#debukefarmhold

And so it is, later... the Hearth finds herself, as promised, coming into the farm

Kerri does wait until later in the day, but she arrives at the farm with a basket of goodies, one of which she offers to whomever is guarding the perimeter.

"I'm telling you, Chief," Buck the Centaur is saying "She's real... real as you. A centauress... she looks like a DeBuke, but.. centaur..."

Clem raises a brow "But Buck, you're the only one who'se seen her. Why don't you ask her to stick around ?"

"Because she's gone every time we.. ah.. I mean.." The big man grins earthily "Say 'hello' she's gone after we're done.. saying hello"

"See if she likes flowers and lure her in" Clem shrugs "Frankly I think that's one hell of a chimera you've dreamed up"

Kerri catches the last bit of this as she approaches. "Hello, Chief Clem. And hello, Buck, good to see you."

"She's flesh, I KNOW flesh and..." Buck , easy going throws his hands up "Fine.. I'll try to set up a picnic with wine and flowers... and .. you know, you'll see." Then he sees the Hearth "Oh hey Hearth. Excuse me," The big man grins "I need to catch me a philly and show the Chief I'm not in Bedlam"

"Hearth, how are you?" Clem smiles "DIdn't get to talk much during the party"

A blink as Buck departs, then a curious look to Clem. "Somehow, hunting a lady with the lure of a picnic and flowers has a strong Bugs Bunny feel to it for me."

"And I'm well, thank you! The celebration went beautifully, I think. I know the Chieftain was pleased. But yes, there was little chance to really talk." She offers out the basket of goodies. "I must confess that these are leftovers, but I hope they're still welcome."

Clem looks a bit irked "It's not bugs bunny, it's plumb romantic is all..." Then she catches herself and says "Pardon, personal opinion is all. I guess it could be a bit a mite silly" She takes the basket "Oh Kerri you know your food is always welcome here. Agnes says it makes her step up her game and at her age that's something she doesn't have to do often"

"Oh, nothing wrong with picnic and flowers, not at all! But the notion that a woman will sense it at a distance and just be lured in...." A pause. "Although, I suppose it is possible. As for Agnes, trust me, she keeps me on my toes, as well!"

"She'd be mite flattered by that," CLem is pleased, "But now you didn't just come here to hand over left overs did you? Did you want the talk private? and, did you want a meal and drink yourself while you were here? Feel like I should at least offer you some iced tea"

"Iced tea would be lovely, and yes, someplace private would be best. Necessary, even."

Clem's face grows serious and she nods. Soon the two are in the shade of a gazebo, it might not seem private, but no one is going to get in earshot without them knowing

Kerri takes a sip of iced tea before continuing. "I'd appreciate if what I say doesn't get repeated, not yet. I'm going to offer you something, and I'm going to be offering it to Sylvi as well." A grin, "Mind you, there's plenty to go 'round, so it's not either/or."

"Somehow I get the feeling this is about more than your recipe for Easy Banana Fritters. Go ahead"

And she adds to it by making a cross mark over her heart "And yes, mum's the word"

A nod, a sip, and she puts the glass down. "A while back, I was able to learn a bit of Sovereign. I'm no master at it, but I've got some...and I recently was able to make an irate sidhe sit down and be quiet when he accosted me in my kitchen -- and he outranked me."

"I'm not sure how much of this has gotten out via the grapevine."

A BROW, "Not near enough, you know Sovereign? that's.. not too surprising.. you are a knight but... he out ranked you? THat's not supposed to work .. it's NEVER worked"

A slow nod. "But, I was in my kitchen at the time, you see?"

"I was in my domain."

Clem may act like a plain ole country girl, but she didn't get to be chief by being dumb or naïve. She does however take a LONG slug of her iced tea, then says "If you're right in what I think you're suggesting, this changes EVERYTHING"

A slow nod. "You understand why I asked to speak privately. Clem, I don't think it's a good idea for this to become something we brag about, but I think it's an important tool...an ESSENTIAL tool...in the commoner arsenal. And I'm offering to teach you what I can."

"Some folk around here... see Sovereign as an oppressive mind slaving art "

"Another reason for the private conversation, yes."

"I hear you" Clem ponders "Do you think I can be trusted not to abuse this? You know me pretty well. "

"And trust me, I didn't learn this from anybody who thought a mere un-housed commoner knight should be given such a powerful tool."

A deep breath...and she looks away over the fields. "I'm not going to lie to you; it has its temptations." A pause. "I think I would trust you, yes. But more to the point, I think the Farm needs this. So...let me revise my offer. I will teach what I can to whomever you decide can best be trusted with it, for the defense of the Farm. Does that make better sense?"

"As I said, I'll be offering this to Sylvi as well. And Jessica. All of our freeholds need the defensive edge where we can get it."

A brow "You don't just want the cat out of the bag, you're making kittens"

A brow in return. "Would you do anything less, if you were in my position?"

"It's a serious question...because once a DeBuke learns this, it can be passed down...and passed on to others."

"Well I have to take lessons now, don't I?" Clem nods "This is too big a gain, not just for the farm . Yes, sign me up for one of your first classes. You'ree right, I wouldn't do anything less. This needs out and about"

A satisfied nod. "I firmly expect this is going to come back to bite me at some point, but it needs to be done."

"Oh, it could get you all sorts of nasty attention. Kerri Davidson could be a name that translates to Pandora for Sidhe nobles histories. IF you're up to that risk and the trouble it can bring.. then I for one say carry on my way ward daughter"

A pleased grin at that. Then a confession: "I haven't told Olgar about this particular little plan, yet. I wanted to see whether there'd be any takers first. I'm hoping I'm right that he'll enjoy a bit of vindictive glee about it." A pause. "Of course, that's another reason why Sylvi especially needs to learn it. She's going to be in the fallout zone of anything that comes back on me."

"Hm. Olgar should have it, too, if he'll accept it. If he could insist that a sidhe follow his orders on the trods so he can save that sidhe's life...."

"Oh shit, the visuals THIS is conjuring"

A guilty smirk. "I confess, I'm enjoying this more than I probably should."

"You rebel... no wonder Sylvi fit in so well, she gets a healthy skepticism of crowns from BOTH Sides"

AND... Clem makes a few suggestions how to keep this on the down low

(Fade to conspiracy)