#bergen_county

" Elias Hazard, Harpologist, Musicnaut, and troubadour" He doffs a hat with a brass feather in it

"Cool. Nice to meet you. Why you gunning for Mexico? That's a big leap from here."

"Ya think?" He grins needle teeth "BIG contest at this new County... or maybe it's an old county with a new Countess. Got a shot at Troubadour.. she may need more than one. So this is my chance to head there.. get the furking gig."

"Yeah? So, Fenix in specific then, since that's the new Countess. So where you coming from?" Casual curiosity as they walk.

"Springfield Mass... " he says "But I spent time in Boston.. it's why I look like a Kennedy right?"

Eyebrow.

"Okay, fortunately this Jessica King lady already started on jesters" he admits "I ain't naar level funny"

"Naar?"

"Pooka... also means fool, we're a mean kith, we nockers"

"I dunno. I don't know many nockers. There's Bert, he's cool. Does glass."

Hey, did you MAKE that harp?"

"YUP" He beams "I'm hoping that's my edge. Good voice, good fingering... but a lot of us patron smoochers ccan say that... but I also invent and craft my own instruments. Sure some experiments didn't work... the Diggeridoo Piccolo ? Bad idea... too many windows shattered"

"...hunh. I think there's a whole nocker hold that way, too."

"More racecars than instruments, though."

"There is, the Cooperative, they're BIG News"

"So, yeah - good thing, right?"

"Anyhow, you sounded good. My mom's a skald."

"It's truthfully intimi.. a skald?Norse huh?" A nod "Damn... they rock at metaphors and symbolism. Your mom isn't competing is she?"

"Oh no, she's staying here."

"Whew.. gonna be enough competition as it is. "

"I bet, but ain't it better that than showing off against crap?"

"Yeah, you got me... pride's a big thing to any Nocker"

"Well then. So, anyways, there's a trod straight to Fenix from the Lodge."

"Jessica is the Chief's daughter."

"You're pulling my fucking leg" Stunned "Serious? This.. this would save me so much furking time! You guys charge for this trod's use?"

"Huh? That I don't know. We can ask Olgar. "

"Well, if you don't, you should, just enough to help folks in your fief... but. uh, don't charge ME"

"Don't say nothin about the face."

A nod of her chin at the path ahead. The steep eaves of the Lodge are visible.

"The face?" He asks "what about the face?"

"I'm sayin, don't say nuthin'."

She leads him up to the front door.

They enter... and find inside, having a beer, Olgar himself

"Perfect! Hey Olgar!"

"Hey, kid. Who'se the nocker?"

"Elias, he's a musician. Looking to find his way to TJ."

"Yeah, Elias Hazard, at your ser-" He looks at Olgar's face "Ah... serface"

"Serwhat?" Olgar says his blighted gaze turns on the nocker "You saying something?"

"Noooo" Elias gulps "I'm just hoping to go for quick mug..er jog.. and ..."

Olgar grunts

"He's from Massachusetts." As if that explains everything.

"Oh... " A snort "Yeah," Olgar says "I've been to Boston"

"So..can I use this trod to TJ? It'll save me so much time" Elias says

"Folks aren't even supposed to KNOW about that" Olgar grumbles

"...oh..."

"Dagmar, maybe the Chief and I didn't mention but this is RIGHT up to our lodge and to Jessica's. You got to be careful of letting..."

"Hey! " Elias says "She's just helping me out.. I already knew there was a trod near the lodge..."

Olgar turns at the small little musician

Her hand drifts to her mouth, and she bites on a knuckle.

"so..." The Musician says "You know.. word got out, maybe at the other end, but it wasn't from her"