#elsewhere

"I hope she does not send me away" he adds with concern

"Well, I can't make any promises. But if you want a troll hold and forests, I'm sure I can help make that happen."

"You're kind. Thank you. You should be more cautious of strangers. I hope you're at least putting your boon to work to make sure I am not tricking you?" He inquires "not that trolls often trick"

"Not often, though it happens. Are you trying to trick me?"

"No" he says true "But I am not sure how much of my full story I want to tell you. I do not intend to bring any harm to Rivervale or it's people" True "In fact I will fight to protect them" True

She listens, then nods.

"Your story is yours. I have parts of my past I don't share easily."

A nod "As it should be. But, I fear some of my secrets wil lbe revealed by time and travel. So be it. WHen do you hope to start heading to Rivervale?"

"Piper and Siv were still asleep, but we'll need the boat done before we can go."

"Boat? We are going.. ah, yes" He looks resigned

"Siv's ship, yeah. Which - given how the trods are right now, might be for the best."

A pause. "I will say - it's hard to keep secrets from the Chief. It's not that she's pushy or nosy or anything, but... but, like, you want to be honest with her, y'know?"

"You are right. I will not be welcome with deception on my lips" A nod "Do you think she would see me alone so I might reduce some of what I say?"

Dagmar considers this, jaw set at a thoughtful angle. "That seems pretty reasonable. I'll ask. It might be her, but it might be the Three. Hearth, Mountain, Storm."

"Yes, you mentioned that. You're right, thank you"

"Like I said, I'm used to the lodge - but I know it's a bit different from how other freeholds work." A pause, then a soft chuff. "Can you imagine what a nocker-led freehold would be like?"

"I'm not sure I have that kind of imagination" he admits but his eyes glimmer with a bit of humor "It could lead to a headache to dwell on"

"And a headache to listen to. They can be pretty impressive on a tear." A small smile. "Wanna come with me to check on the boat?"

"I would be glad to" he nods

"Ship, Siv would insist. Don't tell her, sometimes I call it a boat just to watch her react."

Ok, that does get an amused look "Fiona can be.. a tad dramatic"

She pinches her thumb and forefinger together. (Wee bit.)

Valter refuses to snerk openly but she can tell in his eyes it was a close call

They make their way to the ship yard, where a group of nockers and boggans are arguing over a cannon that's been added

"VOICE COMMAND you luddite, it's the best way" The nocker snorts

Brows. Both of them!

"RIGHT, last time you hooked up voice command protocals, it was to the Battering Ram roomba combo.... you sneezed and we lost a wall" The Boggan reminds

"Siv's a Fiona, she'll want to set something on fire."

"Wait, you mean a flame thrower? Instead of a cannon?" THe nocker says "We got orders for a cannon"

"Why trhe furk am I bulding stuff when the processing orders are all wrong!"

"I mean, like, a fuse?"

"Just, uh, probably not voice-command."

"See? No need to yell at her" The boggan says "Thank you for the clarification"

"How's she gunna FIRE It, if it's just her in the ship. That's why she had to ram the beast last time because she couldn't load the balista AND steer" The nocker throws his hands up "By Einstien's ass, it sucks being the only one with vision!"

She holds up her hands, palms out in a defensive gesture.

"We were just checking in, that's all."

"Dont' mind him" the boggan says "He's going to die of a self induced cardiac arrest one day is all. We COULD just set up a lever or button NEAR the wheel?"

"OOO a button, a lever even..." The Nocker says "You sure love your levers, double browed Putz"

The boggan looks angelic ,and says "of course, it's known in song that there are at least fifty ways to love your lever" Deadpan but just a wee bit smirky

"Well, I'm sure a button or a lever would work, too."

The nocker gapes, then explodes in a stream of profanity and sputtering at the boggan, as the boggan 's smirk turns into a wider and wider smile

Valter says to Dagmar quietly "They used to date"

Blink.

"I think I can see it."

"AHEM" Squire Valter says, a tone of trollish patience being tested "We will need this vessel operational SOON, can that be done or not?"

Dagmar is quiet again, watching the dynamics. She's no boggan, of course - not even a Kerri - but she's trying to understand this place, and the man that has been offered as a "boon."

The nocker sneers a bit at the Squire "Course it can, you jarhead with the screws on too tight. It's all ready to go. Except the cannon and that's just a matter of finishing touches"

"Yes, won't be another hour" The boggan assures kinder

Her jaw tenses and she narrows her eyes at the nocker.

"Say, Valter, you're not going on this thing? are you? " The nocker says as he works "THat'd be dumb"