#rivervale_lodge

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The Dogs bark as the tattooed man returns. They are wary, sensing his tension.

Brekke stands before the Lodge, having just cleared off some of the chimerical snow from the walk. In the nearby mortal world, New Jersey is experiencing an unusually warm December...but in proximity to the Lodge, there is at least Dreaming snow. She looks up at the barking, and whistles the dogs to come back to heel. If they are tense already, better that they not attack before warranted.

Then she recognizes him, and her expression turns curious. "Duff?"

Concern. "Is something wrong? Jessica?"

"Chieftain, just one of the people I wanted to see" He says, "I have questions."

A frown. "Questions. About what?"

"What exactly did the visiting Chimera that had questions and prizes say to Jessica when she gave her answer? whatever the answer was?"

Brekke blinks. "The visiting..." She shakes her head, then pauses. "You mean...the Wolf." She grows serious. "Duff, I do not know why you need to know that, but why do you not ask Jessica? Why come this distance to ask?"

"I find the Socratic method irritating, Chieftain. It ends up with stubborn people looping. I need to know because I need the truth and I do not know if she sees it to tell me. " Mostly true there maybe more "And why the distance? Because you are here, I had questions, and I wanted to see your eyes when I asked"

That was true.

"Now, answer my question. What was said"

Her eyes narrow at the demand, but not dangerously, and she considers. "Before I answer, tell me...do you believe the answer will help Jessica in some way?"

He mutters something in Spanish she may not understand, then "yes, or at least I HOPE so."

True.

A still-narrowed look...then a slow nod. "Let me think...I believe...Jessica quoted Kipling. The Wolf...it asked her if she did not have words of her own, but praised her choice of words."

"Thank you. Did you or your husband consider her response a Screw up??"

his eyes are searching her eyes, her stance. If he were Gwydion she'd swear he was trying to truth read her.

She looks baffled. "A...screw up? No. Of course not. It was...it was a quote about protecting the children of others. I am sure she was thinking of the Caravan. It seemed a very appropriate statement."

"Thank you." He says but is frowning with thought then "I would ask more, but I have already betrayed too much myself"

"Hmm. Betrayed yourself. In what way?"

"Twice over at least. She shared with me, and perhaps meant me not to hint at what she shared, and I gave to her what I did not intend to give, and yet I do not want back."

True if coached in annoying metaphor

"Riddles. I answered you honestly, and you give me riddles." An eyebrow.

"Poetry is no less factual than prose, and often truer. Suffice to say I endanger the trust she shows me, or I might. I do not know for certain. I do know that if it comes to risking her further hurt, or your outrage, I would take your rage any day of the week"

True

A sigh. "I would have it so, as well. But...I would know why my daughter is hurting."

A look at her, then "I would know if you are proud of your daughter, but what mother of either stripe would say otherwise? It is insulting of me to ask, and fruitless TO me to do so."

A startled blink. "Proud? Proud of a strong daughter who has made her own path? Proud of a daughter who puts others' needs before her own? Proud of a daughter who has risked her life to free the oppressed and defy those who would cause harm? Of course I am proud." A frown. "Where does this question come from?"

"I am the one asking, obviously." A sigh "But that is not the truth you want to hear. Truth to tell, I am not even sure it was asked as merely..." A frown "I place myself in an indelicate position and can only blame myself, Breaker of Shackles. You would not share what was given to you by your husband in confidence, would you?"

"Hmph. If you think I am not going to contact her after this, you are mistaken. Perhaps if you tell me more, I could attempt to avoid mentioning your visit here....but I do not promise that."

He breaks out laughing , "Please, Mrs. King. I've been extorted by experts. I am well aware she may learn of this. I gave her the means to watch me right now, I can only hope she's not as she runs her troubled heart out. Tell her, don't tell her. This has gone beyond my happiness, indeed, I cannot be happy thank you. I am like a sea that cannot pull away from the Bay and even denied the shore I cheerish it. I am seeing for myself how wolves became domesticated, not with a snarl, but with a happy wag." he looks disgusted with himself.

She regards him quietly for a moment...then her expression turns sympathetic, and she nods. "That is how it is, yes. Has she tamed you, then?"

"If you're going to mock me I'd rather you'd just cut me open with Speaker. It would be kinder" A snort "It doesn't matter. She does not feel the same. I do not reach her as she reaches me. I accept that. You, and your husband, you reach her. And that is why I am here. I wanted to make sure you were worthy of her as parents. The Jury is still out, but at least I do not think you are not. I have been told recently, by a Non troll, that our kith do not communicate well, even with each other. They say woman is a mystery, but there are times I have the rather sexist notion that your gender abuses it"

He waves it off, "Forgive that last one. Ungentlemanly of me. Your daughter, she frustrates me almost as much as she delights and when she is in pain and I cannot help... I forget all manners."

Brekke folds her arms. "I do not mock you, Duff. I am sorry that you are pain. And..." A pause. "I cannot say that I think you are her best match, but I think you care for her. I believe you want her to be happy. And for that...I thank you."

"Your thanks are...appreciated. I just wish I understood why a globe that allows her to look on her family set this off. Your daughter will likely learn of this, and not trust me but if it helps seal the rift she feels between her family and you- well, perhaps it will make a poet of me. ""A roll of his eyes. "They say it's one of the benefits of my condition. I suspect , though she did not say, that she sees herself as the weakest link of the four of you, parents and sister and her... though how I do not know."

A frown. "A rift? I...she..." A long thoughtful pause. "I see. That explains...some things. I thought she was upset about the Caravan. Preoccupied. But...there is more to it? That is important to know." A slow nod, frowning as she looks past him...then at him again. "You say she has a globe of this nature? How was this done?"

"She asked you for help for the Caravan?" Putting his own thoughts together 'of course she would, our lady Atlas never sets the world down. She can't achieve the impossible so she swallows her pride and comes to you for help. No wonder she feels a failure" A shake of his head "the woman sets standards for herself demi-gods would struggle to reach and then thinks it should be just so."

"The Globe was my gift to her." He says "i'm a man of resources. sometimes s he seemed homesick, thoughtful, so I managed to get the resources needed to fashion a globe that would let her see the outside of the lodge. She watches the weather change, she watches birds fly... she can see small figures as people leave. I quested. Perhaps your Rovers told you"

A frown. "I did not say she did so. She spoke to me of her concerns about them."

Then realization. "That is why you took ice from the glacier."

"Mmm yet you aid, of course. Even the DeBukes aided." then "yes, the Glacier of the Near Dreaming is a manifestation of your own memories and dreams. All rulers affect their lands, even you. Knowing this, I sought out a symbol of..the glacier. It is bound to the land because you are bound ot this land. so it allows a peek. Of course, your will also determines who can see in the globe. Only those you trust. To me? A cheap prop. To her ? A treasure with a view. I learned long ago it's better to work with the natural laws of the Dreaming rather than bend them your own way"

She listens closely...and with the gift.

"So you took over the task for her, or threw in... " Duff scratches his chin, "She didn't askfor help, but you're giving it I suspect. perhaps.. yes. She might feel a failuree that she help is required yet she'd not deny the aid."

he believes what he says, truthfully.

"What did you tell your daughter you could or would do to help the caravan?" He asks. working it out

She frowns. "There are limits to what I will share with you."

A pause. "Duff...come inside and take refreshment. Food and drink. Rest if you wish it."

"But 'I answered you honestly'" He says dryly then "No. I know the laws, Chieftain. Right of Demense. Not only would I risk betraying her trusts further, you could command me to do so or detain me once in there. In Tijuana, I'm a power, a force, a man with many connections. Here? " A smile, "i'm a tattoo artist with bravado. But I do thank you for the offer, and Ibelieve you meant no intrigue in it. I just can't take the chance that you would give into the same temptation I would and pry deeper yet." He sighs and looks South West West "And besides, she may call. I'm not in her court, you know? Never will be. If she saw me as a charge she'd become even more infuriating than she is. I think there are limits to me too, Chieftain. I've thrown away too much of my pride tonight. I'll take what I have left, wrap it about me, and head home. I've learned enough to be of use."