#darkgatefortress

***************

The ringing of metal is strong and loud, as the CHieftain works his smithing magggic

He may not notice somebody else at the forge, and Sylvi sure doesn't want to startle him, so she waits for a bit until there seems to be a pause in the clanging.

When there is, she clears her throat. "Chieftain Hewitt?"

He turns as he lets some metal cool "Ah, Sylvi, there you are. Good timing. "

"Yes, sir?" She comes closer and tries to get a look at what he's working on. "You sounded like you were focused."

"Ah, the metal must cool so your timing fits. I'm mostly hammering away to sortt out some thoughts" Ahem "But enough of my selfish indulgences. How fare you and yours?"

"Well, things are better at Rivervale than they were, not too surprisingly. Things seem to be getting back to normal, or as normal as our lives get," she adds with a grin and a shrug. "Chieftain Brekke sends you greetings." She has questions about the thoughts he's trying to sort out, but doesn't pry...yet.

"And I return them" he nods "It is well that things are more orderly for you. the trials Rivervale faced. I would not wish those on an enemy"

"Yeah. It got ugly." She falls quiet for a moment. "I felt bad that I was up here, but they told me to stay...."

"Lass, you did not stand idle. I witnessed that much, much to my benefit in fact." A brow lift "Speaking of those duties. Have ye had time to mull over your own path?"

"I've been kind of pre-occupied about it, honestly," she admits. "Chieftain, you really took me by surprise with that offer, and I was too stunned to really, well, ask the right questions. I think I understand what you're asking me to do...and I think I can do it...but there's some details I need to know."

"All right, Lass, ask away. I'm not an Eiluned. Not in my nature to keep folks in the dark for fun"

"I appreciate that. Well...if I take the position here...I need to be able to have my own room, or at least board equal to what other get."

He nods "All right. Granted. "

She blinks, then nods. "Okay. And...since it's kind of a weird position...I mean, not a usual role?...I need to know clearly where I am in the chain of command. If I'm going to have responsibility, I'm going to have to have to know what authority I have."

"that's a sensible thing, Miss Sylvi, but I admit, some times fluidity can be an advantage. What do you see yourself in the chain?"

"Well...somewhere below Storm, Hearth, and Mountain...but higher than a Thane?" she ventures.

"I see. " He ponders "I'm sure they'd be okay, but there would be times I'd need you speaking with MY authority as well. "

"Yeah, and that's what makes it kind of complicated. Maybe...maybe that's something that needs to be worked out over time. Um...do they, the others, know that you're offering me this? I mean, I know Colton does, obviously, but....?"

"I've told the others that the role is being considered, though I did not mention you were top contender. If you said no, I didn't want them getting confused." He says

"Thank you, Chieftain." A pause. "Would you ask me to take an oath of some kind?"

"Not yet. And lass, I've been thinking.. that authority. this is a lodge .. but i's a lodge often under siege and ever on guard, so the Storm gets to pull rank over Mountain and Hearth more than is common. Technically they are all equal but, well, the cards we are dealt. But each has pull in their own area. Matters of glamour, bale, and history Mountain Wildheart will usually have her way. Hearth Marsellies, well you know Hearth Duties well your mother and all... and Storm is miltiary and guarding. The area where it falls apart a bit is in how we deal with non trolls in the area... their needs and more. Justice, representation... that like"

"Are you thinking more about other commoner kiths? Or is it more about dealing with sidhe nobility?"

"Shit" He says "Ah pardon lass. I didn' really think about the sidhe side of things. " A frown "And me going by Baron before I turned Chief. Foolish. Mm how do you feel about assising with both?"

"Well, I've had experience dealing with both, for sure. I think...yes, I can do that." She offers a bit of a grin; she actually feels kind of confident about this idea.

"Trollishness matters to ye, doesn't it last? I mean, doing things the troll way?"

"Yes, Chieftain. I don't think I'm necessarily the trolliest troll," she shrugs, "but I like Lodge life, at least the way I understand it. I think the Code of Dagda matters, whether or not there's a battlefield involved. Is...is that what you're aiming at?"

"Not exactly. Seems to me you don't like the term Sub Chief. Maybe what what the title should be should be less aristratic, and mmore trollish.. poetic like. I'm no Poet, but we have Hearth, Mountain and Storm. What about something that connects? We could call you The Bridge. Or The River?"

"I think of those two I like Bridge better. And something about it fits your leadership, Chieftain, being a Dougal. The idea of constructing a connection. I think it makes sense for a position at your Lodge," she nods.

"Well then, how would you like to be Bridge Sylvi, voice and ear to commoner hopes and Noble entreaties?"

"I think that sounds fine, Chieftain...." she bites her lip, though. "Forgive me ..." giving an apologetic grin "...it's hard to decide to leave Rivervale. Would you be willing to let me sign on for a limited time? A year? And then...we can see how it went?"

"A year? Absolutely not.. no magic in a year. Now, a year and a day.. that's a classic. Twelve moons, that's fine too. But year. Bah"

A sparkle of humor in his eye

She balks a moment as he seems to decline the term limit...then grins. "A year and a day, that sounds good. Um...one more thing..." A deep breath. "Rivervale's my birth home. If there's ever a fallout between DarkGate and there...well...I'm a Rivervaler in my heart. I just...I feel like I need to say that."

A nod then "If there is any Oath, and I'm not saying there will be, but it shall have that time limit, and it will be dissolved if it ever conflicts with the safety or clarion call of Rivervale. When she calls, Darkgate shall release her grip" A nod "Oath or not, that shall be the understanding. I would not turn proud daughter against her parents... nor have such a daughter be held back should they need her. "

Sylvi nods. "Thank you, Chieftain. So...my parents know about this, but I don't.... I haven't told anybody else about it." A pause. "When would you want me to start?"

"How about after Carnivale? YOu should have some fun after all"

She grins. "Yes, Chieftain. I think...I think this can work. Oh! I almost forgot...I can keep doing my videos, right?" Startled that she almost forgot. "That's kind of my income stream."

"hmm" He ponders "We'll figure something out so you can."

"It's also another really great way to build relations," she points out. Then a deep breath. "Chieftain Hewitt, I'm not going to lie -- this is scaring the hell out of me. But...the way you describe the work, I think I can do some good, and I think what I can do is probably more needed here than it is in Rivervale."

"I don't claim to know rivervale as well as you, but.. I'm pretty sure we do" He nods

"Then...I guess I'll be back after Carnivale," she says, giving a brave grin.

He offers his hand "Bridge Sylvi, if you weren't scared , I'd have concerns about your sense. Real couraage means having the shivers and stepping forward anyway"

"Yes, Chieftain Hewitt. Thank you." She shakes his hand, maybe a bit awkwardly.

And he nods "mmm, safe journey to you" And apparently she'd dismissed or at least free to go

She nods and turns to leave his forge. "I hope your thoughts get hammered out well," she adds as she goes.

Mmm he nods and thinks of a warrior woman in the snow.

(End scene)