#rivervale_lodge

"I mentioned it," she nods. "He is concerned about disrupting your lives."

She notes Siv's expression and raises a brow.

Siv does speak "He loves you all, please don't doubt that. He's protective of each and everyone of you"

An apologetic look "Pardon me speaking out of turn"

"I could certainly work remotely if the connection is even half way decent" Kyle says

Brenda admits "I've burned a lot of bridges here. Maybe a few months somewhere would work... we'll try to respect the boundaries his teacher sets." A look at Lily

Lily has squirmed herself into a cross armed formation like a knotwork "i dont want to move"

Siv says "A shame. Miss Zara and Squire Velvet would love to meet you. Miss Zara has helped teach Symon a little you know? they shared a common mentor"

Lily arches a brow "they..did yes."

"I am sure we could arrange for visits with Connor and Jack, Lily."

Siv nods "Maybe Jack and Connor would like to meet Bronte the bookwyrm"

Lily bites her lips without teeth

"But.. what if jack and connor are here and get in trouble and they need a girl to think for them?"

"We will make sure they can contact you, Lily."

"Mom" Siv says "it just so happens I have a ship that can go just about anywhere, including to a lake near Earth Runes. If it please you, Chieftain, and you and you Mr. and Mrs Thomas? maybe now and then we could have Lily over here for a weekend?"

"You may not know what you're agreeing too" Brenda says

Lily gives her mother a slightly hurt expression

"It would please me," Brekke nods. "And I did not wish to volunteer your ship as ferryboat, Siv, but as you have offered, that is good."

"I think Lily has spent more time here than I have known. She has not bothered me."

Brenda strokes her daughter's dry hair, "Thank you, Siv. Oh pardon, Lady Captain Siv"

"Least I can do" Siv says

"Then I will put you in touch with Sir Magnus to make arrangements."

Kyle nods "Please do. Sir Magnus? Huh. We've met him. Got his number already. he had questions"

"Questions? About Adam?"

"yes," Brenda says "I spoke to him. Is Sir Magnus not trustworthy?"

Brekke shakes her head reassuringly. "As far as I know, he is trustworthy. He is the soul son of Baroness Coradel and Baron August."

"Then we'll go make a call to him now" Kyle rises , Brenda holding his hand

Lily looks at the Chieftain and walks toh er o she can be heard, "you have done me a good favor in keeping me in contact with my friends. " then in an even lower wihsper "i'm not always good at this stuff, but if you can keep me in contact for real, then i may learn..certain things for you in return of the events in earth runes. as is traditional." A sage nod. then before Brekke can speak, the little girl slips ahead of her parents steepling her fingers just like Symon taught her

Brekke listens seriously to Lily, then nods. "I will keep that in mind," she says quietly as the girl returns to her parents. She bids the family farewell and asks them to let her know what is decided after the call.

They will and..

(End scene)

Nadeen looks nervously at Dagmar before she approaches the Chieftain.

A new pup bounds after her mistress

Brekke looks up from a scroll she has been reading. "Baroness?"

A slight grin at the pup.

Nadeen relaxes at the grin, but only a little "I feared you might be upset with me." True "I had tried to show submission before you the other night but I wasn't sure it was sufficient."

"You mean, before Baron Aidenn?" She sets the scroll aside. "I did notice. And I appreciate it. I am sorry I did not say so sooner. It was not my intent to make you uncomfortable."

"Calanthe makes a grand play, trying to get the only heir to the bale by blood to see her as a trusted figure. When Aiden is out of the way, she can seize and rule it as regent for decades as he ages slowly" Nadeen says "And she offers him what he wants most, other people to be around, to be himself...through an electronic mask"

Brekke takes a deep breath, nodding. "This is the danger. Has Symon had a chance to look a the thing?"

Noting Dagmar did not come in after her, she says "Dame Dagmar was going to give it to him so I don't know how far he's gotten if he's seen it yet. I ..do not like sluagh, but I can think of no one better to suggest handling it"

Pyshka starts to check out Brekke's foot wear. Are there tastey shoe strings? or straps?

Brekke nods. Then she looks down at the pup trying to chew at her leather boot laces. Then back up at Nadeen, eyebrow raised. "What of this young one?"

The Varich says "I think Aiden wanted me ... to be pleased by the gesture" She says "And I am" A touch of , not defiance, but standing strong "It will not affect my judgement. I was supporting him remaining as ruler before this, I support it now. it's in Rivervale's best interest. You have seen how hungry Calanthe is"

True

Brekke nods. "If it is a choice of him or her, he is the better choice for power there. I believe your judgment is sound in this. What I wonder...is if you think he might be able to manipulate you, if he chose to do so."

"He's an Ailil." She says "He has lost interest in politics but the gift of the house does not fade. Yes, he can mainpuate me or try. But you're more vulnerable than I am."

A brow. "Am I?"

"I believe so" She says truthfully "Oh do not mistake me, you are no fool, no easy mark, but your dislike of Ailil, your distaste for it as a whole, means you can be provoked in other ways. Think of it as like a tug of war... you dig your heels in... you pull you pull.. you think you are winning, then suddenly, the Ailil sees this and lets go.. and as you lay there on your back, the game wasn't one of tug of war.. it was just whatever means necessariy to lay you low. IF he wanted to, if he was on his game, he could use that to his advantage. I am not saying he'd succeed. Just that you're more vulnerable than I am to manipualtion. that is my theory. In truth? I have manipulated him" A sigh

Brekke nods slowly at the first part. "I must agree, I am not so fluent in court intrigues. And I am not so concerned about the Baron playing such games as I am about Dame Calanthe's taste for that sport. But I am not so certain you are as immune as you believe." Then a brow at the last. "Have you? How?"

"His late wife. A sidhe kinian, sister to Calanthe," A sigh "he has.. paintings of her still. He is devoted to her memory. It's almost a shrine. I ... put my hair up just so... made similarities. I played politics the Varich way, the heart is a weakness. I could not be her but I could take on her shadow enough to lower his defenses. It worked I think, though it was not all a fraud. She was always kind to the commoner staff, her 'garden' , I also liked them. At least most of them." Truth.