#rivervale_lodge

She does like the Pie

"I have to disagree, Siv. You didn't fail him. You just didn't free him."

"I fail to see the difference in this case. Mother once hundreds or dozens at least. Me? I couldn't get one" A scowl "I thought like a fighter. I should have used my brains."

"You assume fighters don't use their brains? You're not your mother; no one expects you to be." Mildly.

"What I mean is, going at it as a fighter when fighting is not my strongest gift, was not using my brains. Fighter methods, Courtier methods, Spy methods... all of them take brains but different ways of thinking. That Balor fed me intel of his choosing, picked my role for me, and I fell for it like a moron"

"And dad, I love you, but if you think no one else expect me to be like my mother, you don't know half the County" She says "Oh, You're the Chieftain's daughter.. mm you seem a bit on the smaller side... oh you're Brekke's girl? why do you use a rapier? and we won't even get into the fact some treat me like I'm some wild card that launched itself from the tree and isn't THAT a shame?"

He frowns. "I wasn't aware of that."

She shrugs "It's not something that gets to me as much as it used to. And most in the lodge know better... but outside the lodge and in Bergen? I'm less Knight Captain Siv Waveborne and more "Chieftain Brekke's baby girl" even now. And that's okay. You gave me that talk about how it's okay being in someone else's shadow as long as you do what's right. " A smile "Yes, I do listen SOMETIMES. But the expectations that come with that ? Right or wrong, that's going to be a thing. Count Hemlock actually asked if I was sick as a child.. because you know, I look puny next to mom or Jessica."

"Count Hemlock occasionally lacks grace." Frank admits.

"Do you think this sluagh, Wenceslas, ever had anyone fight for him before?"

"Happens." A pause "Actually I wouldn't know. I mean.. I just met Wenceslas. He was terrified of his lord. Barely spoke even for a sluagh.. I thought serfdom was done"

"Not everywhere, no. And it is a stain on Concordia. And that you would fight against it not only speaks well of you but is also what I would expect."

"Siv, I'd be very surprised if anyone fought for Wenceslas. That you did, had to give him hope. That's a precious gift."

"Well, that's another reason to work for his liberation . I owe it to him to show that that hope wasn't a lie" She finishes the Pie "And I can't be made at the others for wanting an adventure, particularly in a righteous cause. I am irked at them treating me like I need to be kept in check. Particularly Symon." A breath. "Though that maybe as close as to admiting he gives a shit about me as he's ever come."

"Sluagh. They are reserved."

"Yeah, and then they sic your Gwydion cousin on you to pin you down" Nose wrinkle "Sorry. Okay. Coffee and Pie are nice. Thank you" She ponders "Okay. You've heard the whole thing. Any last comments before I head off to the Barony of Dry tears?"

"Please don't go. Not alone. Not without talking to Jonas and Piper. Not without talking to your mother."

"They'll try to stop me" She points out "Jonas will drop every duty he's got to rush to help me.. no matter who it leaves high and dry. Piper will worry herself sick and she's got past problems with nobles, doesn't need to meet a corrupt one. And mom? Mom's going to ask why I didn't rush off superfast to get her and she might be right.. though I am sure the jerk would have been gone by the time we got back"

"All of that might be true." Frank agrees.

"And your request still stands?" She says

"Yes."

"Fine." She says "I will pick a back up. I will tell Piper and Jonas. I will let mom know. I will do this because it all makes sense, and it is wrong to claim to fight for love and then treat those I love like something to be avoided. And because my father is wise and tends to know what he's talking about" She kisses her dad's cheek "Ok?"

"Sounds good to me." Frank says "You'll do this before you leave?"

"Of course. Mom has gotten to understand my ways aren't hers but .. if I tell her this over the phone she's liable to break the phone in her hand"

"Pretty sure she would, yep." Frank pays the check when it comes.

"Sometimes I wonder how many logs got hurled because of me and I never knew about. I mean, if a mom snarls in the woods, but there's no daughter to hear..." a grin

"The mom is still snarling. Trust me on that."

"Oh dear. So, I'm doing you a favor too am I? " She throws her napkin into the trash "Fine. Let's head home. "

Frank and Siv walk out to the jeep and he drives them back to the Lodge.

(End Scene for now)

*****

And Siv returns to RV to see if her mom si back from late patrol

Brekke is, in fact, back. She's sitting in her usual chair by the balefire and nods to Siv and Frank as they enter.

One hand rests a mug of steaming coffee on the arm of her chair, the other holds some scrolls, but she sets these down in her lap. "I hear there was some excitement."

Frank toes off his boots and hangs up his coat. "Sounds like."

"Yeah." Siv says "They fill you in?"

"From their side. There is much concern."

"Well, poor Nadeen explained it like 3 times, I did twice.. but for the TLDR version.. evil Balor in your lands. Serf Sluagh in magic chains for crime of wanting to leave Evil Balor's lands. Evil Balor says only a duel sets chains open. I duel. I lost. Later learn it was partly due to poison. I'm better now."

Frank gets a (soft) cider.

Siv wonders if this will suffice? Probably not she realizes

A brow. "Interesting. The version I heard from them leaned more heavily on the poison. But yes, I have the essence of the situation. But I gather you intend to take action."

"Yes. I intend to spy on the Barony of Dry Tears under a false face, learn about it from outisders, work my way in. Find a way to free not just that one fellow but all of them if I can. "

A deep breath and long exhale, and she looks to Frank.

Then to Siv, "Our children seem to have a knack of getting involved with fighting Balor."

"And Leanhaun. Really hate the Leanhaun." She says "Did I mention I hate those smug Sons of the Black Rose?"

"Mm. That is a family tradition, yes." She gives Siv another measuring look. "There is concern not merely because of what you wish to do, but because you seem to wish to do it alone."

"Mmm." Frank brings his drink over and settles in front of Brekke, on the floor; his usual pose.

"Not to be rude, but most of you suck at spying." Siv says "or are too famous to be useful even if good at it"

A brow. "I see. Remind me of the last time you spied, how did that go?"

Brekke rests her free hand on one of Frank's horns. Their customary arrangement.