#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gwen slashes with a spear. Working at the target, the sides.

Then a thrust straight. .. cripple cripple kills!

"I am a daughter of the wolf! I am a sister of the Bear. I am cousin to the stone!" Stabbing

"I am... " A blink and check of the target "stabbing just a bit to the left"

"Got to be my footing" She repositions

"Turn and lean into it. You're acting like the spear is separate from your arm. It isn't. It is an extension of yourself, and you must treat it as such. If you were trying to grab something off a far shelf, you wouldn't flail towards it - you would lean forward. You know how long your fingers extend. You must learn the reach, and MOVE into the stab. Try again."

Danica instructs, watching from a few spearlengths away.

A nod, and she tries. The spear came with her after all, so it is likely it is a part of her in many ways! This time, dead center lunge!

"Good!" The Thane grunts, nodding in approval as she knocks the target flat.

"Have you given much thought to what you hope to do once you are sained? It is coming up very soon."

"It is, isn't it? I .. I was told I can't be SURE until the saining is done. It may reveal things. " A breath "I like working with the dogs. I wouldn't mind being mistress of the kennnels. Briar seems okay with it." A pause "I..don't wannt to swear to Dame Calanthe. I'm sorry"

Danica shakes her head slowly. "I do not believe you will be asked to. You certainly would not be required. It may be that you have oaths already in place elsewhere that require fulfillment. However, I do know that, assuming no extenuating circumstances, you would be more than welcomed to stay on as part of Silverwolf. With, or without an Oath. Though it would be up to Lord Aiden if he chose to ask such of you."

"If Lord Aiden asked I would be honored to swear to him. He's.. " A pause "I know he is not perfect, no one is. He ... I want to be needed by a good person, a good cause, a kind lord. I think he is that. I thinnk he is a great lord, but a great lord who needs others. I would not serve someone who is an island entire? Am. uhm. .am I making sense?"

A nod. "I may suggest - if you are not otherwise bound, and wish to swear, swear for a time of a year and a day. One can serve without oath, but it cripples your power as a troll. Oaths are our strength. And yet, I would not wish for any to be locked into an oath without fully understanding the terms. Asking for a year and a day is traditional enough, that most lieges will not be upset. Here, or elsewhere, if that is where da'an leads you."

"Thank you, that's good advice" A slight but sincere smile

"Good. Now, try the overhand - " A buzz, and Danica frowns. A hand held up as she checks the pager on her belt, and the fetches the radio that is set aside with her belt and vest.

The thane has stepped aside, but still audible as she calls in. "Sergeant Marshall. Speak." No complaints here of "What do you want?" let alone, "I'm off Duty", though she is. Tinny voice from the other end of the radio. "We have a potential 10-16 at one of your flagged addresses, over at..."

Gwen recognizes the street. Isn't that Chuck's? What was the address? Did they say 'Two eleven' or was that 'two one seven'?

Gwen's alarm grows "10-16?"

"Copy. Do not engage, I am en route." She pockets the radio and gives Gwen an appraisingly look. It only takes a moment, but feels like forever before Danica come to a decision and nods. "Come." Taking up her weapons belt and vest in one practices scoop, she strides quickly over to her parked squad car.

It's half soaped up! Bluebell is in a bikini (a blue one, naturally) and spraying playfully at the childlings with a hose as they half-wash, half splash.

Bluebell bows to Danica and starts to recite a bit of poetry, only for the thane to grunt, "Not now." and climb into the car. The wipers are quickly deployed to clear the suds, and Danica waits for Gwen to climb in the unlocked passenger seat.

She moves to the passennger side with a rush of energy

As soon as Gwen's butt hits the seat, the car is moving. "Seatbelt." She grunts, carefully checking the rearview for any children or stray dogs before pulling out - as soon as they hit the road past the driveway, they're racing towards town.

"10-16 is domestic disturbance, likely called in by a neighbor. They would send a uniform to check in. What can you tell me of the Chestertons before we get there? Is this a potential false alarm?"

Seat belt on... "Mr Chesteron might do it... " And she explains what he's like, how Mrs Chesterton has been more free, it's a bit of a sream of consciousness but it is informative

And the girl is flushed with rage and guilt

Lights on the squad car are flashed as they go through intersections, but the siren remains off. When they pull up on the familiar street, Gwen can quickly see the source of the call.

Chet Chesterton is on the front lawn, bellowing up at his own house.

"You goddamned piece of shit - " He turns as the car pulls up, Danica mutters, "Let me speak to him." and she gets out of the car, striding towards him.

"About damn time you got here? I don't pay my goddamn taxes to have a meter maid doing her nails instead of showing up!" He starts, and then Danica's taller build is blocking him from view, as she rumbles a question -

The front door is closed and dirty - there are a few boot prints on the door. Movement in one of the windows, as a face, hard to make out, peers from behind a curtain.

Gwen slides out as quietly as she can, ad tries to work around the backdoor. She's got to find Chuck or Mrs Chesterton!

She can easily move into the back yard - the gate lolls open, but the back door is locked as well - locked, and bolted, which is odd, whenever she's gone in with Chuck in the past, they've just breezed in.

"Who's there?!" Calls a worried voice - male, younger - sounds like Brett, as the door knob is jiggled.

"It's Gwen ... is anyone hurt? Do we need to call an ambulance?"

"Gwen?" Brett sounds baffled, "Why are YOU here?"

"I overheard things." Truth "Is anyone hurt? There's a cop talking to your dad. What did he try to do?"

Voices from within. "Who's there?"
"It's your GIRLFRIEND."
"Jesus, B, let her in."

The lock flips, and the deadbolt slides, and door opens. "Gwen?" Chuck appears in the doorway, also sounding baffled. . "A cop? Shit, shit, shit." His shirt is torn and he looks mussed.

TWICE she got no answers to questions, but she cann't be too mad "What. Happened? Is. Anyone. Hurt?"

Brett is the one who gives some light on the situation. "Mom and dad were fighting, and then Chuck WHOPPED him right in the eye! Shoved him out the door and we locked it. Chuck, are you going to jail? Huh?"

Chuck is a bit red, but also looking a bit scared. "No! I ... I don't know. I got mad, I shouldn't have hit him..."

"It's okay. It's okay. Or will be. Did he hit your mom first or push her or..something?"

"Y... No.... he, he looked like he was about to hit her. He had his fists, like, you know...." Chuck is a bit out of it.

Brett speaks up again. "He was telling me off and mom stepped in, she never does that, and she never talks back to him. But this time when he told her to shut up, and started saying all the things like he always does..."

"Brett, don't-" Chuck tries to interrupt.

"Well, he DOES, and she talked BACK, and she told him to get out of her house!" Brett is astonished. "It looked like he was about to explode, you know, with those little veins in his neck, and he started coming over, but Chuck was there first and whalloped him."

"So you defended your mom, " A nod 'The officer will understannd I think. "

"Boys, who are you talking to?"

A terse, worried voice, as Angela Chesterton looks back into the kitchen. "Is that Gwen? Oh, honey, you should go home. It's not a good time to visit."

"Yeah, you can visit Chuck in jail, I'll bake a cake with a file in it- " Brett starts, trying to liven the mood, but poorly.

"Mrs Chesterton," She says "Your husband is talkin to a cop now. I know her .She'll want the truth but I think it'll beo kay. Chuck defennded you from domestic abuse. "

Angela fusses, "I don't know what got into me. I know I shouldn't have... I just - I just couldn't listen to him talking to us like that any more." She straightens up. "No. HE shouldn't be speaking to us like that. Not in my own home, not anywhere. I've had enough of his 'man of the house' attitude."

"Mom!" Chuck looks shocked.

"No, I'm right Chetty, and you know it. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you, sweety."

"You ARE right" Firm nod

A firm knocking on the front door, not the battering slams of the irate husband, but a measured thump. "Mrs. Chesterton, open the door. This is Sergeant Marshall, Carthage PD. We need to speak with you and your son."

Angela glances at Gwen, then straightens up and goes to the door, opening it.

"Come out so that we can all get the truth behind this. This man claims that he was assaulted and locked out of his home." Danica says, her expression stern - and Gwen can see, more than a little annoyed.

Gwen akes a breath, feeling stupidly honorable, then goes arounnd the front. SHe won't let it be thouht she was inside, but she does want to help "Officer? Chuck was defending his mother"

"She's MY wife. This is MY house!" Chet blusters, and then looks affronted when Gwen speaks up. "Officer, you can leave now. They started this shit, but I won't press charges."

Danica glances at Gwen, a brow raised, and asks, towards the woman standing at the door, but looking towards Gwen, "Is that so? Miss Gwen here makes it seem like there is more to the story."

Angela, confronted, shrinks back a little, "We don't want any trouble, officer." Losing a bit of her resolve?

Chuck also hangs back, Gwen can see him behind through the door - he looks guilty, and uncertain.

Gwen says "Mrs Chesterton, you once gave me a drawing. A woman helpless, an eye that could only watch, never act, nnever be heard..."

"You can act now, you cann be heard. Please, for your sons's sake"

Angela straightens but a little, and starts to respond, only to be interrupted,

"Women SHOULD be seen, and not heard." Chet can't seem to keep his mouth shut, and adds, "And I'll deal with MY son as I see fit. Clearly I haven't taught him respect. They'll both learn to listen-"

Danica scowls, but before she can do or say anything, Angela speaks up. "No, YOU listen. Gwen is right. We're listened to you for long enough. He may be your son, and I may be your wife, but that doesn't mean you own either of us." She strides forward, and confronts him face to face.

"And as for this being your house? You'll find that the mortgage is in MY name." Looking up at the Officer. "It was my parents house, and it was deeded to me when we married. It was never changed, I can show you the paperwork."

"That shouldn't be necessary." Danica says, "What would you like for us to do with him? It seems to me that if this is your house, and you asked him to leave, then he is trespassing." even as Chet turns new and interesting shades of angry purple.

The man seems at the verge of exploding, hands balled in fists, and that vein that was mentioned popping at his neck. Danica acts unaware, as she casually leans back on her heels.

She keeps steady. Ready to intervene if he tries anything, or at least cry a warning

"If there is no official complaint being made, then this visit is over." Danica remarks mildly, and then turns to walk back to her car. "A waste of my time..." Her back pointedly turned.

Chet sneers at Gwen, then leans forward to hiss at her, "Once this is sorted out, you'll never step foot on my land or near my family again. I'll make sure of it. If Junior likes fighting so much, I'll send his ass to military academy. Both of them, and maybe they can beat the sissy out of Brett. How do you like that, you little bitch?"

Chuck has had quite enough and he steps forward, "You shut your mouth! Don't you dare talk to her that way, you... shitbag!"

Gwen, on guard, has a chance to react. She sees the son moving forward, shoulders squared with new resolve. Meanwhile, the father has his fist raised and pulled back.

And Danica is facing away, though she must have heard the arguing escalate...

And Gwen moves to... block Chuck, and keep him from throwing a punch. She thinks she figured out why Dancia seems to unnattenntive