#fenixtj

"Hopefully Gerd will give her the same speech. They're friends, Kourtney might listen to her"

"She wouldn't listen to Hearth Agnes? Or.... or is she not... able to say so, any more?"

"mmm I would hope she would. She's a bit in awe of AUnt Agnes, but then, most of us are"

"Deservedly so." Jessica agrees.

"How are things here, got all the positions you wanted filled?"

"Mm. Well, the way things are I wouldn't turn down warriors." with dry humor "I'd like more people who could liaison with the Nunnehi. I'd like some folks I really trust who could serve as ambassadors in the baronies."

"Mmm while we DeBukes don't always make the best ambassodors, least with sidhe nobles, I do know a few folks ain't half bad who we consider fair players. I can hunt around. Warriors, we can do. SOmething about growing up in a small hamlet of cousins makes for a powerful motivator to get good at scrapping"

Jess lifts a hand "And nothing can give anyone a fighter's heart but we do need people that can follow orders and have discipline." she points out.

"Trouble with Coy?" Naming one DeBuke here who works as Thane

"Not at all." firmly "Coy's a good man to have around."

"Good. He better set the date with Constance soon or family will wonder what's wrong with the boy" A humph "Well, I think he's proof we have discipline. You getting a lack of disicipline from someone else here? I admit, I had doubts about the Redcap brothers but every time I come here they're on the ball too"

"Demos and Phobos... I couldn't do this without them." Jess says plainly.

"No, I'm not expecting that any DeBuke would be undisciplined, but there's a risk when you being people in from outside. I just want to be upfront with my expectations. My whole focus here is to -not- go to war unless we have no choice; battle-hungry fighters might lead to trouble."

"Oh now I get that" she nods

She nods, sips.

"Anyway, Clem, if -you- say they're an asset? I'll trust that."

"That's right flattering. I know you don't like drawing from Rivervale too much"

"It's good that we're allies; the Farmhold, Rivervale, and Renaissance. We all have our own situations to deal with as well."

"No kidding, Buck told me how Rivervale got hammered by winter cause of that Narnia reject... gives Witches a bad name, I'll tell you. " A thought 'Oh, warn your sluagh not to visit the part of iowa near Red Oak... Bloody Oak Barony"

She nods. "I heard a bit about it. Our sluagh are mostly younger ones but I will tell them."

"We're real tempted to so something about it if the nobles won't fix their own mess. Earl was in on the rescue, and the things he told me get me so mad I could spit. " She relates some details of how the sluagh were hunted

Jess swallows, eyes dark even if her skin pales. "Yeah. What's being done?"

"Well, with the sluagh rescued, I believe that hold is laying low, and bracing for trouble. They're going to get it... Earth Runes is ticked, and you know how they care for Zara there? Well, she saw it with her own eyes, or so Earl tells me. If Coradel can't get the nobles on it, then we may pick them as our next 'feel free to prank' on Carnivale. Nothing like 20 troll wilders storming a place, making a mess even if we don't lay hand on anyone."

Jess nods. "Impressive, yes. Ok. Let me know."

"Will do... and sorry, one of those things so horrible you feel others need to know even if it is hard ot hear"

"No, thank you for telling me. If any of those sluagh fancy a spot down here.... like I said, most of our sluagh are younger. Could maybe use some mentoring."

"Well, I hear good things about Mr. Viggo, but I'll let them know" She nods

"He's fantastic, but only one man."

"Fair point. I'll send word to Earl that you're open to honorable if quiet sorts. " She nods "Though, well, with one barony under a varich they maybe cautious"

"Of course. No pressure."

"Course, most sluagh I know aren't fond of the beach side anyway"

She nods. "Tidemarch is... not the worst of his House."

"Well, that's good to know. He and Tweak still at loggerheads on the issues? "

"Tweak's at loggerheads with everyone." Jess points out.

"AIn't that the truth" Clem says "Had to explain to her that the Moobulator may be dandy, but even cows can only give so much milk so often . Mara goes there now and then to fix up ideas. "

"Fix up.... no, you know what? Nevermind. Good for Mara."

"Sorry, I'm vague because she tried explaining it to me and I got completely lost" She admits

"It's ok. Been there, done that."

"Nockers...one time, I got in the middle of some of them over a baseball rivalry. Sweet Odin, you'd have thought I'd opened the last seal to doomsday or something"

"I have to say, I don't -understand- them.... but I do value what they Dream of."

"Now ain't that the truth. Not that I'd tell them or they'd fluff up too much, but where there's a nocker, there's a way"

"Yes. Here's to them." a toast.

Another toast in return "Not that you're allowed to play favorites, but besides other trolls, is there a kith you do understand better than the others, or think you do?

"Oh, no." she shakes her head "I'd never presume that. And, there's something to be said for taking each individual as they come."

"Does seem to be the best. Family on the farm is worried we're going to have a rush of Satyr blood thanks to Caesar, but you know if we do we do"

"Well, nothing says any of the babies will be Fae, does it? Must less all take after the father."

"That's true, and we'll love em regardless. Kinain have been life savers of the farm. Need bail posted? Call a kinian as we say. Shame Sally Mae can't touch the bale or she'd be ready for Hearth and then some"

Jess nods. "We've had similar experiences here. Have you met Abuelita of the Pit?"

"Don't recollect if I have" Clem answers after thinking it over

"We'll make sure you do this time. She was Kinain."