#elsewhere

"I really shouldn't," The younger troll says as he works, "The pact was made for a lodge of trolls to guard here. It wasn't made with noblity of the sidhe kind, but trolls. I'm a knight, you're a baron, but for peace sake, at least a little, we need to get used to titles"

"As you insist, after all, you have supported me quite well. So... Liam, mmm"

A smile, "Yes, Chief. Wasn't meant as a snub at Dougal" the younger man offers

"I realize that, but still, I'm going to train you in smithing, and so forth , you've got the arm already, and what do I get? A young man who prefers SIlver and Blue. Folks will wonder if I'm the worst recruiter ever" Humor

"More like they'll think House Dougal thought I was lazy," Colton smiles, then asks between blows "Is it supposed to fight this hard?"

"mmm here, let me show you how to work that out"

And so it goes for a bit

Dull, but she is patient.

Then news , a green figure, a Ghille Dhu, comes in, "Chieftain? We've got a new arrival, a troll, named Wildheart?"

The Chieftain looks up, "Just a moment, got to finish this. PRovide him or her with refreshments would you?"

A smile.

"Sure" He says and heads back

She transfers to the ghille dhu, following...

Handsome if fragile kith, like nature's ode to the seasons

And he has no clue

"They'll be a bit, working on a project that will be ruined if they drop it," He says

"I suppose by now, new trolls seem rather bland," She says

A frown at the bitterness.

Zara hangs her glass, so to speak, from a nearby light - careful not to latch onto Banneath directly, not yet. The Namer is risky.

""No no, we're glad for them" He says "At first we weren't, but they're doing a lot of good, and the motley almost lives here, well, we take turns. "

"Motley?"

"Well, we kind of found this place revived, and might have had dibs, but we kind of also ended up walking into this evil elderdark officer's influence so... also we're saved. It's complicated."

She nods "Explains a lot, this place is a fortress, and a prison then," SHe rises and closes her eyes

"There's a sense of ..watch ful eyes" She says

"The eyes are the hold... it watches you... the fire, the hold..."

NOT, it is implied, are they the sluagh...

And zara feels something... the fire itself ..

it passes over a flaming eye, one of green stalwartness, no dread Sauron here but still, like a guardian that it is, it 'looks about' as if it's name has been called

Oh hell.

She doesn't fear troll-fire, and she knows she holds no malice or threat...

Perhaps best to allow it. Surely a bale can understand her nature.

Indeed, the flames seem to give a curt nod to her... the gaze then turns back to the black gate within, and the threats without

A soft sigh of relief.

A good sign, that it's new chieftain, even when Smithing, is aware of the first duty

"Yes I guess," the Ghille Dhu says "What can I get you to drink?"

"RC cola I guess if you have it?" She says

"Oh sure, lots of the DeBukes like it" he says and goes to get it

"Wait I.." A sour face on her now but he's gone

Zara tilts her head. "Now what, Wildheart?"

"Well, let's see waht we've got," She touches a wall and mutters "Your nature known, or are you gilded throne, I would see, thy mettle, I would know, to who you're entrusted, and are you served well"

And the hold whispers to her "Ask thy questions"

She did it without being AT the balefire? Impressive

"Your current chieftain, he is a good man?"

Her equal in Fae - and likely a superior in Naming.

"Of Hewitt we are but recently met, a man of ambition and design, but also honorable to a fault, and to the needs of his people never blind. He favors the forge and iron, but makes sure my stone stands strong. He minds the gate and to me, that is what matters"

A whisper from the troll, "Interesting, you're more ..direct, and self aware than some holds act." So she asks another question "What is the DeBukes connection here?"

"They provide aid, they walk the silver path here... they will die if they must to keep the gate sealed. That is their connection."

"Silver..." She winces "Okay, so the farm has a nearby trod. Lovely" A deep breath and she asks "Is someone else watching me? Us? Beyond the thing you imprison?"

"Yes" Simply

Hisss.