#anywhere

Sylvi grins back at her mother as she sits next to Dika-Hannah. "You're both sneaky, Mom and Dad."

"Tighter than ever, the Nunehi helped him when he was deposed... and since then, he has insisted on repaying that debt. We have honored representatives....rights to access, and even sacred spots with full protection. He is a good chief"

Olgar grins at their daughter "Yeah well, where did you think you got it from?"

"Me? Sneaky? Never!" Sylvi declares with a grin and finishes her dinner.

Brekke nods. "I am glad. And I am glad we sent Sylvi up there as Emissary. The hatchet she brought back...I am told you had something to do with that."

Dika Hannah grins at Sylvi's protest, but then nods to the Chieftain "Yes. I was kind of a guide. "

"Kind of? I wouldn't have made it through that without your help."

"Well, you still did the most of the work" Dika-Hannah insists

"Wouldn't been worth anything if you hadn't...um..." She suddenly stops mid-sentence and glances at her parents. "...if you hadn't helped," she finishes.

Kerri doesn't miss that. "Helped?" she prods, frowning slightly.

"Mm?" Olgar also perks up

Sylvi bites her lip and glances at the Nunnehi, then back at her parents. "It...uh...might have been a bit more difficult than I told you."

"But our hearts were pure, and we triumphed" Dika-Hannah says hoping that placates them

Kerri's really frowning now. "How much more 'difficult'?"

"Um..." Sylvi doesn't quite cringe, but it's a near thing. "Well...I don't really remember that part well...."

Brekke raises a brow. "Sylvi...what happened?"

Sylvi's eyes go a bit wider as she realizes that lies really won't work now. "Well...I, um...drowned. A little."

The clattering fork is Kerri's.

"...and Dika-Hannah saved my life," Sylvi adds quickly.

"Very pure" Dika-Hannah adds

Olgar's teeth grind a little

Brekke notes the parents' reactions, and looks only very slightly bemused. "Yes, I believe you left that portion of the story out before."

"She did" Olgar says, then looks to his daughter

Sylvi musters a weak smile. "But I got better."

"Better than death. high standards" Olgar says

"Please, Mr and Mrs. Davidson. She nearly died, yes, but she was so brave, and she helped so many people. You should be proud of her success, not angry at her trying to make it so you didn't worry. She never wanted to hurt you, she knew you'd worry."

Sylvi beams a little more winningly as Dika-Hannah pleads her case.

Kerri reclaims a neutral expression. "Then...it seems we owe you more than we knew, Dika-Hannah. Thank you for saving our daughter's life." She says it very clearly and formally through a rather tense jaw.

"She would have done the same for me" The Pug'wi shrugs

Olgar hurmphs "Did the Baron know about this near death experience?" A look to his daughter

"I..." She frowns and looks at Dika-Hannah. "I don't remember if we told him."

"We didn't." Dika-Hannah says "At least, I didn't."

Olgar exchanges a look with his wife.

Looking back to her father, she says, "I don't think he knows."

Kerri receives the glance from Olgar and gives a brief nod. "Well, he will."

Brekke watches the silent married-brain communication, keeping the same slightly bemused look and not commenting.

"Well..." Sylvi offers, "...maybe I should send him a message about it? We could both write it, Dika-Hannah and me, so it's not like playing telephone if you try to tell what happened."

"Mmm" Olgar says "You sure it won't slip your mind this time too?"

"No, Dad. I promise, really. And...I just...it didn't seem like it was something that I needed to tell, since I'm okay. I mean...do you tell all the times you get into big trouble on the trods?" A bit of stubborn reasonability.

Olgar nods "I tell your mom some pretty hair raising stuff. Next?"

Sylvi blinks and looks to her mother to check this factoid. Kerri looks back at her blandly. No help there. "Well, you don't tell me, so I didn't know..." Sylvi ends lamely.

"Well, Sylvi and Dika-Hannah will craft that message tonight, you will look it over before it is sent tomorrow," Brekke nods, rising from the table. "Thank you for dinner, Hearth. I have patrol. Welcome again, Dika-Hannah."

"Chieftain," Dika-Hannah rises "Your daughter, the older one. She is the peacemaker yes? or strives to be?"

"Jessica, yes. She has the hatchet now, though I do not think she has yet used it."

"I was wondering if she had any luck, thank you. If I learn more of what might help her, how do I contact her?" Hopeful

"That is a good question. Since you are in touch with Sylvi, perhaps you should contact her first, and she can relay the message. If you prefer, though, I can ask Jessica for her preferences for contact before you leave."

"Well, Sylvi will work.. she was an EXCELLENT Emissary," Dika-Hannah says "And has earned all the trust we can give "

Olgar raises a brow, not Brekke level, more Frankish recognition of a jab

A glance to Olgar and Kerri at that, then back to the Nunnehi. "We have been very impressed with Sylvi's work in that role and otherwise. Have her tell you about her recent journeys. Now, excuse me." And she heads for the door, calling two of the dogs to go with her as she heads out.

Sylvi's winning grin is a bit uncertain.