#bergen_county

Connor follows after Kerri. Away from the treat tables, mind you.

"Connor? Are you having a good Pennons?" Assuming he just wants to tag along and "help" judge.

He considers this for a long moment. "Someone tried to LANCE my Knight."

"Like, for realsie-dealsies."

Meanwhile, Dagmar is getting ready for her next match. Baron Kealan of Teaneck comes out, and folks cheer! For years the Baron has been a good sport about getting launched by the Chieftain, even when he gets a champion too. His defeat brings the good rains, or so say the elders! He waves to the crowd, Symon can hear him mutter "Yes yes, I loathe you too" But he smiles

Kerri pauses and gives Connor her complete attention. "Excuse me? Something happened to Dagmar?"

Dagmar does not have to be Brekke. Right? Right. She doesn't.

"I'll say something did," Siv says carrying a child "Balor tipped his lance with some kind of gas container. Sylvi noticed something odd, I drew attention to it... and the Count used his boon. Guy's in custody"

Unlike Connor, she doesn't know about the squire, and siv really doesn't know about Symon's.. comments.

"But Dagmar's alright?"

Gerd is with Dagmar "It's okay... you got this"

Still seething internally at the Balor, Sylvi still gives an encouraging WHOOP! from the stands.

Siv nods "I think Dagmar missed most of it, she was prepping her horse, but aye, she's fine. Was great against Tara"

She touches the black cloth tied around her arm and nods. Up close, Gerd can see that it is actually embroidered with black silk.

Kerri casts a look of concern towards the jousting lists. "And it's been handled. Okay...good. I'll have a talk with the Count in a bit, find out what's behind it. Keep an eye out, all of you. Make sure this isn't part of a larger problem aimed at her."

Gerd admires it "Okay, that's classy. "

Siv nods to Kerri "You got it, Aunt Kerri. "

She purples a bit, but she also smiles. "It's from Symon." Fondly, and as if it weren't obvious.

Kerri nods gratefully to Siv and Connor, and gives the baby a smile. She's preoccupied, though. "I still have about five entrants to get through. I can't get over there right now."

Gerd nods "A suitor should pay homage in his or her own way"

Siv says "I know... don't worry, you've got a team" then with effort, b ut wanting to show her support "Chief"

Kerri's brow knits, and she rests a hand on Siv's shoulder. It's not easy for her to hear herself referred to that way, either, and she wants Siv to know she appreciates the effort.

Siv smiles at the gesture "Now go get judging"

Connor is still lurking. So close in fact, that when Kerri brings her arm down from Siv's shoulder, she almost beans Connor.

"Oh! Sorry, Connor. Was there something else?"

He fidgets, scuffing the ground with a foot. "No...?"

And Siv goes to fill Jonas and Piper in, complicating the situation ...er getting more eyes

Piper moans. "WHY can't we enjoy ONE PARTY without some drama!" [/Aside]

" A match you've all been waiting for" A voice says "DAGMAR Hammerstrike, Knight of Rivervale, against Baron Kealan of Teaneck!" A voice declares "All bets for this match are closed"

"Something else about Dagmar?" Kerri asks Connor.

"Yes.... No?" He huffs and ponders. "Can I ask you a question, like, nothing really, just 'sposedly?"

Siv smiles at Piper "what's that? You're taking our daughter AND our son while i get in trouble? Thanks , babe, you're the best" Piper now has twins fighting over her one lap and Siv is off

"OI!" Piper shouts after her, but then shakes her head and laughs down at the babes. "That's your mor for ya, me lovelies."

"Yes, Connor, but do it as I look for the next entrant." She starts walking, trusting him to follow along.

He trots alongside her. "If someone was 'sposed to joust someone else, and if they won, they get to claim a boon, right? I know that. I'm a SQUIRE, it's my job to know that. But if they didn't end up jousting because someone is a no-good-rotten cheater... does that count that Dagmar - I mean, someone - t'retically - counts that she won anyways?"

"Well...I don't think the boon is in place after every joust. I think that would be a private wager between jousters. As for the joust not happening...I think that would count as a forfeit in her favor, yes...but not a win. That being said, though, I'm not one of the judges. What -- hypothetically -- are you thinking should happen in such a situation?"

"But there's a ransom." He explains. "Just like earlier. She should take his.... uh. horse. His horse is really nice, you know, and he doesn't deserve her! That chicken-knight had to give Dagmar his horse, but she traded it back for like, a gallon of Dr. Pepper and a stout handshake."

Kerri considers. "I suppose an argument could be made that she gets to claim the horse for ransom. I don't think Dagmar would actually do so, though, unless the horse were mistreated."

"Oh, she is."

He nods solemnly.

"Somethin' turrible."

Kerri looks at him seriously, unsure how to process that. "Well...the final ruling would be up to the Count."

"And Dagmar would never leave a horse behind."

THIS he says with absolute certainty.

Dagmar meets the Baron on the field, she's worried, stressed, but once she begins to move, to RIDE, all her training kicks in, the joy and the pleasure of the joust, and yes, a sensation that somewhere Brekke is giving her a nod acrosss the miles. She had faith in Dagmar, and that , no matter the distance, has not changed. the oath seems to carry that assurance

"True," Kerri says, though she's beginning to doubt that they're still talking about horses.

That Oath is reassuring, filling her belly with warmth. Like her Oaths to her parents, to her squire, to her love. It's a second armor, one that gives her strength.

Symon, who had disappeared for the earlier joust with Tara, is now visible again in the high stands!

And so, when she drops her visor and the trumpets blow, Dagmar and Star charge forwards as a team. Green and golden a-gleaming!