#rivervale_lodge

"Okay.. and we'll see if we can get you by the balefire. Okay? At the ldoge or Hemlock's. I'll be back later to give you a lift." Vali says and pats his hand

Amber eyes watching - what she's thinking isn't clear by her expression, but she is mulling something over...

The old man nods, then Vali turns to Dagmar "Dame Dagmar, let's go. Lot more patrol left"

"That's still weird. Can't you just call me Dagmar?"

"If you prefer, but word is going to get out and only fair if you have to use others titles they have to use yours. I'll save it for more formal functions if you like?"

"I don't call Kerri Dame. Hearth, sometimes..."

"SHe prefers Hearth. And that's still a title. You know she didn't want to be a Knight, but at the time, the Count thought it necessary"

"Oh..."

"Should I start calling everybody by titles?"

"Fun as that might be for me, to be fair to you- I think you've been doing it right in going by the troll stuff first. Mountain, Hearth, Chief etc... Rivervale has a culture and heritage tied to that. If they want the other titles they'll tell you...and I bet most of the time they won't need those either. " He pauses "Though, in the Chieftain's case I have a hard time saying 'hey, Brekke'."

"Oh, no way. Not the Chief."

"But... sidhe?"

"Until you know another noble well enough to know how casual they are? Probably best to go by title. "

"right."

"Also, if you're acting on the authority OF the Chief? You might need to stress it by use of title. I mean, if you go around telling everyone 'I'm a cop' they're going to think you're a jerk with a badge. But if someone starts to ignore you...then maybe it's time to remind them who you are. it's something you'll get practice on and learn when to use and not to use" He isn't jovial, still a bit somber from the talk with the old pooka

"Right... because it's the chief's power. But how much power is mine?"

"Technically? You out rank commoners. How much commoners respect that depends on how traditional they are and if the commoner doesn't have a position of authority on behalf of the lord. You have a right to bear arms in some situations where a commoner would have no right to take a weapon." A glance to Flyswatter , then he says "you will find in formal courts with protocal spells going, that you have more options than commoners, able to offer advice more freely, and so on. You may issue challenges to other nobles. You might have the right to attend meetings closed to the public. You can take on a squire ...though I do NOT suggest that as new as you are to things yet."

"Oh hell no..."

A smile "Most wilder knights I know would rather have teeth pulled than get a squire, they usually assign it to the grump knights"