#rivervale_lodge

"I do. I regret sending him off, now. I did not realize...." A sigh, and she shakes her head.

"Chimerical death by poison meant you'd come back, but you'd be a bit colder when you finally did." Vali says

"I am very much a grump, Vali. I am cold enough for my tastes."

A nod "Agreed. "

And Sally Mae comes up with the cellphone "Clem is on the line. I told her. She's mad. Well, that's putting it mildly. she...she's ready to crap a bull"

Brekke sighs and takes the phone awkwardly in her large hand. "Clem. It is Brekke." And she listens.

"Brekke, Sally Mae sounds okay, but you know how trolls and troll blooded can be. Is she holding up as well as she sounds?" a pause "And this son of a bitch who tried to knock her up... is he still in your area?"

A look to SallyMae. "She is upset, and understandably so. We will support her as best we can. As for this Ordan, no...I took his memory of SallyMae and set him quickly on a trod. I did not realize just how deeply plotted his actions were at the time. I think he may be heading to Firnost, if he can find it."

"Thank you, I want a word or three with him. " She says and there's a dangerous under current, then a breath "It's up to Sally Mae, lord knows she had enough choices taken away nearly, but do you think she should stay with you folks?"

"As you say, it is up to her, but I will ask what she thinks. What do you think?"

"I think maybe she'd be safer here but not by much, and she'd probably feel like she was on show- which is the last thing she needs. What do you think?"

"I think that makes sense. And Clem...while of course you must tell certain others, I hope this story will not be a matter of general knowledge on the farm."

"We will do the same."

"Not if I can help it," she says "Just the elders. Thank you, Chief. We owe you.. a lot."

"I just regret letting him go, Clem. If he or another agent of whoever he was working for attacks the farm..." she trails off.

"You caught this, Brekke. We didn't. If you made a mistake, then how much worse we? Now I can't tell you what to do in your own lodge, but at least whenever you are in the Farm , you are forbidden from blaming yourself about this. You ken me?"

A brief chuff of laughter. "I ken. Thank you, Clem. I will abide by that restriction."

"Good. " A sigh "And you're not the only one with a case of the guilts on this. I got so caught up in the transition... well..spilled milk and tears. Put me back on with Sally mae please?"

"Of course. It is good to speak with you, Clem." She hands back the phone to SallyMae.

Sally Mae takes the phone and they talk. Vali in the mean time has rejoined the Chieftain "Any orders for me in the interim?"

"Vali, I want to know who commanded him to try this. This whiter than white person, whoever he is. That is a priority."

"If I have a vision related to that, I'll let you know I had it, but I think this was more an attack o nthe DeBukes than us. Doesn't change the fact the scum tried it on Rivervale lands"

"Rivervale defends the DeBukes, when needed. I feel it is needed, now. If you learn anything further, please do not hesitate to advise me."

He bows "Yes, Baroness" Then a pause "Sorry, habit"

She shakes her head. "It is fine."

Sally Mae has hung up, "Typical Clem. Trying to blame herself... "

"If you do not want her to do it, and you do not want me to do it, then you must not do it yourself."

"You two sound a lot of like some days" A touch testily, then she says "Yes, Chief. And...understood. Who wants bread rolls? I'm making bread rolls.." And she goes into her own cooking frenzy

(End scene, buttery bready scene)

Brekke understands. She's accustomed to Kerri's bursts of kitchen therapy. ((Scene))