#rivervale_lodge

Later...

at the Rivervale lodge, a blank seeming magazine sits on the table.

"Gerd, did you leave your homework out?" Dag picks it up.

It says 'Imaginated publications, just add glamour'

Other than that, blank, blank pages

Eyebrow. And, well...

What can it hurt?

As she puts a spark of glamour into it, it's plain barren whiteness shifts... to a glossy beautiful magazine that says SWIMSUIT IMAGINATED, Dagmar's favorite's edition!'

And there on the cover is..oh my...

She's not sure this ever happened, but.. there's Nadeen lounging on the sand, in a skimpy black and gold bikini. Behind her, rising out of the water Hastien and Adam drip with water breaking along their bare torsos

Dagmar turns PURPLE.

That's just the cover!

She gingerly checks the inside.

Chris Hemsworth in a speedo, flexing with a boyish smile

She hastily closes it!

Oh my oh my

She hides it in her backpack.

Just in time, as Jonas comes in, "Salutations, Dame Dagmar"

"Uh. Hey."

"Have you perchance seen Siv today?" He says coughing lightly in his hand.

"Not today?"

"Ah, well, my gratitude for your endeavors. I have little to report from patrols. Some odd glamour flickers at the crossroads near the border, but nothing nefarious. ANything odd or new here?"

"Um."

"No?"

"Oh, well, any news from Squire Colton?"

"He's still at Rome, far as I know."

"Hum. I wonder if he will be staying?"

"As Regent? I mean, he's a troll."

"Yes, but the complications of the body politque are manifold, and his own liege will have input.. justifiably"

"Why does it have to be a troll lodge, anyhow?"

"Because it aws one before... and more than that... " A sigh "Trolls have been robbed too many times of their lodges.... you may not know, but we were cheated more than once. THe Accordance War... the sidhe didn't just awaken brand new lodges. they claimed existing holds, and more than a few were troll lodges. The war was settled, the Sidhe won, but were supposed to grant concessions... they backed out of many of those with a troll reclimation act."

"If the Chieftain does not claim this...now, firmly... it's gone, forever. It won't be commoners that get it either"

he certainly believes all he says

A frown. "But isn't New York a different Duchy?"

"It is.. but lodge theft happened in every kingdom"

"Yeah, but Chief is messing with nobles she doesn't know."

"Wouldn't there be a Count and a Duke with jurisdiction?"

"It appeared to be in a contested area. We'll see."

"It troubles you?" He asks

"Just curious, I guess?"

"Seems like there's a lot of Barons without holds."

"Oh, is this.. is this regarding your compatriot Nadeen?"

"Not entirely..."

"Lady Sparrow's a Baroness, too."

"Yes, I suppose she is" Dubious "And I hear good things of her. But do not know her. She is however not a troll."

"But both of them are Baronesses. What is to stop them or another from challenging the Chief's claim?"

"A fair concern. I trust the Chieftain has considered it. Perhaps she'll even champion the lodge ? Few can best her."

"But a Squire would be easier to challenge."

"Yes . " A nod. "But he could still pick her as his champion"

"Or you" A thought "But the Chieftain is more feared"