#bergen_county

She eyes this, then, a breath "My loyalty is pure" And she takes the blade as it is handed to her.

Brekke puts herself slightly between her and the Count.

Frank's Eyebrow.

And she struggles... and ... as if it did not weigh many pounds, but many many pounds... and then tons. It slams from her grip

like an anvil

Frank steps forward, closer to her.

Brekke steps forward and retrieves the blade, returning it to the Count. "Sir," she says to the knight. "I believe it is time for you to depart."

"The fact I am not pure does not mean I am unworthy" She says.

Connor watches this, concerned. What about the cake?

The Count ponders something, then looks at Connor "Squire, please come here a moment." He hands out the blade hilt first "Take this"

“Oh. Me? I can help.” He steps over and reaches to hold the sword. “It’s big for a cake slicer...”

"It is that.. and yet, I am curious"

The sword is REALLY light!

Hardly weighs like anything in Connor's hand

Connor steps back and makes a few cuts. And makes proper “whooshing” sounds as he does.

“It’s a falcon feather.”

"Good form, Squire."

"Connor....." Frank rumbles. "May I?" He offers to take the blade.

Brekke only gives Connor half of her attention, and stays between the Count and the Knight.

He looks to the Count, ears pricked and looking for permission to hand it on.

A glance at Frank.

Frank seems sure, solid, certain. He waits.

The Count nods

He hands it over to Frank, blade- nope, hilt first! Remembering.

Frank nods. "Thank you." Acknowledging the exchange and his possession.

It is heavy for a moment in Frank's hand..then slowly lightens

Then, he gives the Knight a soft pat on her arm, his tone reassuring, friendly. “Maybe your hands are just slippery. We can try again?”

As if his past weighs, but his current life lifts

"Excellency, whatever Sir Drifala has claimed, her heart is not pure. I advise you not to trust her."

Frank makes eye contact with. every. one. present. slowly. and then.... offers the blade back to Drifala, properly.

She says and shakes her head "I will no longer be mocked"

Count Obeithiol Goldenwing ap Gwydion frowns "It seems I am not in your debt so much after all. This is why The Beltaine blade gave me the sword, isn't it? Because in your pursuit of order, few of you could. It is a treasure, but to most of you, or at least you and Lythos, this fine blade is a paperweight" he looks angry

"You used this to BUY me" The Gwydion Sidhe flares "to place a false debt to make me a puppet ruler!" Eyes lighting up

Brekke nods quietly.

Frank remains behind (ish) Drifala

Sir Drifala "The Beltaine Blade does what is NECESSARY." And she believes it.

"Not with me, you don't. You're welcome to have the blade back if you want, the day you can lift it" The Count snaps, "Be lucky we are NOT on my lands, or would use soveriegn on you here and now"

Kerri glances at Brekke and Frank, but does not say anything.

"Excellency, I have no objection to you employing your sovereign skills on Sir Drifala at this time."

says Brekke.

Drifala 's eyes widen.

Connor claps his hands over his mouth, watching in awe.

Brekke's jaw is tight.

"You have told the truths I want to hear, now you will tell the truths others need to know, by the Falcon's call, by the Boar's tusk, by the Stag's glory, and wolf's bite... You will be compelled whenver you open your mouth to tell what you know of the Beltaine blade... to reveal the works you have done in the past using others. WHever you go, you speak, you reveal, you confess.. again and again... and then, in a year and a day, if you wish, you may return to me, and try to lift this blade! When you lift it with a pure heart of purged deeds, then you will be free. Beyond my DEATH only THAT Can free you!"

Sir Drifala SCREAMS as glamour engulfs her... winding down her throat

and then she drops to the ground.

"Connor, Squire. Please cover your ears" The COunt requests

Brekke goes wide-eyed and puts a hand on Connor's shoulder, drawing him back.

He claps hands over his ears, which are already flat on his head at the screaming.

"That's what you get for fucking with a falcon and trying to turn one of us against the other." The Count says once the boy's ears are covered, "Now, if I were you, I'd run. The Blade may not be very kind to you.. you are, what I am told iss called a 'leak'"