#bergen_county

"What are the terms? How do we help?"

"Hm." Brekke frowns. "This is not what I intended for you. Has she chosen weapons?"

"She did. Sword" A smile at something "She doesn't know i can fight"

"And.. uhm.. thanks, Dame Dagmar, but I want to handle this" She says "I .. I need to"

"Well, she already made assumptions. What a jagoff."

"You do," Brekke agrees with Lucia, grimly. "What are the terms of victory?"

"till one can no longer fight, or surrenders. Which ever is first. Short of death" It's a harsh term "But.. I'm the one who pushed for that. I shouldn't have made this a matter of arms, but now? I need to make her cry uncle in front of the others to make a point"

"She acted like you were a servant, not our representative. And then... what about Rivervale?"

"It's.. it's... you guys don't want to hear it"

Eyes narrow.

"We do not. Say it anyway."

"Dame Shavina DeLace said that Rivervale might have heroes, but it was clearly coddled by an overly generous count if it was able to slack so much that they could just send anybody, but that's what you get when the Count has his favorites to spoil." Her eyes narrow "it's like she doesn't believe half the stuff we've endured, thinks it's exagerated, hyped. Made up by fanciful story tellers"

"And.. that's when I threw the coffee on her , lost my cool and challenged her to a duel" A blush

Snort. "And what has Dame Shavina DeLace endured." Scowl.

"Not much" A sniff then she sighs "Chieftain, I'm very sorry I lost my temper, but with all the stuff I've seen over the years here, it was just.. it had to be answered. I should have kept my cool but.. grrr"

Brekke's eyes have narrowed, but she is not looking at Lucia.

"Kick her ass, Lucia. You have a good sword to work with?"

After a moment of quiet, she says, "The small and petty make insult for they cannot amount to much themselves." But she is frowning. It seems the comments do bother her.

"Yup, I've been getting lessons here on and off for a year, Sylvi started me, but even the Chief gave me some tips."

"And the bitch doesn't seem to realize just how many people she was insulting."

"Where will this duel take place?"

A slight frown at Dagmar's language, but she doesn't comment on it.

Then she looks over at the Chief, Lucia frowns "There is NO truth to anything she said. The Count does NOT coddle you. He gives Rivervale the hardest jobs and least support, martially, because he knows you are his best. Rivervale is his shield and spear. He's said as much and you know he wasn't lying"

Her boggan dar perhaps picking up the shift in the Chief's mood

A slow breath and a nod. "Yes. Of course." She nods.

"I felt like he insulted my father's pasta or accused him of stealing the receepie I got so mad"

Brekke regards the angry, wing'ed boggan, then looks to Dagmar. "Dame, will you see that the emissary find a change of clothes, and then help her with a good practice session in the ring?"

"And we sent a da-... we sent a great emissary, the best person. Who else can read people and make sense of crowds? Who else understands our commitment to help our people? Who else has been on the front lines, helping dreamers and fae and plain old mortals alike when it flooded? Who else took the care to take a lost fledgling back to its home in the Dreaming?"

She nods. "Totally."

"Uhm.. thank you" She blushes "For the support and.. for forgiving my screw up" A nod to Dagmar "I want to work on my blocks"

"Okay. I'm not the fastest, but I do okay. Maybe we can get Siv to help, too. I'll show you this trick for when someone comes in hard."

"I am not convinced it was a 'screw up,'" Brekke says. A nod to Dagmar at the supportive talk. "Excuse me." She moves off, pensive but at a steady pace, away from the Lodge.

"Sure I.." She bows as Brekke walks off, then mutters to Dagmar "She's gonna beat up a monster or something isn' she?"

"Probably. But we got our orders."

"Yeah. " She says "Okay. I just.. I hate seeing her down on herself"

She nods. "Me too. But when you win, that'll help."

She cheers "I.. Guess I'm glad you believe in me"

"Sha-veen-a already showed she's underestimated you. So... you can play into that. Make her act on assumptions."

"Look like a shrinkning violet then spring like a tiger lily?" A smile, and it sounds like she's quoting someone

"Yeah... Siv?"

"Sylvi said that actually" A look of frustration "She was the first to help teach me how to fight even if it was mosly he basics " She looks troubled by something

"What is it?" Dagmar gets out a practice sword - not her usual weapon, so she's taking a moment to go through the forms.

She gets a practice sword as well "Sorry, I just realized one reason I was in a figghting angry mood might any way might be that I'm... oh you'll think I'm a bitch"

"Doubtful? But what else is up?"

"I'm kind of pissed at Sylvi" Lucia admits with a huff "there. I said it. It's not fair, it's not right ,annd I'm happy for her, but i used to be her best friend, well, maybe second best if you coun't Kelby. Then BAM... suddnly it's 'hey want a sleep over I'm leaving right after Carnivale'"

Grunt. "Yeah."

"I just... I get why she wanted to grow. I did too you know?" She balances wiht practice sword and takes swipe in the air "But she didn't tell me until like what... the lodge all knew and maybe ZANE before I idd? I mean, Zane's cool but holy shit. Could I be in the top five? And...she doesn't even ask my opinion or advice. I mean.. I know she's moving but it felt like a shut out and.. sorry"

"Don't apologize. You're allowed to be mad."

"Not to her I can't. When she did talk to me it was all 'You know, I'm scared' or 'what if I'm not good enough' so of course, I told her she IS good enough, and she's gonna be awesome and I believe in her- because I do and it's what she needed to hear. I couldn't say 'Oh by the way, I'm pissed a you could you at least ACT like our friendship cme to mind?'" A shake of her head "I guess I can BE mad, but it sure feels like I couldn't show it. Maybe that's why I didn't have anything left for Little miss Coffee me in the face. I used it all up"

"I get it."