#bergen_county

"The Chimera had a book our lady wanted... not like Chimera are people" The injured eshu says "Just let us go. You win the prize."

"...Your lady? You were sent here?"

"We're not talking" The other says.

"Then you're MINE to play with..." Dirk grins, 'And I break toys."

Redcaps are horrible, but they are useful.. and the guy blurts "Wait, we'll talk!"

"You are in Baroness Brekke's demesne. So. Talk."

"And do not lie, or I will be upset."

"We aren't sworn, we're mercenaries..." They explain, the Eshu doing most of the talking.

"Who is your hire, that sent mercenaries into Rivervale?"

"Countess Huaralyis"

Gerd scratches her chin, "I think she's an Eiluned. Uncle Vali was talking about her. She's one of those ladies who looks like a bimbo but is actually sneaky.. and like any Eiluned is interested in the occult."

"And she sent you after a book?" A look at Gerd to confirm.

"yeah, the dragon had it for most of the trip then about less than a half mile, I guess she dropped it. Turn it over, w'ell share part of the reward"

"If it was Bronte, it seems that the book already belongs to a library. You have no claim to the book."

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Bronte agrees

"Does the Countess have a valid claim on the book?"

"She says it's an ancient Eiluned treasure" The guy says. And it's true.

Gerd rolls her eyes "Yes, I bet taht's what she told you"

Dirk snorts 'Yup. She tells you guys what she wants you to know, and then it doesn't matter what you say. Even I can figure that out"

Blink. "..That's... well, what kinda twisty bullshit."

Gerd holds up a book, "It's also not true. See this? It refers to the Sisters of the Weird, from Shakespere, by that time, most sidhe were cowering in Arcadia. or whatever. It might be based on sidhe notes, but the publishing? Some commoner did this I bet."

Then she says "Dagmar, I appreciate the help. But, I'd like to let these guys go, IF they promise to return their coin or whatever and agree never to work for that countess again nor enter Rivervale on any job again."

Dirk nods then blinks "WTF?"

"...I guess. But they gotta swear."

"And maybe swear not to tell the COuntess lady about knowing you have the book, or, like, she'll just send someone else?"

They groan, and confer, then at Dagmar's addendium, twhich they LIKE, they nod

"If you release us and let us go with no further punishment, We promise not to tell the Countess what we know about the book, and to never enter Rivervale on a job for anyone else besides your local nobles, and we will not work for Countess Huralysis again" And.. it's true on both parts.

Gerd looks to Dagmar, "Were they honest there?"

A gruff nod.

"To firnost I send you, they'll take anyone, and you can heal there," Gerd says "Come here again, break your promise, or tangle with any witches and you will be cast adrift on winds never ceasing, blown from one nightmare place to another where only the memory of your screams will leave clue to your suffering presence as you will have already moved on to a new hell of your own musing"

Eyebrow.

The sky darkens, the winds blow, and the two are gone.

Second eyebrow!

And yes, it was a lie, one of pure exaggeration

"So what the hell is so damn special about this book?"

"I'll find out," Gerd says "Besides, I suspect I'll have a guest soon. Let's tend to Bronte, get her some tea and let her see my book collection."

Bronte perks at this

Dirk kicks the automaton parts "What'd we do with this?"

"Dunno. Is it edible?"

"To me, everything is" Dirk says with a grin

"Or any weapons you could scavenge from it?"

Then dirk blinks, "Hey, that's true. It's got like an axe for htis hand and a sword for that one... sure.. I'll get this and bring it to the sparring area. Maybe I'll go bully a nocker to use this"

"Yeah? Sounds like a good idea, Dirk."

Gerd has settled Bronte on her shoulder and is asking the Dragonlng "Did you like my threat? I Thought it was good."

"Want help carrying parts?"

"Yeah, sure" he nods "Huh, you got a cut along your shoulder from a sword blow. Could turn into a bad ass scar"

It's a shallow one. And The Cap himself has a cut on his chest

But again nothing too deep

Grunt. "Maybe. You got a good one, too."

"Yeah, Don't tell Anne Marie, she'll just wanna fix it" A snort as they follow Gerd