#anywhere

A murmur pitched just for the horse. "Do you have fondness for this, your rider?" gesturing to the sidhe baroness.

the coat is DARK, at first one might think it black, but no, a charcoal gray , a storm cloud gray... white blaze and fetlocks contrast like light breams breaking through

A stamp, a rumble, and a whispered response back "I bear her no ill will, for she keeps me hale and strong, but neither am I deeply attached to the two legger. I have been won before this... I will mention, for the record, each time I have passed hands due to victory, it has been because of a contest on foot." this appears to be VERY important for the Horse to clariify.

Brekke grins. "Understood. Will you go with me willingly if I claim you?"

"Are there...apples where you dwell? I mean, Clearly I will go regardless, but apples improves my morale about it"

Another grin. "My barony is in the Kingdom of Apples. You shall have your choice, but not so many that you sicken on them."

"His name is Stormwake" The Baroness says

Stormwake the Stallion perks up at that name "Nice kingdom name... and yes, one can't get dumpy. Mares like one trim"

A nod, then, and Brekke mutters, "You agree, then?" to the horse.

"I do, I will bear saddle in your service. I will hold the bit in same. From you and yours alone will I take spur or crop, and woe betide any other who try while I am in your service. "

Brekke nods and pats the horse's neck as she turns to the Daireann. "It is done. Stormwake will come with me."

Olgar mutters something about Sylvi going to inSIST on a motorcycle at 16 at this rate.

"Baroness Dehuene" The Duchess says "You take your loss with grace, but your house is known for holding grudges. And you have proven to hold some against my subjects whatever I may think of their house... You will, with honors, be escorted out to the trods , healed, and then released. Please do not return for a season, after which, you might be welcome again. I leave it to you to tell your sponsor of his pennons' fate, but do tell him I am not pleased by his oversight in letting me know of his interest in my lands. "

The Baroness D ehuene nods at Brekke, and looks a bit stung at the Duchess' announcement. She does turn the pennons over to the Baroness Brekke , albeit a bit hastily,perhaps because it's best done quickly.

The banner is a grand thing, bearing symbols of water and wheel juxtiposed with the Daireann tree

Brekke accepts the pennons with dignity and holds it carefully. She has nothing else to say to the Baroness...or if she does, she is thinking that it's best not to instigate later Daireann retribution.

She then turns to the Duchess and bows deeply. "Your grace, a duel was not part of my agenda in coming to your court today. I hope you will forgive the intrusion."

"Things things do happen it seems, Baroness. It was a pleasure to watch in truth... for the myriad styles" not quite the truth at all, but she did get some pleasure from it. Perhaps the Daireann offended her juust a bit.

"Do you require haven for the night? A meal?"

Brekke says, "Olgar and I will eat with you, your grace, and thank you for the invitation, but we should return to Rivervale tonight." A glance to the Rover to confirm this arrangement.

THe Rover nods "Wife at home."

A grin and nod. "And husband."

"Well, what Fiona would I be not to completely understand that." The Duchess smiles genuinely.

"If Stormwake can be stabled until we depart, I will appreciate it."

"Certainly" She says

"And I hope to learn more of your Duchy, your grace, before we leave."

"Now that is subject I do love to jaw about"

The events that follow after seem almost rapid fire... or perhaps that's just the adrenileine having worn off. The Daireann is given escort...and word is sent to a certain Liam hold that there will be no challenge. The 'line' forms up again, and the sidhe that gave up his spot does go last... it turns out he is a member of a Banner House! This is news to Brekke, she had heard of them, but the Parliment of dreams has granted official recognition? Dinner is actually wonderful, the Duchess is a proud mountain woman to her bones, and will speak of the land with a love that might startle Brekke, for she feels much the same about her own woods.

At some point before dinner, Brekke quietly asks Olgar, "How much did you win?"

"Depends.. how much does what "I' WIn become what 'we' win? if I confess?" Wryly

"Well, I suspect that depends on how much you wish to give me an answer that I will know to be a lie."

"I had to up the difficulty" He admits, then says "Your rep makes it really hard to get folks to bet against you... so I had to sweeten the deal. We almost lost everything. One more exchange and I'd be down a lot and asking you to help pay 'our' debt" Not true, he would pay it all himself most likely. Still, she had to do it by a certain number of ROUNDS? Olgar certainly has confidence in her. "As it stands, that little tweak ended up getting us..." He leans over and whispers "We got about 15 chunks of dross and 300 bucks"

"Mm." Even she's surprised by that much, and she murmurs back, "Take what you think to be my share of that, and find a way to bring it to Lady Ereen's (sp?) farm as an anonymous donation."

"Sure you don't want it donated from a 'sam'?" He smirks

Brekke blinks then grins. "Even better. See to it, please."

That agreed upon all unwinds well... even better than well, for when she mounts the fae steed to ride on the trod... Stormwake GROWS... so that he is troll worthy!

Fae steeds, like kinain of humans, can have some magic gifts of their own.

While the Chieftain is not one to gloat, there is a great sense of satisfaction riding out of a town she has cleaned up like a heroine in a western movie.

Yippie Ki yay

(End scene)