns out, is longer, but not that bad. Theyre legs will be a bit tired, and they cross thorugh Firnost, but otherwise.

Frank checks the statue, and grunts with satisfaction at its unmolested state.

"Guess they got bored with it" he motions the man to come on

Frank follows Olgar. "MMm. No. I don't think that's it. I think... message received." And they are gone.

They return home, safe and sound and in time for dinner. This time? no funny hats

(End Scene)