#bergen_county

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Some time later, heavy footsteps in the ice-crusted snow, along with the quicker, lighter steps of a big dog.

"Hello?"

Oak comes into the stable first, and gives Dagmar a wag and a "Hrf!" of greeting.

Brekke follows. "Dagmar. Good. All is well?"

"Hey boy." She extends a hand, but then rises for Brekke

"Hi Chief. Yes'm."

Oak sniffs her hand, then snuffles around the stable for various smells...horse...goat...sluagh....

"Good. I have something to discuss with you." She doesn't sound urgent, but she does sound serious.

Dagmar tenses slightly and nods. "Yes, Chief. I was just.." A kind of gesture with her knife and half-carved wood block.

Brekke glances at the carving with interest and nods approval. "Yes. I was wondering if you had heard of Jarnbryn, a troll staying with the DeBukes. He is, in fact, a DeBuke."

Brow furrow. She shakes her head. "They lost a DeBuke? I mean, there are an awful lot of them."

"I believe he is related, but not from the Farm originally."

She nods.

"Chieftain Clem came to speak with me about him. He was brought to the farm after a rescue mission that freed many sluagh from a Varich hold where they were being kept as quarry to train hunters."

"Jarnbryn was sworn to serve the lord of that hold."

Dagmar bristles. "Hunting sluagh?"

She nods.

A dark look. "Did he know about that when he oathed?"

"I am not certain. He has apparently not spoken about many details of his oath -- I think he may not be able to do so."

"Chieftain Clem and I have a theory, that he was forced to take the oath in order to save a loved one. But again, the DeBukes cannot get the details from him."

"My understanding is that he tried to protect those he could, to minimize the worst of the damage."

A frown and she rubs the back of her neck. "That would... forcing an Oath seems pretty awful. But then, so does hunting kithain for kicks."

She nods. "I would like to have you speak with him. You and Connor."

"Oh. Because pooka. And Gwydion. Right?"

"Exactly. I think you both may be able to get more information than the other DeBukes could."

"I will ask Connor. But I won't force him, if he doesn't want to."

"He's still a kid, even if he's a squire."

"Yes, do not force him. But I suspect he will not decline. And...he is older than we often remember him to be."

"I know. His not-birthday is soon enough, and he's still..." A shrug.

"I think it's a gift, isn't it? Kind of? There's drawbacks, but there's something to be said for being a kid."

"It is, indeed, as much for us as for him. His youth is a pleasure. But there may come a time where he feels ready to explore wilderhood. Keep watch for that, and make space for him to speak to you about it, if he needs to."

She nods.

"He's a smart kid. And I know he'll want to help."

"He always does. After you speak with Jarnbryn, let me know what you have learned."

"Yes'm." She nods, then catches her lip with her teeth as if considering something.

"Mm?" Noting her expression.

"Uh.."

"Chief, I... that is, you have more than one Oath, right?"

"I mean, I do, too. To Gwydion, and Adoption, and Fealty to you..."

She nods. "I do."

"With.. with the last, like, I had already been those other things." She rubs the back of her neck.

"Yes...?" She is not sure where this is going.

"I.. do I need to ask you, if I made a new Oath? Wanted to, maybe?"

Curious brow furrow. "It depends on the oath, I think. Can you tell me?"

She bites on her lip. "I haven't decided yet. Because, like I said, there's you and my family too, and I'm not sure how they all interact?"

"But. Um. There's one Frank taught about - Clasped Hands?"

A pause, and then she indicates for Dagmar to take a seat. She finds one for herself.

Dagmar sinks back down on the hay bale.

"You understand how Clasped Hands works? The benefit, and the burden?"