#rivervale_lodge

Brekke is quiet for a few moments, finishing the last part of Stormwake's mane. "You think he is trustworthy?"

"Well. He took the oath, and it seems binding." Frank rubs his bearded chin. "Sam seems to trust him, a bit. You said Siv didn't?"

"Siv seemed hesitant. Or irritated. It is sometimes hard to tell what she is thinking." She pats Stormwake's neck, then joins Frank at the fence. "Does Adam seem...familiar to you, at all?"

He tilts his head. "Familiar?" he casts his memory back "Any context?"

Brekke's brow furrows, and she reluctantly offers, "He...was born in this region. Near Caer Falken. He is fae-blooded. He looks...I think...a bit like...." She stops and sighs. "His middle name is Henry." She looks at him significantly.

WIDE EYES.

"Brekke......." aghast, horrified, even.....

"Wait.... he's 16.... that would be.... 2003....." Thinking.

She looks down at the ground. "I may very well be...imagining things..."

"Green eyes.... those are recessive. And the Sidhe blood." Mind racing "What else made you think.....?"

She doesn't respond immediately. "The smile."

"I didn't see him smile." Dryly.

"Mm." She nods, still looking down. "I...must be wrong, though. It...I must be wrong."

"The timing.... in 2002 or so.....?"

"We Oathed in 2002. He was already with...." a minute pause "Archway."

A rapid shake of her head. "I must be wrong," she repeats more firmly. "So. Dagmar trusts him. You see no immediate trouble." A nod, thoughtful.

"Well, no more trouble than a 16 year old mortal, Sighted, Sidhe-blooded boy could cause."

"Wonderful," she groans.

A deep sigh. "And if he -is-......"

"He is not. I...do not think he is. Hemlock would not have...." Determined.

"There was a time I would have said neither would Billingsworth although I am aware that is apples and oranges. Brekke, was their Oath exclusive? She was a satyr......."

"That....I...." She frowns and meets his eyes. "I...do not know." This is a revelation.

"And not worth asking about. " he finishes.

A troubled look, but...she nods. "I suppose you are right."

"He searched for 10 years." Gently. "It may be he is... well, not moving on but at peace?"

She nods, still frowning. "The boy, though. If he is...." She sighs. "A seer may be able to determine."

Frank nods slowly. "And... then what?"

"Then the Count must know. If the boy is his, he has a duty." As if it is obvious.

Frank sighs, looking into the barn. "You're not wrong."

"My concern is more for the boy than the Count. My House teaches that those with our blood, and an awareness of it, can be some of the most fragile -and- most dangerous. He could be a great boon.... or a tragic mistake. The Count .... is ... sometimes less than tactful."

"He is a greater danger than most might be, as he has the sight." Agreement...and then a nod of further agreement at the last comment.

"We can ask Emmit to look, Frank. We need not tell him why...merely that we need to know the boy's parentage."

"Once you know, you'll feel it necessary to take action, if that's indicated." He points out.

"You could choose to wait to find out. Let him show us more trust, show us more of who he is."

A thought strikes Frank, lances through his eyes, but he pushes it away, glancing down at the ground and then back into the barn.

She frowns. "Frank...if I have doubts or questions, and the only reason not to find the answer is a selfish one, protecting myself from taking action, then...." She frowns as she sees his quickly-hidden expression. "What? What is it?"

A sigh; he knew better than to hope she didn't see. "I guess.... I guess I was thinking about it in the back of my mind. A timeline. Archway went missing, with the baby.... in 2002."

"And I guess that means you're going to talk to Emmitt."

She stares at him a long moment, and stoically clamps down on any expression of her own, other than grim determination. A nod. "I am. Will you come with me, or stay here?"

"Come with you, always." Gently, offering his hand.

A nod. "Thank you, My Heart." She takes his hand briefly, but then releases and says, "Allow me to finish here," indicating the grooming tools that need to be put away. "Please tell the Hearth where we are going. I will meet you at the footbridge."

He nods, and goes to do.

The dogs bark as someone they don't know comes close.

And two folks they do.

"But what I'm saying is, a flying ship ramming into its side, surely that would be enough to mortally wound it, or weaken..." Siv explains her 'plan' to Colton and Seana, unaware that her mother is not INdoors but still at the horse.

A voice speaks up, new "I think that's a lot of courage, a lost ship, and one angry dragon. And WHAT besides luck, is to keep the dragons' breath from destroying your ship before you reach him?"

"I'll pilot her around his breath... I'm sure I can do it" Confident.

"Ah... " Squire Colton's voice "I think the ship isn't what matters here...your parents might be more mad about YOU doing the whole dying thing."

"Admittedly, they can be buzzkills, but duty and honor require that thing be stopped" Siv says

"Buzzkills," Seana says "Siv, you seem a fine young lady, but... and I say t his with respect to what I'm sure is a canabus industry to be proud of...BUT..."