#bergen_county

"For a certain value of 'honor,'" Brekke concedes. "But I did not assume all of the sources were within the Beltane Blade. Thank you for that information."

Count Goldenwing sighs "Even the honorable can be mistaken, Sir knight"

"Ah, so it is possible the Chieftain is the one who is mistaken" She says . The way she says Chieftain sounds as if it is... lesser. Not quite a sneer

"It is possible, but is not the case here," Brekke says evenly. "Sir," she adds as a reminder of relative rank.

"Possible, but it does not change the fact she is among the greatest of our non sidhe heroes" He says "And she has the right of demense as well. Were this MY land I would not wish to have my will disputed and I will not do the same to her. Bad manners" He looks to the Baroness and actually DOES bow "Baroness, I must reconsider this strongly, and you have my word that if I do endeavor to reach this farm, it will not be via your land. I hope you forgive this trespass which was made with honorable intentions"

She returns the bow. "I appreciate that. And yes, I known your intentions to be honorable, but I can assure you that the impact of an attempt to claim the Farmhold would be extremely unhealthy." A pause. "Excellency, may I ask where you currently reside? Clearly you do not yet have a holding of your own."

"I currently reside with Lord Lythos in the Raging Sun Hold. A far piece from here" He says . "Arizona..." Brekke knows Lythos. A favorite friend of Duke Dray himself

Brekke nods thoughtfully. "Excellency, I would be a poor Baroness if I did not offer hospitality to you and your knight as you travel my lands, if you wish it."

"Oh you are grand!" The fellow says

"But it is not necessary" Sir Drifala says "We have other arrangements"

"Are you certain? Dame Kerri's cooking is very high quality. If you must travel on, at least stop for brief refreshment. She usually has pastries at this time of day."

While a scion of the High Summer Ruling House and Falcon fierce, the Count is also... a teenage boy. And at mention of pastries, he says "Well. .I would HATE to risk offending Dame Kerri"

He has not met Dame Kerri... but apparently holds pastry makers in good regard

The knight eyes the Baroness cooly but stops her protests.

"Good, then..." She dismounts and leads Stormwake. "It is this way." She walks with them back to the Lodge.

Stormwake snorts at the knight with an expression at the knight of 'oh please, just please try something' But he takes the Chieftain's lead

"Impressive animal" Count Goldenwing says as they walk

Brekke grins and pats Stormwake's neck. "Stormwake has carried me into battle more than once. He was with me when I helped to defeat the dragon Skallstryke." And she tells a bit of that tale if he does not know it...carefully leaving out parts about the Farm or about trolls getting suddenly powerful after the dragon's death.

He does! And seems riveted "Amazing.. would I could have been there to lend my sword to the cause!"

Stormwake does like flattery

Soon they are at the Lodge, and Brekke leaves Stormwake in tack and ground-reined, knowing he won't go anywhere without her.

"Please, be welcome," she opens the door to the Lodge for them.

Obeithiol wipes his boots, "Blessings on your house" And goes in

A nod of gratitude at that.

Within, Kerri looks up with surprise. "Chieftain? I did not realize we were expecting visitors."

Sir Drifala wipes her own, and walks in with a stoic face, impassive to any say another troll. She seems to not like this lodge already but says nothing

"Nor did I. Count Obeithiol Goldenwing, Sir Drifala, this is Dame Kerri, Hearth of this Lodge. Dame Kerri, his Excellency and Sir Drifala are pausing here before they journey on...and I have made a promise of pastries."

Kerri goes from looking confused, to wary, to adopting a smile. "Well, that's a promise that won't have to be broken. Excellency, Sir Drifala, please be comfortable. I will return in a moment."

She heads into the kitchen.

"So Hearth ... that title means?" The Count looks to the Baroness since the Hearth herself has left

"Mm, a traditional troll lodge relies upon a triad of leaders..." And Brekke gives him the quick overview.

The pastries arrive as she says, "That is why the illness of a Hearth or a Storm or a Mountain is not a sign of weakness, for there is another trained to take that place."

"Sounds a bit Roman" he says "A triumvarant I mean"

"Would you prefer coffee, tea, juice, soda...?" Kerri offers.

Sir Drifala says "Coffee will be fine."

Brekke nods. "I can see this. I often wonder if the Romans learned it from the Norse...who may have learned it from the Trolls."

"Do you have any Dr. Pepper, ah. .Hearth" he says testing the tile

Then he asks "Sir Drifala, you never told me of Troll lodges had their own back ups ready"

"Even that can be a source of dispute, Count. Lodges seem solid but the larger they are, the more their system threatens to fall to backbiting and politics. The Baroness' here is realtively small and ..simple"

Kerri smiles winningly. "Of course, Excellency." And soon, each has their preferred drink.

Brekke raises a brow. "The same might be said of any large court, I believe, Sir Drifala."

The Sir says "There is a reason the sidhe rule. They are our natural masters. A shield should never confuse itself for a crown"

"Yes, that is something the Beltaine Blade says" The Count says "You know I admit, I hope it's true. I feel rather useless unable to help subjects"

Brekke's jaw tightens and her eyes narrow at Sir Drifala. "You would say this...in my hold."

"You are Count HEmlock's shield, how can that be anything but as a compliment?"Drifala says

A deep breath, and she directs her attention back to the Count. "I am no crown. I do not intend to be. But to insinuate that a shield is of less value is a perilous mistake."

"However intended, it has offended," the young Count Obeithiol says a bit alarmed to the Knight "Please do not say it again under this roof, and I will endeavor not to do the same." He turns to the Chieftain "Less value? Oh no.. I merely admit that in a world with such fine trolls I am only a passable shield at best. Thus it's my duty to seek a crown where I CAN be of value at all"

An oddly.. entitled yet humble comment mixed in

Brekke nods to the Count. "This I understand. You must serve and protect your people, so there must be people who are yours. I hope you are able to find them. Perhaps I will be able to help."

"Oh would you? I mean, the Beltaine Blade has been MOST helpful, lending me a champion to fight for me, but I confess while i like a good fight, it feels a bit ..." He ponders "I don't want to say dishonrable, but rude? Yes, Rude, having her muscle them around on my behalf. I..."