#elsewhere

"I'm deeply embarassed by this. Did you get my ex partner?"

"No."

She doesn't get upset, rather she nods "On my to do list then"

"I thought you might like a little something to look forward to."

Her first smile "Yeah, that'll be a fun reunion. Also, a message has to be sent for more than just me. The cause should not be betrayed"

"You have a plan in mind?"

"Oh, yes. If it works out, I might get the lord and her a in a mutual murder.... Redcaps have a bad rep for turning on you, after all" she says low but pleased

"Mm. Strike quickly then. They won't be expecting you back, in influence at least, so soon and for the next couple of weeks they will be... distracted."

"Oh? Dare I ask?"

"Not at the moment." he curbs her curiousity.

She nods

Then moves back since CC appears to be done

Cc joins him in her place "May Maude remember to say thank you?"

"She did, bless her heart."

"I think this is the first time she's really blown a mission' a mmph

"You are correct, I believe."

"I talked to Lova." A look back at the childling

"And?" quietly.

"She's willing to try wherever but she thinks she's too little to have no adults"

"Mm. Agreed."

"Who would you suggest watch over her?"

"The people at the arrangement I was able to make for her. I didn't realize she was a troll, of course, but....
"There is a family, apparently, not too banal and active in the community. Mortal, but there are Dreamers there and Fae minding the lot."

"So she'd have protection" A nod then "You realize, I'm almost tempted to find Meddling Frank on the road, drop Lova off, and see what happens as he heats up?"

"I thought we didn't play with the Rivervale Trolls?" an eyebrow.

"Well, he played with us first. And lord knows the girl would be safe wherever he put her. Only downside is that that hold we got her from would likely get a lot of Vale attention"

"If that is a downside"

"I defer to you entirely on the matter."

"mmph. Tell me more about this mortal family?"

"Of Native descent. Not well-to-do by any means but they get along. Have a tendancy to foster; children, pets, livestock, so on."

"mmm" She ponders "I take it they don't teach monarchist thinking?"

"Oh, certainly. They are guided, unknowingly, by a Troll. Weedy fellow as trolls go, I think malnutrition played a roll there. He's carved out a small stable o Dreamers and I suspect he's got a Grove or Glade or similar but that information could not be had were he under torture, so...."

"He'll do" She nods

"Or more accurately, they'll do. They're not too far from us? We can check in even if only by tattle tale?"

"Well, a full day's drive. But it is a straight shot, more or less."

A nod "She's a good kid."

"I'm sure she is."

"mm" She leans her horned head on his shoulder "I wanted to take them all. I think I've gotten soft."

"Don't you have enough at home?"

That gets a laugh from her "More than" She admits

"They may have an opportunity to make their own way in the chaos." he tries to comfort her.

"that's true" She perks up

"That's my girl."

"the chaos, I noticed it wasn't placed in the childling's areas so much . What does the powder do?" She asks softly

"Depends on what else it comes in contact with." as softly "Abner didn't have the keeping of the childling's spaces."

She nods, "well, the fair fortune I put on them may help"

The driving gets them out of the state, before they have to make a rest stop

Abner checks the gas gage. "We'll have to get fuel. That will mean a comfort break as well I'm sure. Make it as short as you can, Mm?"

"Yes, sir" The troll childling says, "Sorry to be trouble" Lova seems to look at the adults as if making sense of all they do as best she can with all the whispering

"Roger that" May Maude has been quiet

"Need I caution you to stay together, ladies?"