#bergen_county

Back in the cell... Kerri has the muzzle in her hand

She frowns at it, then looks at Swilla. "You have to wear this all the time?"

"Yeah.. I was telling Lord H there that my old corby had a debt to the balor so used me to pay it...sucks too. So he made me wear the muzzle... ONE time I snapped at him and then bam, dictum" She glowers a bit "But I'm not weak I just... can't figght a dictum"

She thinks about this a minute. "Where was your old corby located?"

"AIn't supposed to tell" She says then shrugs "But they moved around some. So hard to say just one place. They thought they were smart though... wanted to ditch me so they could teach some 'seelie scmuck' a lesson while a hold lost its bad ass"

Meanwhile, Connor has vanished! Very Pooka, to pass the buck…

Though in honesty he had left to rejoin Dagmar…

She narrows her eyes, suspecting she knows which corby she's mentioning. "I'm guessing, then, that you wouldn't want to be returned to them. Assuming you ever got free from here."

"Hate their guts" She explains "So no. I don't want a corby if they're going to call me fat all the time, and then sell me. If I weren't bound to the balor I'd try to leave now" She eyes the area "I mean, with effort I could eat my way out, but not sure I'd get far past the guard"

"Mm, yes, the bars are there to protect you, too, at the moment. You've been accused of trying to poison Dame Dagmar Hammerstrike of Rivervale. By all rights, most of the barony should want your hide as a trophy right now."

Swilla winces "If I don't do what he tells me I get dictumed. I didn't even know what was wrong with it.. just that he wanted it. You gotta believe me" She says "Believe me or.. or I'll bite you!" But while her eyes flash fiercley, there's more fear than fearsome in them

A mild blink. "No, you won't." A simple statement. "But fortunately, I've got reasons to believe you." The main one being that Connor believes her, and Connor can be pretty insightful about people's character traits.

"I won't" she sighs then realizes the rest of that, "Wait, you believe me? YES, thank you!" the girl bounces

"Well, my belief is only part of what you'll need to get out of here. However, I might be able to do something. But...it's going to cost you."

"It always does... see this is why redcap girls attack santa on sight, we've gotten jaded early" She observes "what's the cost?"

"You'll oath your service to a hold in this barony's boundaries for a year and a day. There are two main holds to choose from, and you get to choose which to serve. You will not harm anybody unless in self-defense or given the go-ahead by the holder you've oathed to. You'll be fed and clothed and housed, we'll make sure of that. I don't see any need for the muzzle. And...when's the last time you went to school?"

"SCHOOL?" Horrified "most of the teachers won't even let you eat in class!"

It would appear the Department of Education is behind a plot to starve her!

"That might be the case. But school is part of the deal."

"Ain't been to school in..." She ponders "over a year and a hlf"

"That's the deal. After a year and a day, you're free to go. Take it or leave it."

"I'll take it, I'll take it" She says then assks "is there food in these lodges?"

"In one of them, yes. The other is kind of hit-or-miss."

"Well. wait, how are you gonna get me free from the Balor?"

"Let me worry about that. Hang tight. And if anybody asks where the muzzle went, tell them Kerri has it." She turns and moves back towards the Balor's cell.

The Balor sees her and looks almost relieved "I Apologize... to the knight, to you to who ever" He calls out "You hear me? To whoever"

Not the tirade she was expecting, but she tries to keep her expression impassive. "You'll have a chance to apologize to Dame Dagmar, I am sure. But apologies can be empty things. What are you prepared to do to balance out your intended crime?"

"What... you want my horse?" he winces finding focus "I need it"

"Yes. And I need my people, Dame Dagmar among the rest. Your horse would come close to being enough for me to accept your apology. But not enough."

"Well, I can't give up my sword. A knight needs some protection"

"Perhaps you no longer need be a knight, then."

"I wont' give up my title, no matter what the voice says.. I must have SOMETHING you want"

He hisses

The voice? Hmm...is he in bedlam? All the more reason to get Swilla away from him. "You're lucky I'm considering anything. What I want is your head on a pike." Her voice got suddenly lower and colder and he has no doubt she means it.

"But..." she relents only slightly "...I will take your horse and your servant."

"For didn't you try to take a knight and her horse from my barony?"

"Servant? " A pause then relief "OH the little piglet... " Relieved "I thought you wanted something IMPORTANT" A scowl "I'll miss the horse though"

"It is a deal then?"

"Agreed, I'll give you the horse and my sorry excuse for a squire... and go"

"Oh, no, you mistake me. The horse and the servant are the cost for my acceptance of your apology. However, you will still need to make amends to the Count and to Dame Dagmar herself. Those are separate arrangements. Now, thank you for your agreement. Interesting, that you think that a servant who knows the workings of your household is not important. Funny, that." She turns to leave and go see the Count.

"Fine, you've got the best of me... funny HHAHA!" He yells after her, "Just... tell the voice I did what it wanted! Let it ... let it stop!"

A look back. "I'll do so when I find the voice. It might take a bit."

A whimper?

And she leaves.

Not her problem and she finds the Count near the box seat "I hope they got rid of the stink..." He looks over "Baroness Kerri, how goes the judging for food competitions?"

"Completed, Excellency. They'll be making the formal announcement shortly, and I do recommend you have some of the winning entry. It's quite good!"

"I shall" he nods, "Now, was there something else?"

"Yes, Excellency. Concerning the Balor who would have poisoned Dame Dagmar. I wish to make a claim against him on her behalf."

"That is your right" He nods "What's this claim? " He's no love of the balor

"For one, his horse. And for second, his servant, the redcap girl. I wish both to be remanded over to Rivervale. This will be his form of apology to me, but I suspect you will wish to demand more of him, and I suspect that Dame Dagmar will have further expectations before...or if...the Balor is released."

"THta release maybe a while coming, long enoough for Dame Dagmar to get her due as well" He assures "And yes, the horse is Rivervale's. Are you sure about the redcap? She did not seem to know fully about hte poison, my boon revealed that... but she IS what she is...and worked with a balor"