#rivervale_lodge

"But I can speak of the here and now... though, perhaps, that is not a conversation suitable for all?"

Gerd wrinkles her nose

Brekke looks around the table. "All who stand here where you can see may hear what you would tell me, I think."

Kerri nods agreement.

"If I may beg your trust, Chieftain?"

"Thank you, Chief" Gerd says

A hesitation. "What I may say is limited."

Zara nods, and sets her cup on the table. "An indulgence. Call it a sluagh blessing?"

A curious look...and a nod.

She picks up the sugar bowl and begins to walk around the table. "May sweetness be all that is seen, may sugar be all that is heard, as sweet words ease the mother's worried, wearied head...."

The trolls and the table are contained by a circle of white powder, and Zara closes it with herself inside - a building of glamour, bunking.

Gerd tilts her head

Sylvi watches closely, alert to the details of the working.

"Forgive. I would present a better show to any stray watchers."

Gerd nods slowly, some training, some part of her remembering something like...

A deep breath, a long exhale. "Do you think this worked?"

She nods. "I speak now of an ogress, green of skin, rose-tattooed. I know not how informed each of you may be of this?"

Brekke's eyes widen. "Stop."

Zara stops, hands raised in an apologetic gesture.

She nods at the others, and asks Zara, "Can they leave the circle, and still have the charm hold?"

"Leave?" Gerd says frowning "I thought it was okay if we..." A bite down on her lips

"They must not break the line. If it is disturbed, the cantrip will fail."

Gerd suddenly wishes she DID have Vegard's knowledge

"Then...we cannot speak on this matter," Brekke says regretfully.

"No - they may leave... but see, the sugar on the ground?"

Gerd scowls, then "We don't have to break it. I can flicker flash us out to make sure we don't risk things"

"Or just step oer yeah sure if you wanna do it the eaaazy way" She mutters

Brekke looks at them. "Go." Gruffly.

Kerri frowns, "Chieftain, are you sure...?"

"Go." Brekke repeats.

Kerri nods and stands, and nods to the girls as well. Carefully, she steps over the line of sugar without disturbing it.

"Forgive..." Zara frowns. "I was too blunt."

"Gerd," Brekke says before the girl goes. "Check under the table, be certain Connor is not there."

Gerd looks carefully, "Lil brother? Want a peanut butter cookie?"

Gerd may recall that she saw Connor sneaking off towards his favorite mud puddle earlier today - whether she told on him or let him go (expecting a B - A - T - H later!) is her call.

Sylvi nods and steps out of the ring, very carefully.

"Oh.. " SHe sighs "I think he's out... enjoying nature" She doesn't want to tell on her little brother "But he's not under the table"

And she will slip out, after getting a peanut butter cookie for him later.

Kerri draws Sylvi into the kitchen for help with making bread. She doesn't need the help, but Sylvi doesn't mind. Sometimes making bread is soothing. Lots of kneading and pounding.

"I... am loathe to admit when there is much I don't know. And in this, there is much - how closely you are tracking her, if you can communicate... I know, I see, she is working to build a persona, and gain access to circles that would be barred to the Wayfaring King. And I know, too, she is difficult to scry - near impossible, truth to tell."

Brekke grumbles. "I am concerned that you were able to do it. I know her transformed form. As does the one who crafted it. We, and Siv, were the only ones who knew. I sought to protect her by limiting knowledge that others might accidentally give away without meaning to." A sigh. "You did not know, and I should have realized, that the other three should not know that."

"She...is gaining access?" Brekke asks with dread.

Well...hope and dread, mixed.

"I... forgive, Chieftain... but very few would be able to see her as I did."

Gerd has headed out. Her jaw set.

"And aye. She wears the new guise well. Elderform can.. influence, become comfortable. But she is clever and charismatic."

"She is... if I am correct.. she is near Mobile, in Willows. A bar near a greyhound race track. Making friends by punching them. Drawing attention to her prowess."

Brekke folds her fingers together, and briefly rests her brow against them, as if her horns were suddenly heavy. After a moment, she looks up again with a sigh. "She needs that form. I hate that form. I hate that she may become comfortable in that form...and that nobody will be able to remind her of who she is."

Zara nods. "It is dangerous, but she has many here who will guide her back. That... that alone would not have brought me here."