#earthrunes

"Agreed. But... the chain?"

Some Troll, he thinks... but doesn't say.

He is positively RUINED.

"The chain we must get."

"Command the hold, the land becomes yours. Right of Demense, you can order the serfs freed ...and demand the chain as illegal" Harrowstep says

"I would trust Siv to do that. But I bet some folk would complain about another Holding in King Hands. Soon it becomes a Dynasty."

"Siv waveborne? Ruling? Not unless it has a sail" DeVere shakes his head

"Mm."

"While I would see it in the commoners' hands, there is the Baroness..."

"We do have a surplus of them."

"Nadeen?" Lilly sounds surprised "But she barely tolerates us"

"Nay. The sparrow."

"She has her eyes set on a juicy plum farther north. She's got snow in her name, she might not like Dry Tears."

He mutters, of Nadeen Dancingsnow.

"Best hope Nadeen finds a hold with none of ours, aye?"

"Ah, the Liam who is more lost the closer she gets to her happiness" Madame Gray says, of Sparrow "Perhaps"

"The sparrow - the artist?" He thinks, he met her in passing. "She's Liam, but versus Balor? The common folk might flock to her banner."

"She is soft-hearted, for all she is sidhe."

He gums at his lip. "If we extracted a promise - the chain, and freedom for the serfs, in exchange for the chance?"

"There's no promise she could hold it once there. But that would be her problem, afterwards."

"I consider Sparrow a friend" Harrowstep says "Or at least, one I greatly respect. She would rule well... perhaps not happily"

"The Balow might rule happily." He points out.

"I care not for her happiness, I care for the chain."

"And I care that those enslaved are freed, aye. Liam are nobles, but they tend to rule lightly."

"They have less right to rule in the eyes of many so must rule lightly" A nod from DeVere "But I would prfer commoner lead, this however might be .. more likely to succeed"

Lily says "Liams are nice. Mountain Frank is a good man, and Sir Carowyn too"

"I know not enough of who resides in Dry Tears - if there is a leader in wait."

"Something for your Siv to uncover"

"Would she give it back if they rejected her? If they have a champion who would step up? We should look for that first. "

He nods to that.

"She has rejected holds before."

"The Sparrow fights well" Harrowsep says "And yes, she has rejected."

"There is one your way - a Dark Gate?"

"Siv'll find out. Unless she gets caught and numbered and we have to send in someone else."

He seeks a bit of salt on the table - there, from a cracker crumb, and tosses it over his shoulder. Less his pessimism sound too much like ill-wishing.

A chuckle at that from DeVere

"DarkGate is run by Trolls. Colton had a chance to grab it, but passed it on to a Dougal Troll. I lobbied for it to be a commoner hold, but it's another Lodge. They have a few infiltrators, though. Could be worse."

"Aye - and the Dougal, Hewitt, she found."

"Colton was her squire, nu?"

"Truth" Harrowstep nods

"Hm." Apparently he didn't pay that much attention. In a sulk after his idea was rejected, no doubt.

"Perhaps Sparrow should rule. " Harrowstep says "I know quality. She is a warrior and a leader both"

"We need more info. Will the serfs of this town be weak and need a leader to help them recover? Or are they straining at chains and ready to escape? We just don't know."

"Ah, there's the rub" Gluminski nods

"If I was kept chained and then freed, and asked if pretty please I'd stay and play common folk? I'd be out of there like the devil was on my ass."

"Uh, Pardon."

"But some may have family there or other ties. They might want to stay." He shrugs.

"Well, we let Siv gather information. See if there are those who can challenge."

"So we are placing our trust for spying... on a troll" Madame Gray says "Well, I'm appalled"

"Truly, these are dark times" Gluminski says