#debukefarmhold

Across the trod. "Hello?"

Security is still tight, but not as tight as it was. Spencer looks up , he's armed with a spear "Hello?"

"Hey Spencer. Clem around? Or Murray?"

"You kidding? Storm Murray's like Beatlejuice. Say his name three times and..."

"What's going on..." The storm appears, and NOT on the third name

"Storm." Nod.

"I don't have all the details, but if Kerri thought it was important I get here fast, I got here fast."

"Smart. What's the news?" He grunts

"Back home, there's a troll attached to some Gwydion Count I don't know, and they're set to get here and claim the Farmhold."

"That mouthful of a name sounds sidhe."

"Of course does " Murray frowns "Gwydion huh? They can be hard fighters. "

"Seriously - Count Obeithiol Goldenwing ap Gwydion. The troll, Sir Drifala, she looked solid?"

"But far as I know, it's just the two of them."

"Drifala?" A troubled look "Shit, they've got a ringer"

"Huh?"

"You know her?"

"By reputation. You ever hear of the Trepidation Tea plantation?"

"Nope."

"Tea plantation in Lousiana... big rebellion... slaves rise up. Big revenge on the family there... then they try to run it covertly. For a few years it works, then the authotiries catch on.. and hang them all... strange fruit stuff... well, it had the sort of glamour the Sluagh liked. They either made or FOUND a balefire there ... and took over... drinking in dreams born of that. About 6 years ago. A sidhe shows up with a troll champion . Challenges them to a duel. The sluagh try to sneak out of it... but it was already contained. Next thing they knew... their 'champion' they paid for was getting butchtered like a hog by the troll champion. her name as SIR Drifala... of the Beltaine Blade. We suspect it's not the first hold she's turned for some sidhe. So.. she wants to try it here? She'll find it harder"

"Uh, she does...." A frown and some blinking. "Slave rebellion.. I.. I was.. before.."

"But you can stop her, right? Can I help?"

"I mean, harder to beat a troll than a sluagh."

"Probably not." he says "It's usually one on one"

"But I can probably handle her" He looks over Dagmar "And you'ere not good enough.. yet"

"Yeah, I've got a lot of work to do... still can't keep up with Chief or Olgar."

"But i might need that boon thingee of yours" He grumbles "Make sure folks are on the up and up"

"Yeah?"

"Like - she might try something tricky?"

"Possible. Seelie shits alaways act like their honor means they can get away with other stuff for the greater good"

"uh.. Storm? Dagmar IS Seelie. So am I?" Spencer says

Murray shrugs

"I don't think I've heard of the Beltaine Blade... sounds martial, though."

"Bad news is what they are. Seelie, claiming to stand for noble rule and 'order' but the fact is some think they masterminded the Night of Iron Knives" A snort from Murray "I hate the Beltaine Blade and just about everything it stands for"

"Oh..."

"That... how could a commoner do that?"

Murray shrugs "Lots I don't understand about people. That's why I don't want to be a Hearth. Hitting folks I get. Thanks for the warning"

She nods. "So - I'll stick around til I'm neeeded?"

"If you want to hang around, you can" A nod "Check on our horses for me would you? "

Clearly a Job she'll HATE.

(End Scene)

Clem gets a text message: URGENT, NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU AT THE BRIDGE, BRING AN ESCORT, NO MORE THAN 2.

Clem gets the text, sees the word URGENT and realizes she's got one more ball to juggle 'ON MY WAY'

Kerri comes over the bridge trod as quickly as she can. "Murray, Spencer." She looks a bit breathless. "Clem's supposed to be meeting me...."

"Here" Clem says with Teesha by her side "What's the story?"

"I sent Dagmar over earlier. Here's the situation..." She fills Clem in on the interrupted threat. "I think the Chieftain's trying to make him see the DeBukes as people rather than savages. He needs to hear your side of things. Calmly," she adds with a hopeful tone.

"I think he's a good kid at heart who got sold a bill of goods by the Beltane Blade."

Murray snorts "We're sucking up to Conquerors now ? A little savage might be just waht this punk deserves"

Murray relates the tale of the sluagh hold and how SIR draffhytaffy operates

"Murray, if he brings his ass over this bridge or from any other direction and tries to conquer you, I'll be savage right along with you. But let's try to prevent that first? This knight is bad news, but the Count is...well, he's younger than Gerd, and he doesn't know what he's getting tangled up in."

Clem says "Sounds like it's time to get my best dress on" A sigh