#rivervale_lodge

Eyebrow. "Careful, Adam."

"Hey, -I'm- not going to put him there, Ma'am, I Oathed and everything.... not unless it's killing me he's on there for. But sooner or later, something like that's gonna happen."

"Dirk has earned my trust. You, as yet, have not. You may be wise not to disrespect those you have not yet met completely."

Siv holds her breathe

He shrugs. "Ok. Fine."

"That book say anything about Titles, Adam?"

An eyebrow and a flicker of...something...but she merely nods and goes to reclaim her seat.

"Titles? Like.... what, like Kings and Queens and stuff?"

She nods. "Haven't met the King yet, mind you. But, like... you saw the fire, yeah? And the power there?"

He nods. Obviously.

Brekke takes a sip of coffee and listens to the lesson being taught.

Siv gives her mom a soft nod

She catches the gesture from Siv, and raises both eyebrows as she takes a deep breath: We shall see.

"Well, the Freeholder is... tied to the fire, protects it. And usually, but not always, has a title to reflect that. So... so the Dreaming gives them a bit more oomph to protect the fire and the freehold and the people in it. A title means they're charged to serve, they have an obligation. So... Chief.. I mean, Chieftain Brekke.. she's the Freeholder, and has the title to give her authority over these parts.. but she also is bound to protect everyone, even if they aren't always pleasant?"

"And even if it means she is less free to do whatever she wants. Because duty comes first."

Siv actually gives a bit of a proud and envious look at Dagmar for some reason.

A nod of approval at Dagmar's explanation.

Adam thinks about that.... "I guess... I guess that makes sense. Like.... Police might not -like- what people are marching for, or against, but they have to protect them."

"And judges. And like that."

"Yeah, exactly! Dirk's a jerk, but he's our jerk."

"But... your ours too, now?" A glance at Brekke to confirm.

"He is." Brekke confirms.

Adam looks from Sam to Brekke and back. "But I'm not his, am I?"

"His?"

"Dirk's."

"You are not his...but in our world, he outranks you. Does that clarify matters?"

That doesn't sit well.

"Sure as hell doesn't mean he gets to bully you." Gruff-grunt, stubborn.

"He gives you trouble, I can smash him."

"She probably could too, Dame Dagmar is strong even for one of we trolls" Siv says

A brief flicker of a grin at that.

"I don't need you to defend me." Arms folded.

"Adam, I will tell you again, be careful. You do not know yet what you face in our world."

"But my job is defending - not just you, but everybody. And friends help out friends, right?"

He nods slowly. "Yes. That's true."

"ALso, redcap teeth can bite through ANYTHING..or anyone" Zane shivers

"Adam...Dagmar is a knight. She has earned her title, time and again. She has saved the lives of some of those standing in this room. Heed her."

PURPLE.

Adam stares at her.

A nod at Zane's words. "This is also true. You would be wise to give Dirk a chance to be your friend, not your enemy."

She looks around the room. "Were there any other fae present? Has he met any others?"

Fidget, shuffle, eyes down.

Zane nods and stage whispers to Adam "Go ahead. Tell her 'a knight, I thought you'd be taller' with a straight face"

Adam looks at Zana as if he's insane, too. "She's -huge-!!"

"That's the joke, man" Zane says

Nadeen sighs and gives the women in the room a I'm dating this guy. Explain to me why again? look.

Shoulders curl in and shrug at the same time.

Sally Mae chuckles , more at Nadeen's dilemma than Zane's joke.

Siv looks to her mother, noticing her coffee is going low, and replinishes it

"Of course she is. She is a troll. We are tall and strong." Brekke explains the obvious as if he might be a slightly dim child.