#debukefarmhold

Agnes greets when she comes intto he kitchen, "Chief Brekke. How are you young lady?"

A grin at the "young" comment. She offers a respectful nod. "Hearth Agnes. I hope I am not visiting at an inconvenient time?"

"Oh no, oh the childlings are on Krumpus Watch, and dreaming of yule gifts"

"Let me refill that coffee.." And she does

"You are kind. Is there any way I can assist you?"

"Bit beyond assisting" A thin smile. And she believes it. "But no, I have the kitchen in order, bills paid, everyone fed for the nonce" True

"Good. Then you have some time to relax." She pulls up a chair and settles in.

"I suppose I do," She gets a cup of coffee for herself and takes a seat "how re you and yours?"

"Very well. Jessica and Siv are both thriving in their own ways. Frank has returned to the road, and it puts a light in his eyes. Also, I have just come from bearing news to your Chieftain -- Oak has sired a litter, and the pups have arrived."

She smiles, far more easily, though other kith would barely notice the smile as what i was, "Well that is just grand all around. Mother Earth and Father Time seem to be opening doors for your kin and I could see why you'd be proud as a peacock... well, one with dignity mind. As for Frank? Well, if his inner light shines brighter for a wandering a bit, so be it- He'll circle to you again and agin, all the brighter for it." She chuckles flat out at the last "Oak's a father? Oh my word. How many pups , do you know?"

"Oh, Frank circles back quite frequently already, yes. As for the pups...ten, I am told. The parents are both fae hounds, and there is hope that this may be the start of a new fae line, if it breeds true hereafter. You will surely get to meet one after Chieftain Clem has made her choice. Now...what of you and yours?" She sips her coffee.

"My family is blooming, but then, you know how it is about we DeBukes. If we can't beat the other lodges in steel or viddles, we'll best them with numbers. Course I could go on for an hour aboutt various members. Teesha's gone a questing again. With that Scathach boy no doubt. Murry's surly while his daughter is out. Some of the once chidllings have hit their togails and become wilders and some wilders ae copingwith 'grumphood' approaching.. " She scoffs, "As if they know what 'old' is"

mmm more 'yours' than the 'you' part answered there

"I suppose we all think we know what 'old' is until we age further. A long series of opportunities to be proven mistaken."

She tilts her head. "I wonder if you might alert me to what I have to look forward to in my coming years."

"Pride." She says thoughtfully "You'll have so much more to be proud of because you'll see how the seeds you planted are now planting seeds themselves" She sips her coffee, "Some frustraton from how unforgiving the world can be as it races forward and you slow down. Then, eventually, well, what happens to every changeling." A shrug

A slow nod. "That is not an easy thing to look forward towards." A wry grin. "I wonder what it is like to be siochain? To go on and on perpetually."

Her face betrays nothing, "I wouldn't know, never will." True

"Few will," she says with a nod. A sip of coffee, leaving room for Agnes to say more to fill the silence.

Being trolls, that takes a time.

Brekke is used to periods of long silence. Agnes probably is, too, but given her role on the Farm, she may not often have time to savor such silence.

Finally the woman says "If any DeBuke makes it as Siochin, my money would be on Emmit. For me? Winter's creep is having itt's way" A waver of truth? Understatement

"Oh?" Sip. An invitation.

she closes her eyes "Even a balefire can only save one for so long"

"Mm." A pause. "How long?" The tone quiet, and clearly directed at Agnes's situation in particular.

"Oh plenty of time" And said so dismissively, Brekke would believe it. Were she not a Gwydion

The lie almost blares with hidden despair

A brow. "Agnes." A gentle chiding.

A look, then realization, "Damn nobles" Bitter scowl

"I would not have believed you, regardless, I think. What is the diagnosis?"

"Isn't cancer my dear, not something I can hope tthey can microwave or whaever it is... it's Banality... If I were to step away from the hold for more than an hour, it would be harderr and harder for you to tell I was a troll. Cantrips are gettingg harder. But that's part of the Cycle. My problem is I'm not sure I cann hold on long enough for the farm to get a new Hearth up to snuff"

Her brow furrows. "I thought you had been training a future Hearth."

"More than a few, but Maselies is with Darkgate now"

"And some are too young. "

"There is one who is very well trained and of age."

A troubled look, "Sally Mae is who you mean. I'm not so hidebound I don't know. But she's not a true troll. Kinain can't be in the top three ... "A sigh "Nevermind that she has a sidhe lover. And even if I could get over my old hates, too many here can't."

"I think whether a kinain can be Hearth is a matter for those who determine the rules -- namely, the current three."

"If enough raise stink they can over ride..." She says "And the bonding won't work the same... our birthriggh and price is involved"

A frown. "Price?"

"The cost if a troll breaks her word, she faces more than if a kinnain does. "

A brow. "I wonder if we know for a fact that she is not bound by such. If she binds herself by will to the balefire, will the Dreaming accept her and hold her to it?"

"If you are right that it is time to let another be the Hearth, at the very least SallyMae could serve as a sort of regent to the new Hearth to make sure the training is complete."

"That seems cruel annd unfair to her. I am well aware I've been unjust to her in the past . Won't that add to it?"

A brow. "Perhaps you should ask her that. Or, if you wish, I could speak with her about it first. But you should speak with her, Agnes. Mend bridges."

"She can't keep sleeping wih a sidhe noble, Liams are allowed her nnow, to visit, but she'd have to stop"

"Even if she is a temporary support to a new Hearth?"

"I... I don't know." She frowns "I maybe able to find some other troll from anotther hold. We'll see"

"Hearth," Brekke says quietly, "this is not a decision that can be left for a later time. If you feel the tug of banality that strongly, you need to make a decision."

"I've already gottenn help looking for such" She assures

"That is good." A pause. "Hm. Hearth, how young do you deem to be too young for the task?"