#rivervale_lodge

Then he calls down to Tove "Thanks for coming by, Tove. We appreciate it."

"No problem, should have had ME help with the hard stuff. Cooking is easy. I'll go on in and get the kitchen"

Vali raises a brow and watches eher go in, then turns to Jaymes "She brought in a pretty full bag."

"Yeah, she's got things to stay over so?" Jaymes shrugs

"Dude, how MANY bags has she brought over?"

"What's that got to do with anything?" Jaymes blinks

Vali smirks "Women have their own ways of conquest, my friend. And you? You're being invaded. Though I suppose the wise thing would be to welcome your new shapely skaldic wood working overlord"

Jaymes grunts "Let's go."

Vali says no more, and the two head down to clean up, and wait for a homemade meal.

(End Scene)

--------------

((Time check...this would be bubbled back to the night after Pennons?))

((Or soon after, at least?))

(Sounds good)

The goods are delivered, and the Baron has brought it in troll sized quantities.

Baron Kealan's steed is enjoying a fine meal of grains and carrots...and he might suspect the horse intentionally threw the match in order to get some Rivervale treatment.

"Oh I need more loyal horses" He says wryly

Brekke greets him with satisfaction and offers to help bring the payment in. "Come and drink, Baron Target."

"Thank you, Lady Lance Looms Large. " he does insist on bringing in through the thresh hold

But then takes the help. "Bargain kept. And the horse looks great."

That gets a hearty chuckle. "He is a fine steed. You chose well."

Dagmar is waving a carrot in front of the pony's face, adoring in the way only 14-year-old-girls seem truly capable of being.

"Keep your fingers well clear of his teeth, Dagmar." Brekke calls as she brings Kealan into the main room and set them both up with drinks.

"Yes'm!" Carrrrootttssss.

"Thank you, alas, it's not the horse that wins." He watches amused as Dagmar is cautiouned "Well fought, young lady. All of you" Then he follows

"Thanks!" She remembers her manners, but her focus is primarily on the horse.

"Are they not fine young fighters?" The chieftain's pride cannot be contained.

"Alas they are. My Teaneck crew got quite the thrashing, I hope they took defeat with dignity. But yes, your Defenders were incredible. Siv is the most agile troll I've seen in awhile, and Dagmar one of the strongest. As for young Sylvi , my reports told me she was diplomatically inclined, not tactically."

"I think diplomacy and tactics have much in common. Regardless..." she raises her glass. "To our continued Pennons traditions."

"with perhaps less hang time" He clinks the glass

Oh, is that an apple? Yes, yes it is... Dagmar may have snuck one or two out.

She drinks and nods appreciatively. "Fine drink." But her smile has gone away, and she taps her finger against her glass. "Tell me more about the members of the 'Teaneck Avengers.'"

"I think, Chief, there's one in particular you wanted to know about, " A sip, "Shall I cut to the chase?"

A sigh...and she tosses back the remainder of her drink, and refills her glass. "Ready."

"Thane Bancroft has been in my service for about three years. He is a highly competent warrior, titleless, which is not as impossible as it may seem given he is scathach, an Autumn Sidhe to use the term. " A sip "He's also perceptive, and annoyingly laconic at times, but over all a good egg. You briefly knew his mother though that was some time ago."

A blink. "His mother? Who...?"

"Kieren, better known for a time, as Thralla" A quaff

She may not rremember her well, but Brekke no doubt remembers she's a troll

That look of going-through-the-memory-banks, and her eyes widen. "I do recall...she had a hard life early on."

"She did" he says with a drink, "I understand she is doing well currently beyond Concordia. Her son, a wilder, wanted to make his own marks, and came here. he seems utterly un interested in claiming any title beeyond thane, though to be honest he's as competent as any of my knights. My House is the only majority modernist one so that maybe why, yet he doesn't talk politics often. he does have some trollish tendencies. Stocism, Dedication to Duty, and apparently a fondness for tall women"

Another drink, and her brow furrows. "The lack of title does have confused. Unusual in a sidhe. And...yes, I've noticed his interest. And she seems to be beginning to see it, too."

"Has he been in anyway disrespectful to her?" A frown "Not like him, but if he has, I can him patroling the opposite side of teaneck in full pack for a week"

"I do not believe so." She frowns. "In fact, it is something of the opposite -- she calls him The Lump. I am not entirely sure why."

A chuckle, "She calls him... oh that's funny. I can only guess because he's not entirely responsive like he's supposed to be. Your daughter is a warm and wonderful girl , and I am very grateful for her help in the chimeric floods not that long ago. She strikes me as...well, forgive me chief, but she appears to be the extrovert with introvert parents. I think she realizes Bancroft is more trollish in his outspokenneness or lack of same, than she is. Though, as I noticed, when it comes to duty and protecting others your daughter is indeed a chip off both blocks"

A bit of that proud grin returns, and she nods and sips, but is pensive again a moment later. "Kealan...what do you know about Siv? I mean..." A deep breath. "...she is unusual in some ways."

The baron swirls his drink, "Chieftain, you know that I didn't ask to be spymaster for our Count. He knew my House's reputation for stealth, and I think felt I would do well in it because of that. We go where we're sent and do what we're told as best honor allows. That said, I feel I should apologize retroactively, as my agents , by their nature, must wander through various baronies reporting only to myself and , of course, the Count. When Siv returned with you, I was curious, and at the same time reluctant to spy on on her. She's the daughter of two of the most loyal folks i know. But when she crossed into Teaneck, yes I began to look into her. I know more than you'd lilke. She is single souled, like an arcadian sidhe. She is also, a I suspect, a Phantom to Fate...and THAT is..intriguing to those of my House. "

A frown. "A...Phantom? You mean...ah, that she is unreadable? Vali has had said something similar. But about her soul...Kealan, who else knows?" Intense concern.

"I mean she gives Sooth sayers fits. Let's see, who knows ? Myself, my soothsaying spy who is sworn to serecy and I mean that litterally, and I suspect the Countess Akanthea. Your daughter did enter her proverbial web in a 'flying objects seem to draw her' incident. I have not yet informed the Count as it does not make her a threat to the County, nor my House. The latter would be very interested, but I'm not their favorite son since I took a title."

BOW your heads, Peasants!

A sigh. "I have not told the Count either, not precisely. When we first returned with her, we did not know all, and I told him that much about her was a mystery...but I have not spoken with him about it again since. As you say, it does not make her a threat." A pause. "So Thane Bancroft does not know."