#anywhere

"I suppose we..release each other from our oaths of fealty and vassalage now? I feel.. kind of bad even asking, but if I'm still sworn to you some are going to try to use you against me , or me against you or ...something." Not blind to the ugly side of politics.

He snorts "Some will worry you'll try to take over, though they should be so lucky"

She nods. "I know. I am honored, was honored, by your service. And I will miss you."

"Once they sort out who is Chief and who is storm mountain or hearth... it's possible I may find myself Errant. ANd even if I don't... doesn't mean I won't visit you. Or you can't visit me, you know?"

"...Yes."

"You could join a House, you know."

"I thought about it... Fiona, Liam... Heck, Even Varich"

"Any of those would be lucky to have you... though Varich is largely Unseelie."

A pause. "And... and I think I would be sad to see you denied love."

A smile, "You have a point. No Varich. I.." A thought "I suppose Symon would tell me to angle this for the most I could get. He's rather unseelie himself, but he does point out things I miss"

"He is... well, I don't know him well. But it seems you have a healthy perspective."

"THanks.. I think, I think there ought to be kind of a reeve here.. not one of the three, but one who has leave to speak to the three openly on behalf of non trolls and non sidhe.. maybe that reeve could be voted on. IT might seem powerless, but that way we could have good advice or at least here what the people worry about that might not occur to a trollish perspective."

She nods. "Perhaps."

"...Do all three need to be trolls?"

"Yes. Like I told Symon, This lodge was founded by trolls. It was defended by trolls. Maybe it sounds kithist, but they paid the blood price up to the very end, and for this place particularly, with the blackgate in its belly? While I'd welcome any help, I think trolls are best suited to be guardians and this lodge needs that. The only ones who might have a better claim are the Nunehi, and they recognize us... in fact, it might be a betrayal of the peace for trolls to go 'you know what, forget this whole 'lodge' thing despite our promises'." He says "We have enough fighting with nunnehi in other kingdoms without risking ancient pacts."

"All three?"

"If the Chieftain is a troll, does that mean all three must be? Hell, why not a Nunnehi Mountain?"

"It will absolutely piss off the Duke."

"The Duke is a troll > I would hope he'd forgive a lodge if anyone would" A sigh

"Sorry, the Count."

"Oh, sidhe Dougal.. .very traditioanl. I don't know about him... some of his complaints.. I think he might be okay with some trolls if they were all nobles but he'd want a Baron, not a chieftain, and that he'd want to be a sidhe."

"And I don't know many troll barons..."

"Well, Chieftain Brekke is also Baroness Brekke" He says "And there was Hewetti, House Dougal? He tried to propose to you until he found out you weren't ah.. interested in guys. Nice scottish fellow"

"Mmm. And Dougal. And a troll."

"He was a decent guy..."

"He was I..." A Pause "He'd make a good chieftain in some ways"

"Worth reaching out, you think?"

"Yeah, he'd be a good way to maybe mollify the Count, or at least know how he thinks... has he set up his Barony yet? Or is he still trying to find a good place?"

"I don't think he has. Freeholds are not so easily obtained."

"Well, now's ..." He bites down on what he was going to say

Her feathers slick. "Now's a prime opportunity. Tailor made, isn't it? Troll, Dougal, Baron."

"The Count will be mollified by one of his house. I saw a DeBuke out there, you'll never get them to support a troll trio with a sidhe Baron."

"He's good... and you know.. I feel bad. Because those DeBukes, they don't know you, well, maybe Earl does, pardon , sir Earl... adn he respects you, but if the others knew you'd better they'd know what a great person you are... and you'd be a great ruler except you don't want it. Guess it's more autumn sidhe"

"I...." She trails off and shakes her head. "I will never have my own fire. Most fae don't. That's just how it is."

"Yeah, but... you didn't want one, did you?" He raises a brow

"Colton, it's fine."

"I'm not sure it is," h e says "I know you like being regent, you do it well... but maybe I don't know as much as I thought. If you wanted to rule..." A deep breath "At the risk of getting in trouble with the Chieftain? Now is your best chance."

"Now. Do you think you'll be here for more than a few weeks?" She reaches for the backpack. "I told them you had measles, and I brought homework."

"Thanks, and no not more than that."

"And if I sweep in and claim that fire, I will be betraying my housebrother and his wife, and alienating allies that were hard fought for Earth Runes and Truthbranch."

"That's not what I mean... " He says "You see, this can't be the only lodge returning."

"So no, it is a false chance. But this Hewitt... that might satisfy..."

"The dragon ate over a dozen of them! EIther old lodges wil lreturn now, or... if they can't return, new holds will form from the energy." He explains "Smarter folks than me worked it out"

"Colton..."

"Colton, I will go find Baron Hewitt, alright? You hold steady here. Liege or no liege, I am still your guardian until you're emancipated. So the house will be there, okay?"

"I'm saying you might find one, and..." A look at her, "you think I don't know how much you gave up for me? how much you give up for everyone? But if you want something, if you have a dream, you should be allowed to follow it. It doesn't make you less a liam or less a baroness or anything"

"I know what I am, Colton."

"What? Kind? Wise? I know you worry that your winter side takes too quickly to flattery, but it doesn't change the fact that all that praise you heaped on me? Well, you deserve a lot of credit for the man I am and if I am a good man it's largely because of you. And You are a good person, and a good regent. Anything anyone asks you rise to the occiasion. You've given up a lot for me and I ..sometimes feel bad, but this isnt' about my guilt, its' about how you have a right to seek out the happy. Now that i'm gone, maybe you have space to do it. No shame in that"

"Do not ever think you held me back, Colton. Having you as my squire was a gift."

"Yes, but it was also .. " A smile "I was hard work. Sylvi says I was a bit of a jerk at first, and I believe her. ANd Sir Bachdion? I was not his 'most nerve wracking student, but..' 'had my moments' to quote him. And that was for stuff like poetry and dance like you suggested. Thank you for making me better, but, I know , gift or not, I wasnt' easy. I had troll sized baggage"