#goldfinchfreehold

"Right, but maybe there's a loophole?"

"Like...did the Ailil swear back? And are they holding up their side of it?"

"Maybe" Gerd ponders "Near as I can tell, they were about to absorbed... the lodge that is, so they decided to PICK the liege that gave them the best deal"

"That's the best deal?" A frown. "Why were they weak enough to be absorbed?"

"More banality around them, fewer dreamers than before, that's often how holds fall... but I did some research after finding myself tricked, and the stuff Siv found gave more clues. Looks like the noblity upped the pressure, not just the Ailil ones either...."

"Did they, the nobles, collaborate to make the Ailil offer look best?"

She continues "And they did it brilliantly... every hear of bucket crab mentality?" Then in answer "I don't THINK so... but the nobles did have all the commoners vote... and then, spread word that it wasn't fair the trolls got 'special treatment'... hence bucket crab mentality. The pooka, the nockers, the satyrs, said it wasn't fair THEY didn't have singlular kith lodges... and voted to allow the nobles to constantly challenge with pennons to take over. Eventually the Argent Star WOULD fall. Unlike the DeBukes they weren't in an isolated location after all. And so, the Argent Star chief made his choice to the one that gave them the most perks. Looking out for HIS lodge." A grumble "Even if it meant screwing ME over it seems"

"Wow." She shakes her head. "That's just the worst."

For a moment she looks like she's got the start of a brilliant idea...but then she frowns and shakes her head.

"I Saw flint and steel strike there, but then the spark stopped" She observes

She presses her lips together for a moment, then says slowly, "I've heard stories about noble holds getting disrupted...like, there's fae who are dedicated to doing just that. But that's a path that would probably lead to being in worse debt than you ever were."

Gerd nods "Pretty sure Mou... Frank would advise against it. There's history with him I don't fully understand"

"Yeah, I get the same sense. I mean, maybe that's just the Liam-feeling, but I don't think so."

"Yeah, Vegard knew more.... but I'm not waking the old man up to find out" She ponders "That said, we... huh. I wonder if we could direct a TROLL Noble to the area?"

"Well, it would help if we knew one who didn't already have a hold."

"Good point" she sighs "And they'd need a County level Pennons. I don't think Hemlock will loan us his just we can hand one over to say Sir Colton"

A wry grin. "Well, even if he did, Colton wouldn't outrank the current nobles there. He wouldn't win the Pennon challenge, right?"

"Besides, I don't think Count Hemlock could afford to loan his, anyway. Not with whatever this census stuff is about."

"Probably not? On both counts" She says "Okay. So maybe we can't save that lodge from Ailil influence I... " A pause "Squire Valter might know something."

Wide eyes. "Oh. You're right. He probably would."

"That's...Gerd, thank you. I think that's the connection I need that I couldn't think of."

"Hey, he's new to us, but he knows Ailil systems and has a Countess that cares for him "

"And you're welcome. I owe you big still after all"