#anywhere

Frank lifts an eyebrow. "Days ago?"

A glance up at the Chief, and he waits to be clued in on the joke.

Colton says "don't search me.. I 'm lost too"

However, while the others have talked, Colton has moved.

"Stonehands! Frank, the sculptor. Firnost." She still seems very amused, then looks back to the others. "I know him. You say he has gone only days ago? Where was he before then?"

Frank nods. "I recognize the name, Brekke."

"He lived here in motel six," The pooka says "We gave him a broom"

Brekke blinks at the pooka, then looks to the eshu for translation.

"He'd been here for over a year, on and off... tending the place at least once a week"

Then her good humor slips away. "If he vanished at that time...then perhaps the thing that threatens has taken him." Then she notices Colton. "Squire?"

Symon also is keeping an eye on the surroundings, and that the Eiluned hasn't crept away - or done anything else worrisome.

"I think.. I think I found the bale" He says

"What? Where?"

Symon listens very carefully.. and hears that voice You won't live to be rescued.

He hisses and moves forward, reaching to try to snag hold of Colton's arm. "Stop! The Dark gloats - do not let it take hold. It caused this fight... whispering in each ear... and may be trying to fool you, too."

Brekke goes to join Colton.

Colton stops "Thanks... " But he says "It's.. a torch. Just a plain old watchmans' torch"

He looks where indicated, kenning through narrowed eyes...

She looks where he's looking.

A watchman's torch.. if you blink, it looks more like a lantern.. if you blink again.. well, in any form, it is the symbol of guardianship, of standing against the dark

II is against a sconce

or is that a shelft?

This thing has no proper form YET in the dreaming

but she can see the ember...blue and weak

"That...that is it." She steps forward to it, and reaches out to offer it a bit of her glamour.

Frank watches carefully.

"Before you claim it..." He whispers, glancing up at the chieftain. "It was first Nunnehi land, and then taken by Trolls. They lost to the dragon, and now others who live here wish to re-stoke the bale. If this motley can work together to defeat - or contain - the Whispering Dark, then don't they deserve the right to hold here, for all? Let them keep it with honor to the memory of those who were here before - all of them." He pauses - reluctant to speak countering the Chief - "Is it really fair to import in some stranger, Troll or no, to rule over those with a local claim and need?" This, pitched for only her to hear, though Colton may catch it as well.

"Chief, yo ucan't claim mroe than one hold anyway"

The Gwydion frowns "if they claim it, good sluagh, the nobles will take it within the week"

"Hey!" The nocker says

"Maybe. Unless someone is maybe willing to join with them and lend their title to the strength to hold it." A shrug, and his eyes flicker over the room, encompassing the eiluned as well, in case she may wish to weigh in.

The Eiluned seems to speak, "The Rock Giant is in the Dark's clutches.... it wouldn't have him just to make it suffer. I suspect it's fueling its influence over us all by making him suffer and leaching his glamour"

"I do not claim it now. I merely strengthen it, sustain it." Again, the offering of glamour to the little ember.

Well, does speak

it flares...

and for a moment they see what it might be... strong, restored..

and they see i nthe flame ember an image of a rock giant pinned and helpless

Symon leans forward, peering at the image. "Well, fuck. ...How do we free him?" This, said in his loudest whisper, looking around at all in the room.

"Find him" the Eiluned knight says

"Right. Where the hell did you come from?" The Gwydion sidhe says to the Eiluned sidhe "You treacherous wench, you were going to seize this for yourself."

"As were you." Symon points out, practically.

"Thank you" The Knight in black and silver says to the sluagh

Brekke listens to the sluagh while watching the bale, then frowns to the group. "Some must defend the bale against those who would claim it. We must free Stonehands. His voice must be part of the decision, as he has been its keeper for so long. Agreed?"

"Of course" The Eiluned says

A nod.

"Sounds like an an adventure" the eshu grins "Let me find him"

"Agreed." Frank rumbles.

An eyebrow at the Eiluned, then she looks to Colton. "Will you guard it?"

"With my life, none will seize it, not even me."

Colton says "Not until you save the Nunnehi and we are all back at least. "