#brightwindsbarony

The girl is alight with the result of the quest. Where she used to flinch back or shut p to avoid attention, she seems positively chatty... by girl troll standards

"Curtains and fruit baskets can go far to compensate for a brief stay in an unpleasant place," she agrees with Ashblythe, grinning at the girl's positive attitude.

Ashblythe says "Yup"

"it does help" Gerd nods as they approach

There at the tower built into the cliff, at the base of it, there is a troll thane on duty. A redhead that Kerri may recognize as Pepper, a friend of Siv's, and someone who went on the Wavemaiden long ago. She's grown into a tall proud woman, and, Kerri understands, does some good cooking herself

Kerri smiles and raises her hand in greeting. "Hello, Pepper. Or is it Thane Pepper?"

"THane Pepper thank you very much" A grin then "Hearth Kerri? that you?'" Raised in a lodge she defaults to the title of troll heritage for fellow trolls "Also do some cooking thanks to my own Hearth guidance though I'm not far off. Good to see you again. You too, Emmisary Gerd. Though I've seen you more recently." Then her eyes fall on Ashblythe

Ashblythe raises her chin "Hi. " Slight bouncing on her toes

Grinning, Kerri steps back a bit so Ashblythe can own her moment.

"Ashblythe? IS that... oh of course it's you," Pepper moves to the girl and can't help it, she puts a hand where the blight mark was.

The girl doesn't mind "Yup. It's me. Hearth Kerri guided me on a quest. There was water and fire and a test of character, and a riddle game but I gave up on that and just asked for the answer, who knew THAT would work? "

A brief chuckle. "You did the work, Ashblythe, and you found the work-around. You earned it."

"Honesty can get you far sometimes" Pepper used to be quite foul mouthed but apparently she curbs it around childlings and she is delighted "Well, that's wonderful. Don't get me wrong, you are a sweet honorable girl and don't think we love you any MORE or less for how you look then or now but... I bet it IS a relief"

Gerd nods "Just remember what olgar told you, Ashblythe"

"Never let the bastards grind you down?" Ashblythe asks

Kerri nods approval at Pepper's words, and then grins at Ashblythe. "That does sound like him."

The sound of hooves heading in, "Pepper, have you seen- oh, excuse me! I didn't know we had guests. Gerd, back so soon?" A smile to the troll girl! from Nessa

Gerd says "Just returning Ashblthye home, Nessa. Hey. this is Hearth Kerri and you already know..."

"I uncursed my face!" Ashblythe blurts

Pepper nods "Cursed?"

A hand to cover her mouth as she peers down. She blinks - oh, she's a softy, her eyes are wet. "You look so... wait, cursed?" A step back, and an affronted look. "Who would dare..."

"Hello, Nessa..." Kerri starts, but childlings are a force of nature.

"Sorry" Ashblythe realizes "i'm interupting."

Nessa blushes a little, and nods to Kerri. "Good afternoon, Miss Kerri. It's a pleasure..." Still looking over the childling with concern.

The childling only has a tiny scar where once a mottled blight dwelled. she is no longer an UGLY UGLY girl. She is now .. a girl

"No, no, it's quite all right! Ashblythe's story is important! But perhaps we should find the baroness to tell her and others all at once?"

"Of course! Sparrow must know... That is, sorry, Baroness Derynwydd." Both names come easily to Nessa.

"Mountain Vali uncovered something " Gerd says proud of her Uncle, "Hearth Kerri turned out to be a key to a possible curse removal. And the rest, well, yeah, all at once. How are you doing Nessa? Oh, and Pepper, we have a butt load of food, of course. Hearth Kerri insisted"

As Gerd kind of throws Hearth Kerri under the bus, but in a praising way

"She's out flying right now." Nessa says apologetically.

"That is, running a sky patrol."

"Oh, of course. And...Ashblythe, you'll have to tell most of my part, if you'd be so kind?"

"Oh sure" Ashblythe says "If you like"

She doesn't mention that she's unable to remember most of the quest.

Age does that, poor dear.

"It was really a blur' the girl tells Nessa, "I think there was a duel, I got to pick what we foguht with, and i picked chalk for a chalk drawing contest. Dame Kerri told me to play to my strengths.." she focuses " I think she was dressed like Obi One when she told me that"

Pepper smirks "I can imagine that' she 'stage whispers' to Gerd

Gerd smirks back "You see, Brocilli IS tasty, from a certain point of view' same stage whisper

Kerri has a bemused look. This is to cover her surprise. Not sure how I got Jedi clothes...

"Choosing a chalk contest was clever. Define your best battlefield when you have the chance."

"YUP" Ashblythe says

"VERY clever, " Pepper nods "Come on, everyone, let's go inside"

As they start to go in, Gerd asks Nessa "So how is the healing biz going? And herbs?"

A small frown. "I heard that Granddame Eir-Frey has left the Count's service."

"She was never sworn to the Count," Gerd says a bit on guard. "She just lived IN the County"

"I understand." She says. She doesn't look mad, just... disappointed.

Gerd sighs then says "Nessa, I'm not sure you do but... I respect your worries for the County. That said, having seen how you helped, I felt more assured for my choices, not less"

Pepper looks between them

"No, I do understand. I just... wish things were different, is all. Wishful thinking."

"What if.. what if I encouraged new healers who aren't trolls to check it out?" Gerd offers