#bergen_county

(UNPAUSE)

Her eyes light. "Olgar, tell them to go on without us. I need to speak to Nadeen." And without waiting for an answer, she makes a beeline for the sain-day girl.

"On it," Olgar says.

"What's she doing?" Vali asks Olgar.

"Probably being brilliant," Olgar says "You get used to it. First rule of couple time. Mutual trust. She thinks she's got this? She's got this. C'mon"

And the two leave

Even as Nadeen turns, the expression on her face to see Kerri is less than thrilled but she is polite, "Dame Kerri."

"Baroness Nadeen," Kerri says and...drops into a full curtsy before rising again. "I apologize for interrupting, but I've been asked to bring you to someone who must speak to you urgently."

"Well, both of us must return to Rivervale soon, Dame, do we have time for this visit truly? I mean, I would hate to inconvenience your time table"

"I will be bringing you back to Rivervale, my lady, but this must come first. Please." She had hoped the curtsy would be enough to emphasize her urgency.

"of course," She nods to others, "Pardon me, but I must really go, Hearth Kerri is, well, she is Hearth" As if that explains it, "without her, there is no lodge." There was absolutely no sarcasm in that. She curtsey's back to the Hearth, "Lead on."

Kerri nods respectfully to the suitors, then draws Nadeen away again. It's easier to find a quiet space as the party is breaking up. "First, I lied, I'm sorry, the person you need to speak to is me, and before you get angry, I need to ask if you've requested your boon from Count Hemlock yet."

"I kind of guessed it was you, actually Hearth." She says, a touch lofty , "I am rather bright. And the Chieftain wouldn't, well, normally interfere.. she might not approve, but she'd not interfere. No I have not asked Count Hemlock for my boon. I figured holding it for as long as I could increased my bargaining power with others."

"You are bright, Nadeen, and so am I, but both of us have been rather idiotic that we haven't seen the potential here. Nadeen, you can claim a boon that establishes you in a role of influence without forcing you to move away from Rivervale. Go to the Count, and ask him to appoint you the official liaison between Caer Falken and Rivervale." Kerri realizes she's a bit breathless, waiting to see what Nadeen's reaction will be.

"What? But what about Sylvi? I maybe good at politics, but your daughter is far my superiior at diplomacy"

"Yes, but Sylvi goes everywhere. In fact, that sometimes means she isn't available when business is needed between us and Caer Falken. As for skills...Nadeen, I've watched you working the crowd tonight, and I've listened to the way you've spoken, and while Sylvi may have more experience, you certainly are not far behind. You're in a perfect position: you're sidhe, so you fit in well at Caer Falken, but you've been fostered with Rivervale, so you understand Lodge culture. Honestly, who better for the role?"

There's that look all wilders, all teenagers get, when they realize an adult authority figure in their life is absolutely right from every angle. And they reaally don't want them to be, out of sheer contrariness for a moment it crosses the young woman's face, then, a breath "Do you think the Chief and Mountain would agree? Would they be okay with that?"

"I'll speak for you on this, and this Hearth thinks that, yes, they'll be very okay with it. But the point is that this is your boon. The fact that you are considering their reaction first tells me that this is absolutely the right thing to do. But you should do it quickly, before the Count retires for the night."

"I know I should thank you, but did anyone ever tell you you're a very infuriating woman, Hearth Kerri?" She says, but yes her eyes move towards the Count to make sure she can still catch him.

"I'm married and I have a daughter. Of course they have. Go!" She makes a shooing motion and smiles.

"I'm going to defy that order, but only long enough to do this," She hugs Hearth Kerri, "Thank you for looking out for us." And then , THEN she goes

The hug is unexpected, and she's stunned a moment and almost doesn't get to hug her back before the girl is moving across the room with a determined posture.

Kerri is now stranded here, she has to give Nadeen a ride home to Rivervale, but it's worth it.

A sense of deep satisfaction wells in her troll soul. She is no less a guardian than any warrior.

A contented sigh, and she decides to have a glass of wine while she waits, darn it.

A boggan, the very same who urged Dagmar to talk to Nadeen smiles and offers up not just wine, but a glass of the best most expensive stuff, "here young lady, you earned this tonight." A wink

Kerri accepts it with a smile and a bit of confusion. "You know?"

"I know enough" mrs. Joosten says "to recogognize a fellow angel. I don't know about you? but my wings are tired" The old woman says

"Then you should have a glass of this as well, and we'll drink to each other's wings." Kerri smiles.

The boggan pours herself one too, "Yes. We earned this." A nod "To them, and to us for pointing out the better them to them"

"To them," Kerri toasts and sips, then looks to where Nadeen went. "Do you think he'll say yes?"

Then as an afterthought, "Well, it's her boon...he almost has to, doesn't he."

"If he doesn't , he doesn't get a new cloak" Huruhmph, then "He'll do it."

"I was wondering where she got that. That was you?"

"If he wants to keep things he needs to remember to put them up" A nod "He's a grown man, so I assume he's giving things away out of noblese oblige"

An admission "Also, it really looks good on her. Half cloak, doesn't tangle her, but squares just right. You may have to add a bit more to the collar if she gets taller though. Sorry about that"

They finish the glass, and Nadeen returns looking a bit disheaveled, even mussed

Concern. "Nadeen? Are you...is everything okay?"

Nadeen holds up her left hand and glistening on it an almost garish ring! "I said yes!"

The boggan nearly spits up her wine

Kerri looks aghast. "You...wh-what??"

Then the Varich blows lightly on the ring, and the gem spins and makes a whirling weehhee noise, "The latest gag toy from his company. Free sample. Now you wonderful meddling women, can I go home now? I have a lot of prep work to do now that I'm Liaison"

She looks VERY Pleased with herself

and happy

Kerri's relief is palpable. "That man...will be the end of me. I swear he's secretly a pooka, and you're not much better, my lady. Yes, let's go." A smile of farewell to the boggan, and the two set back to Rivervale.

They leave, a voice bellows out for Mrs. Joosten. Someone's favorite warm socks are missing.

The boggan smiles , rolls her eyes, and goes to tend to this very important matter.

(End scene)