#anywhere

Finding Clem isn't hard. She's at the center of it all

No surprise there. Sylvi approaches the group surrounding the Chieftain and listens for a few moments.

Not trying to be sneaky...just not wanting to interrupt at an inopportune moment.

"I will not have another fight DeBuke on DeBuke, you hear me? I am not above elder forming folks and putting them on a shelf if they can't be helpful. You will obey the Hearth Pro Tem because she is the best person for the job. If you don't work, you don't eat. you don't heed her? Don't blame me when she doesnt' feed you. I am done pussy footing about this"

Sylvi tries to hide a grin as the Chieftain lays down the law. Good.

"Now CLem, we have a right to petition..."

"I was here. I heard. Now, seems to me if you keep repeating things, you've got time on your hands. Stables or Wash line, your choice, but get to work. I have no time for slacking"

Grumbles.. and the fellow goes

And then Clem raises a brow "Well?"

And the others part as well, save for one dark skinned DeBuke. Teesha looks at Clem "No way they would have talked to the old Chief like that."

Clem nods "No they wouldn't. But I don't care if they bark as long as they don't bite at each other. And I bark bigger"

Sylvi comes forward, hands up mock-defensively. "I swear I've been working and am about to go back to work. But I wanted to check in with you, Chieftain."

"Sylvi, you are a sight for sore eyes"

An exhale. "I'm glad to hear that. Wasn't sure if I was going to be walking into a those-evil-Rivervale-folks situation."

Teesha snorts "Some thought about it, but those fools got shot down quick."

Clem nods then says to Sylvi "I admit, this did not get revealed at a good time. I'm more irked at Myrttle Anne. Boggans" A sigh

Sylvi bites back the first thing she was going to say, and instead opts for, "How is Hearth Agnes? I can help...?" she offers.

"I appreciate it, darling, but spring magics and heatherbalms are already underway"

"Okay. Just, y'know, wanted to make the offer. So...it sounds like you've got a few problems going at once. And, um, I should just mention that even if they obey what SallyMae says, that isn't stopping them from making snide comments outside the kitchen window. Just so you know."

Clem winces. .."Teesha..would you..."

Teesha rolls up her sleeves "On it." She heads off

"No fighting, please. SallyMae would hate that. But...showing her support is good."

Clem shakes her head "Damn it.. this is happening too fast for me to get them to take it it in and absorb it all. Seems like they're forgetting that Beaumayn and other nobles have FOUGHT o nour side now and then"

"You saw Sir Charles is wearing his Fiona colors?"

"I did... reckless foolishness, but I'm not going to ask him to hide them yet. I'm this close to losing him as it is."

She says "Tempted to send him to Fenix"

She bites her lip. "You might end up losing a lot, Chieftain. If you don't mind me saying so, there's always been kind of a rift here between the 'true trolls' and the 'misfit toys,' y'know?"

"I mean, we've kind of had the same at Rivervale. We didn't realize a lot of the locals thought they weren't permitted access to the balefire because they weren't trolls."

Clem frowns "But these are trolls... and Kinain with troll blood. We're a lot more homogeneus. "

A blink. "Seems to me you've had a few other kith born into your line."

"Well.. adopted in a satyress. And who knows what the babies will be ..." She says "But Caspian's the only Eshu and he was raised on the road."

"Fair. But SallyMae came to us because she didn't fit in here. And I know that she's been worried about being a second-class citizen if she returns to support her home. It makes her really sad to talk about it. Now, I don't think that has much to do with her and Carowyn, other than the fact that she decided it wasn't her job to be breeding stock and search out only troll partners." Then a blush. "Sorry, that might be some of my Mom's language in there. She gets kind of upset about SallyMae's situation, too."

"Mara she's the only one who..."

She listens

"Well, if Hearth Kerri doesn't like something there's usually good reason" Clem says

"Yeah." A breath. "Look, I get the concern. Folks here are afraid of losing the Farm, and they're suspicious that some sidhe is going to come in and claim it and dictum everybody to follow along. And I'm not saying that's impossible. But...maybe having a sidhe ally or three wouldn't be a bad idea in that case? And you know you've got Rivervale's support if the Farm ever needs defense."

"I know. I thought THEY knew" Clem says "But, and please understand I do not agree, there are folks who see Rivervale as shackled by Hemlock, that if he ordered them to abandon the alliance with us, they would."

"Well...it's a fair concern." She thinks. "Hey...how do you build a shed in a spot where you can't lay a solid foundation? You put down multiple supports, right? At different spots? And those supports hold up the floor, and if one gets weak you at least have warning and can shore it up. They don't all go at once."

"My very philosphy with alliances"

"Sooooo...." she muses, "...if you're worried that Rivervale might end up being a weak support eventually, it's probably a good idea to connect to some other supports to? Equally powerful ones? Like maybe with certain house connections....?"

"I'm kind of just spitballing."

Then she sighs. "But that's not really the current issue, I guess. I just...I feel like I want to be able to find answers for how to help."

"You mean like putting Marselles at Dark Gate, and Coy at Fenix?"

an amused look in her eyes "Or even having a kinsman working with a less than savory fellow?"

A rueful grin. "Yeah, you're all over that, already."

A blink. "Huh?" at the last.

"Never you mind. I Didn't 'plant' him there, but let's jsut say when I hear too many stories about a dangerous man I keep an eye of which kithain are near him"

"Okay. Well." A sigh and a shrug. "I guess the most help I can be is to get my stuff put away and get back to the kitchen. Miss Zara's there, too."

"Actually, Sylvi, there is something you can do for me." A pause "wander around chore to chore. Kitchen work some... but help here and there... get a feel for who is upset about what things.. where they stand. I dont' want you to spy, but see if you can get them to open up. I want to see who needs help adapting, who already has... and more, I neeed to know which ones might have troubles they feel guitly bringing up when others are in greater need or so they think"