#earthrunes

And in it, she finds a simple sentence in fine silver print "Coradel's the Dream I didn't know I lived for until I met her. I may never understand her, but I'll never stop loving her"- August

Her hand goes to her heart, and her expression reflects that she is suddenly, deeply moved. "Oh...."

"The next one is tomorrow" Delores says "Twenty eight of them await. Phrases Earl, I, or some of the staff have heard him say about you when you're not around. Sir Earl thought that perhaps it would be pleasing. I can stop with this one if you prefer" A shrug

A briefly pained look. "Twenty-eight..." Then she takes a deep breath and smiles. "I would love to see them. Sir Earl is very clever. Yes, Delores, please continue...but hopefully he will return soon enough that you'll have many in store to share with me at another time."

Delores nods sympatheticly "I too, hope we don't draw many more, but .. it was thought it would ease. If it harms? let me know I'll burn the damn things"

Velvet gasps at the notion of burning them. THen pretends she did not gasp and folks are hearing things

"I would never ask you to do that. These are August's words. Thus, they are my treasures." She slips the card back into its envelope, then delicately tucks it into the neckline of her summer gown, so it rests against her heart.

"Yours and no others, for while they were overheard and shared. I have no idea what is in each envelope specifically" The boggan smiles "Then I'm glad you treasure them. I.. ohh. I best get back to work."

It would appear the crew have been healed and more.

Siv is almost unrecognizable in the fine gown that has been provided.

Coradel turns to see them, and yes, yes, the troll girl is lovely, but is Seana with them?

And yes, in another gown is Seana

Colton has been dressed in a suit.

And he bows first, "Baroness, I return with them safe... barely"

Siv bows, then says "Baroness"

Coradel steps down from the dais and nods first to Colton. "Well done, Squire." Then to Siv. "Captain Waveborne, you look much better than a few minutes ago! I am glad, and my compliments on your piloting." Then she reaches her hands to Seana. "You are well?"

Seana bows, then takes the hands "Thanks to your healer. We all are. We dropped off so many lodges... In such short time. I'm not sure how she did it it all." A glance to the Captain then back, "I have, I think, fufilled my oath. From here other trolls will tell other trolls"

"Twas nothing" Siv says "But ah.. how did we get in these outfits? I still don't know."

Coradel smiles warmly at Seana, then laughs a bit at Siv's question. "Oh, my staff is extraordinarily skilled. Don't question the good. Now...come and have refreshment and tell me of your trip. And how did your ship become so badly damaged?"

She has seats brought closer to the dais so the travelers might rest as they speak, and of course the refreshments are expertly served. She reclaims her seat on the dais to listen.

"I thank your good folk for fixing her. Not the least of which my mother would be FURIOUS if it was damaged" Ignoring the fact that the Chief might be MORe upset at a bleeding daughter.

"I expect you'll want to give the repairs a close inspection before she sees it, then."

Food is prepared, and it is Seana who explains, "Things went as you'd expect. Most, once they realized why I was there, were quite alarmed... in a trollish way of stoicism and all that. A few cast omens and so on... the results were not promising for them. Contacts were made. Some did not believe... and considered it a trick"

"Fools" Siv says at those.

Then Siv says "Oh I already checked the ship over."

"She nearly forced her way out dress and all to do so" Colton gives Siv a LOOK

Sivv shakes her head "Priorities, squire"

A bit of amusement at Colton. "You don't quite understand passion yet, Squire. I believe the captain, however, does."

Siv blushes "Well, when it comes to my ship yes." Then she says "Go on, Seana. Tell them about that hold jumping bastard"

Then to Seana. "Of the ones who don't believe...you may need to try to contact them again, once the threat appears."

"Hold jumping?"

"A lodge was seized by duplicity" Seana says "Half the trolls oathbound through chicanery "

A blink. "What? Where is this?"

"About that," Colton says "We did our best to hide our identities to keep a war from happening..." A look at Seana and Siv

"But I have a noticable glass arm" the squire adds

Seana says "Seemed like a good way to get around their restraints... and it worked well. Just using my gifts, Squire."

"WOuld have done it anyway" Captain Waveborne says "To gain oaths by trickery? Fie on that, the cowards can earn it"

Coradel holds her hands up. "Please! My scribe can only manage so much with stream-of-consciousness. Can you please explain what happened more sequentially?"

Indeed Velvet is trying

"The Ice River Lodge is located in the Duchy of Salmon..aka Alaska." Seana says "It was remote, obscure, but it was a lodge so we went to it"

"Ice River. I have not heard of it, but there are many Lodges I do not know, I think."

"We arrived to discover that it was a troll lodge no longer, taken in 'honorable combat' by a couple... a Varich, and a Leanhaun. But the combat was an illusion, afalse memory implanted in the minds of the chief, hearth, and mountain there... "

Siv looks like she'd spit on the ground at that if she weren't inside, but doesn't interupt the Clurichaun's tale.

"Squire Colton knew the Leanhuan by reputation, and mentioned a gift at chicanery. From there we figured out about it...but oaths were already taken"

"That's terrible! Outrageous!" Coradel looks like she'd like to go fight these interlopers right now.

"See? She gets it!" Siv says

Colton says "Right.. but starting a fight...."

"is a Clurichaun gift" Seana says "And I do not apologize for using it. I managed to egg on a fight IN the hold, not easy, between the two 'rulers' and the squire and Captain.. "

Coradel leans forward. "Yes?" She clearly wishes she could have seen this, or been part of it. "How did it go?"

"Well, while we fought for our lives, Seana found the treasure that maintained the Chicanary and shattered it. Oathbound or not, the trolls were furious at the treachery... and the former Chieftain found out the balefire was still tied to her. She.. she sealed the hold to 'protect it' as oaths required... and drove us all out."