#anywhere

**************

"I'm very sorry about this," Squire Brogan says to Dame Kerri as they head to the Lady's estate

Kerri, dressed in not quite her court best, but respectfully enough, gives a small harrumph. "I would have preferred she come to us, of course. But I suppose she wishes to speak on her own turf." Especially after what happened to her errand boy.

"That's to your advantage" Brogan informs her "No Daireann would harm a guest."

"Even if the guest is of a common kith?" she asks a bit skeptically.

"Actually, yes. There are tales of tinkers coming in from the rain and being filthy, and Daireann risking their own lives to protect them because they were guests," He straightens "I AM proud of my house, Dame Kerri. We are proud, vengeful, and perhaps at times a bit too quick to boast, but we have heroes among us, and our hospitality has been the succor of many"

A sigh. "I don't doubt it, Squire, and I mean no insult." After a moment, she asks, "Before we stand in your Lady's hall, I would like you to tell me...what do you wish?"

"You always do this," Brogan raises a brow "You don't think enough about your own pride and glory at times. Were you of House Daireann, perhaps even your troll kith would not hold you back from being a legend among the keepers of the Cauldrons, our own lords of hospitality... but here you are, worried about MY happeiness." Fond but fussing "if it weren't for the fact I know you plot to best Silverwolf and Darkgate at Pennons, I'd worry you were too selfless to survive without me."

From a wilder lord this might seem quite a grand observation. Alas, Brogan is a boy still, a childling, so it comes across as precocious and, damn it... cute

A hint of a grin is all she allows to escape. "I don't ask out of a lack of pride. I find my glory in service, and part of my service is in seeing people treated well, especially those for whom I am responsible. I don't want to presume that I know what's best for you without finding out your opinion first. And I don't want to do so while you're under the microscope of your lady's court."

"I am a Daireann but.." sheepish "I like Rivervale. My friends are there. And...you taught me more about hospitalilty than anyoen else could. Under the lady, I could be very good. Under you, I could be great"

She gives him a measuring look. "Surely you seek advancement, though. That might be more easily found in a sidhe court."

"mmm but what's easy isn't always what's best, and it's certainly not always wha'ts right. " A breath "But.. I know you never wanted a squire. The Count handed me to you and you took me in. You never treated me as a nuisance, and if you held any resentment you kept it to a low mutter about the Count. But.. you have every right to release me fully if you'd be happier that way?"

"And i won't be insulted or vengeful" He says "I promise. "

"Hmm." And that's all she says on the matter.

He nods, straightens his shoulders as they close on the hold

the hold in question comes with the sound of water trickling and a gentle breeze

A road that stops at a small wooden bridge to walk, and the building has small towers hither and yon. Somewhat French looking. The waterfalls mmm

"Lovely," she observes.

"Yes, it's quite nice. "

"Please..." she indicates for him to lead the way in.

A thane greets them, warmly for a troll, "Welcome to Glisten Stream hold. Greetings, Squire, once more you return"

"I do, this is Dame Kerri, Hearth of Rivervale, who I serve" He explains "We are expected I hope?"

"Please, come in, Dame Kerri," The troll says but does not give trollli sh salute rather a bow, "THe Lady will see you in the Sunfalls parlor... would you like escort?"

"Thank you for your welcome, Thane...?" she pauses, asking for a name as she gives a nod along with the trollish salute.

"Holdun" He says surprised she asked, "This way, please" APparently taking that as an affirmative on the escort

Holdun leads them into the hold, no sooner do they appear when servants appear offering trays with sample snacks and drinks

"Thank you, Thane Holdun. And yes, I'd appreciate an escort," she says, and she follows quietly as he leads them along. A gracious smile at the offering. "Thank you. Perhaps after we've met with her Ladyship."

They nod and bob and back away. Boggans seem to enjoy being in the background... not that all boggans do that. And some of Kerri's good friends are boggans. THey come to the Parlor door, and hear the soft sound of the falls. Before they open it, it opens and there is a sidhe woman but a year or two younger than she "PLease, come in. We meet at last . I hope you'll be staying for dinner"

"Lady Gylnyss... this is Dame Kerri, Hearth of Rivervale" The squire says "Dame kerri, this is Lady Gylnyss"

A polite bow. "Lady, it is a pleasure. Thank you for the welcome." She doesn't quite answer the question about dinner...which, to be fair, wasn't quite a question.

"You're too kind, Hearth, you do prefer Hearth yes? You have been wronged and in my name" The woman looks vexed but not with her, "Had I known he was going to your lodge in such.. such a manner, I would have broken the engagement off sooner than I did"

A blink of surprise and a brief pause before she says evenly, "I would not criticize one of your own within your court. But...broken the engagement?"

"He dishonored me with his behavior, storming into your domain, making demands? If anyone did that here, they would best pray to whatever kind gods they could find that I didn't get them before the thanes did. And he did this in MY Name" Her eyes flicker just a bit with sidhe ire, "He hoped to have a marriage of alliance and thought his brutish behavior would cement the consideration. Instead his boorishness broke it. He clearly does not understand hospitality, OR personal honor . Brogan has told me of your amazing skills at hospitality, how you took him graciously in training when he was possibly unwelcome surprise. Such behavior would be a fine example to any Daireann."

Kerri has a brief moment of great gratification that little lord such-n-such got his comeuppance...but all she says is, "That is quite a compliment, Lady, and I thank you. For Squire Brogan, whatever surprise I may have had initially, he has supported the barony of Rivervale with great skill and honor. He has every right to be proud of his accomplishments."

"Of course" She nods "he's Daireann. We all have our right to pride"

Brogan smiles a bit, then says "Hearth Kerri, if she has a failing, it's that she's prone to modesty"

"Ah" The lady actually blushes "Pardon, here I am failing to relate to a guest properly. Anyway, I wanted to make sure you had not decided to take revenge upon me for my link to that oaf who has since been cast aside? My house understands a need for revenge, now and then, but I hope there is no need here?"

A glance at Brogan and a slight shrug. "If that is a failing, I'll own it."

Then she shakes her head at the question. "In truth, I wasn't quite sure what I would be walking into here, Lady, though of course your hospitality would be certain to keep me safe and well. No, I have no need for revenge...at this time. If he confronts me again under his own devices...I may have a change of heart on that score."

"He has no further tie for me, have at with my blessing" The Lady says quite earnestly . A look at Brogan, "Squire, do be so kind as to get both your mentors drinks?"

The courtesy Gylnyss shows to Brogan in that request doesn't go unnoticed. Kerri relaxes just a bit and gives Brogan a bit of a grin. He knows what drinks she likes (and her range is much broader than the spectrum of coffee-black to coffee-light-and-sweet).

He bows "Promptly, pardon me mentors, I Shan't be long" And he withdraws

Now alone, Gylynyss looks at her counter part and says 'of course, he's a bright boy. He knows I'm allowing a brief time for private talk. He cannot stay stretched between us forever and.. that was another matter I hoped to settle if you're willing to discuss it in the short time we have?"