#odyssey

"So we don't tell the Chief yet. Then she can punish him for what he did in her Barony, after the duel is settled."

"Dagmar... I.." She cries again "They were helpless... they WORSHIPED him as he had them killed"

"No. No, he used magic. That wasn't them."

"I know he used Soveriegn... but if it hadn't been them, would I have cared?"

"It would have hurt less. Of course it would have. Varich can't take love oaths, but that doesn't mean you're made out of ice."

"Might be simpler if I were" A sigh "ice can be broken, but it doesn't feel it"

She wipes at her eyes

Grunt. "Maybe. But simple ain't always best. I tried the 'don't care so nothing hurts' route."

"you cannot act on this on what I told you. You must act as if you did not know ... or you will dim our chances and undo our work. Symon risked his life for the plan in place. You risk it all even in victory if you cross a line"

True

"I can do my duty." She rests her chin on Nadeen's head as she holds the Varich in her arms.

"And I can bide my time before I kill him."

"No" She says rising up from her former position of sobbing in her breast "You kill him, you ruin everything. The Countess will use that against Rivervale. And bargains I've made will be broken."

"So I kill her."

"She pushed this to happen? She pays."

"And the Right of Life? Dagmar! NO. You will not let them rob you of your honor. You will not let them kill the Code of Dagda in you! you will not let them destroy what is good and best in you. You WILL not!"

And Nadeen FLARES with passion, a winter queen

Elsewhere in the hold, Buckethead is demolished again...and again...and again....

Jaw jut.

Bucket head resassembles, and seems to be learning

Upping its levels of skill with every defeat

And Brekke gives a wolfish grin as she sets to attack again.

Symon watches at a safe distance - wincing with each clang, but with a slim, grim smile as it is demolished again and again.

Nadeen sees the jaw and strokes it "Do I need to swear an Oath to protect them from you? I will. That much is riding on this. More than ever is riding on it if it would cause you to betray what is right and good and knightly in you" She speaks truth

"Don't swear an Oath."

"I won't do anything. I want to. They deserve it."

"You want to. They do. You must not"

"They are cowards and killers and they're not worthy of seeing the sun."

"This isn't about how low they are. This is about you not being tarnished by them. And you would be"

"Later, you must explain to me this 'deal' that you have made." The word sits sourly on her tongue, a bitter taste.

For Brekke, this fun is continuing, who ever invented this thing is a genius! It's a foe she can cut loose on freely!

And it gets better each time, soon she's fighting an equal, an unimaginative equal, who lacks the same instincts, but my goodness what a work out

"If you insist, I will" nadeen says "I owe you that much"

Yes. Brekke is very satisfied with this workout. She might even sleep well this night.

Eventually, though, she does stop.

"I'm so sorry about your parents." Softly.

Brekke may or may not hear some of the staff of the hold talking as they help Bukethead get his top on in the right direction "The charge is drained." "The charge can't be drained ..charges last days" "Well, this time it lasted ONE day... " "But the drain corresponds to skill level and force resisted to do that you'd have to... " They watch the Chieftain go and mutter "So that's the difference between a warrior and a legend" "Guess so"

Nadeen nods "I was never as close as I should have been . I feel.. they were so kind. And now I'll never be able to thank them. Nothing will do that. Not even justice. I'll be fine. I... " A breath "other teenage girls have lived without parents. I just wish I had told them more often how grateful I was"

Meanwhile, Brekke is muttering to herself, "Perhaps Rivervale could benefit from such a device."

Something to talk to the Chief about. He must know the maker

"You won't be alone. I promise."

Symon slinks over and whispers to her. "I think if you had aimed for the left elbow at that last slam, you could have knocked it's arm clean off."

Nadeen hugs dagmar again, "Go to sleep. You may need your strength."

Brekke, to her credit, does not startle. But she does take a moment before responding. "Perhaps. Any other observations?"

"Right. I... it... I... please sleep, too."

Nadeen nods

He considers this. "You're really good - everyone knows that. I think you could maybe be a bit better if you were more underhanded, but I get it, 'honor' and all that. Just don't rely on your opponent to have the same moral obligations. Even under Dictim, if there's a way to play dirty, I bet he'll find it."

Brekke nods grimly. "This is true. It is almost inevitable."

She goes a few paces. "Symon...I do not know many of the things that are happening relating to this, hidden things. Please be aware that you will need to explain much to me later. Or...explain to others," she adds, realistically.

"Keep your eyes sharp."