#dreaming

"Huungry...."

Wise to avoid her reach.

"my riiiiver... mine"

Bristly.

"Your river awaits on another side, " Zane says "I give you leave to seek it on the silver IF you harm or hurt no one on your journey."

"Hungry!" the spirit snarls

Zara watches - hard to be sure what she's thinking, her expression is mostly neutral.

Zane looks ready to say more, but Earl puts a hand and whispers something to Zane

naturally, whispering near a sluagh near the dreaming is laughable

Indeed!

but he does it for the River hag's sake, not to hide from Zara "Also tell her she may not claim any river near what Mortals call Jefferson City Missouri..but she may defend herself if attacked .. only fair"

A nod!

The hag could find a host, be born, bring the old magic anew to the world... yes.

Zane nods "You hunger, that is your nature... but you also need a river.. Here is the offer, take it or remain here until the next firchlis breaks you. I give you leave to seek it on the silver IF you harm or hurt no one on your journey save in self defense, and also, you must not claim any river near what Mortals call Jefferson City Missour, in or near the Barony of Earth Runes. Go or do not, but you have leave to go on the silver's full protection and my well wish only if you do by the limits... or stay here, and be limited all the more"

The spirit FLARES and for a moment tries to scare Zane

Zane closes his eyes and holds still

"Done..." the river hag soul snarls... and steps onto the silver forming "Bah... I need a river.. and food... soon soon" She pushes past them a bit rudely. But then, they were never the most polite kin of the River Sirens

Zara does not challenge the Hag - too close to their goal, no need for a fight.

and the hag does stop and look back at Zara, and her eyes fall on Zara's wispy mid section "so... perhaps you are all friends to nightmares after all. What, you want cookies? But watch the crossing...the knight is trying to keep folks from the bridge" And she moves off

Rude, but oddly respectful... and giving a favor of knowledge

"I'm the one who set her on the silver, why is Zara getting the nod?" Zane ponders

A nod back to the hag - a cousin, a nightmare, for all their differences.

Earl says "it's something we cannot ever fully understand , Zane. Think back on your past lives, when the world was one, yet divided into four. Maybe it will come to you more so, but neither of us can fully grasp."

"Barring cookies?" Zane reminds

Earl actually smriks "Well, that might work. Yes. Barring cookies" THen Earl says "The knight talk has me worried though' His smile fading. "Let us move on"

SIGH. Agreement, on the knight.

And they move, cautious to avoid more Clock O diles or other threats, and they see it at last, where the Rivers look ready to cross... and the bridge to it is...

blocked by a huge troll knight in full plate shining

Eyes widen - troll? Unexpected.

"Beware, travelers. " The knight says "You are approaching great danger beyond the like you have likely seen! The crux of the Rivers destroys ties, defeats Oaths, and unravels binds even of honor! Turn back, and go elsewhere into the Dreaming. I will continue my vigil near this cursed place"

Nod, nod. Of COURSE it holds that.

Good knight. Zara will continue now.

"Stop!" The Troll slams down an axe "If I must, I will use force to drive you away ...for your own good"

Defiant chin!

Zara can see the waters mixing beyond the troll, feel the power

Earl's hand goes to his blade, "You triffle with my charge, fellow knight. She will go where she wills"

"This bridge, and protecting others is MY charge" the Troll Guardian says "It destroys oaths of truehearts. It severs liege from lord. It is anathema"

She pats Earl's hand. Point at him, point at SPOT. Point at herself, point to the confluence. She goes, he stays.

Earl whispers low, "you..want me to flickerflash you there?"

"Whispering is beneath us, Brother, the sluagh must, we should be open. No treachery" The other knight scowls

Zane says "Now hold on, the Code of Dagda does not ban whispering. And how do you resolve your bullying others smaller than you away with it?"

"I do not bully, I protect... and this is not battle, the code does not apply" The Troll Knight turns his eyes on Zane "Do not be insulting"

Waver hand. She can walk.

She holds her hand up like a boy-scout oath, and then shakes her head. Earl knows Zara holds no vows.

Earl looks torn. Here in this part of the Dreaming his protective nature is SO strong. But he strains..and holds, for now

Of course, Earl also guards something more precious than an Oath...

Zane says "Protect the Dreaming.. not control the Dreaming... you're getting the code all wrong"

"You little gnat" The Trolll Knight snarls "How dare you..."

And Zara sees that ZAne is using the satyr power for debating needlessly as a distraction!

ZIP.