#anywhere

Brekke slows and says, "I will speak to you soon, Siv," as her daughter is escorted away. Then she turns to Kealan with a more stony expression.

Kealan looks up, "I'm a father. I can guess what you're going to say, but ask anyway"

Brekke takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before saying anything. "I understand that she undertakes your tasks willingly. At least, I believe that is the case. If she takes them to repay some debt she owes you, tell me, and I will make good on it instead. But...Siv is who she is, and that means she will be in danger. Only tell me...can your healers do more to counter cold iron than Rivervale can?" A hint of pleading in her tone at the last.

He ponders "We have some supplies here for if we fight balor, but you know Cold Iron mostly takes time. She's vulnerable, and I never would have sent her if I knew they had some. Not because she's your daughter, I can't let that stop my duties. But because, well, a true leader does not send a fish to do a raven's work, even if that fish is at the best in dark tides." He looks at her "And she takes the tasks willingly. There are some who can make demands of a King, but I'm not one of them" The Graybeard Sidhe shakes his head "She and I have an agreement, but it's not the same thing. She realizes her gifts lend themselves well to my work, and she wants to help where others might not be able to. " A brow lift "And if she did owe me, she'd be livid if I tried to pass on the debt to you. Of course, I'm a parent, so I'd make the same offer. But in this case, not needed. In fact..." A sigh "i'm going to have to ground her from work for awhile"

"Please," Brekke says gratefully. "And I understand. She has not told me details of what has happened...but I hope whoever hurt my daughter in this way is feeling far deeper pain."

"Your daughter got the target , and that did more important work than hurt the foe, it saved lives" He speaks truth "And I'll tell her she's grounded for breaking our rules. No one is above them, otherwise I can't organize this. In reality, a bigger part will be her needing down time to heal. " An amused look "I had men volunteering to steal her away while she slept last night.I was almost tempted to let them try because sometimes arrogant wilder agents need humbling, but it occured to me you MIGHT not be gentle given all things. Also, your right of haven is something I wouldn't violate. Come on in, old friend. My right hand will debrief her. I've got some coffee, plain, hard, black, with your name on it"

A brow. "You were wise to hold them back from abducting her. It would not have gone well for them." Then she nods and accepts the invitation. "Thank you, my friend. And thank you for forgiving a mother's concern."

"Are you kidding? I've gone nose to nose with trolls and sidhe lords, monsters of fire and ash... and I've held. but my own kids? Ulcer city" He assures "Nothing to forgive" And in they go. She'll get her coffee, a bit of talk over what he CAN tell her of her daughter's tasks, and how well she does it. He'll also share the lamentations of a parent whose kids just insist on learning on their own even when a parent has already taken the lumps and lessons and hoped to share the latter and spare the former.

(End Scene)