#rivervale_lodge

She ponders "You mean the return of the Fiona treasure to my House, or my breaking up that ravager gang in the Duchy of Gardens south?"

True

"Either. Both. Tell us how it happened." She leans back in her chair, for all the world as if Siv were an eshu about to regale them. She tries to contain her surprise about the story she hadn't heard.

Siv relates tales.. one about a treasure she hadn't heard. And the other ...

"So the only help I needed for the Ravager gang was clean up. "

Brekke listens, and Siv can tell she's surprised now. "Mm." A long pause. "I was trying to make a point about how your most dangerous spying missions have succeeded in part because you had assistance." A hint of a wry grin. "You thwart me, daughter."

"Still not a bad idea." Frank rumbles softly.

"I kind of got the feeling. But hon estly I don't go DEEP without a line out . "

"Knock knock!" Piper says as she opens the door, and in time with actually knocking. "Siv, are you..." She trails off, seeing Siv sitting with Frank and Brekke, all three looking solemn.

A brow, a pause...then a nod. "Good evening, Piper."

"Mom, Dad.. Piper" Siv says

Her tone is very carefully neutral.

Frank nods in greeting.

Her expression grows worried, and she takes a step towards Siv. Glancing from the parents and back again.

Brekke turns the brow on Siv. "Define 'deep.'"

"Piper, I'm sorry. I didn't want to involve you in this...but ..." She looks at her mom "Closed off from easy withdraw or exit, with obligations on top of it to the role"

A hand grips the note, still unopened. "Siv? What's going on? You said you spoke to them... and asked me to wait until after Samhain before I said anything, and I haven't...."

Brekke doesn't seem to notice Piper's comments. She's focused on Siv. "You understand that you may end up in that spot whether you plan it or not."

"Mother, you could be ambushed on a visit to the Count whether you plan it or not... "

And she turns to Piper "PIper... you're not.. oh I'm sorry , this isn't about us, they knwo about that"

As the silence towards her grows - she doesn't seem to have the same patience as a Troll or understanding for the undertones. Her weight shifts, and her eyes were just starting to brim when Siv finally speaks. "Oh GOD. I thought...." She shakes her head, rubbing an arm across her face briskly.

"But.. then what?"

A brow again. "That is why I have others I can rely on to move to action should I go missing."

A blink. "You have not told her yet. Or Jonas."

"I got a little poisoned" She focuses on.. Piper, not her mom "But I'm okay now. I need to go on a mission into dangerous territory with a baron of House Balor who is keeping serfs in an attempt to free them. It may take a bit but right now I'm just gathering intell under a false name. It was in the note but you deserved to be told in person and so I'm doing that instead"

"Piper, come in and sit down, please." from where he sits.... on the floor with his back to a leg of the chair Brekke is in.

A glance at her hand where the note is crumpled in her grip. And she gawps as Siv just casually lays that out like she's discussing plans for dinner.

Brekke reflects that that's the very expression she herself made on the inside when she first heard of Siv's adventures.

"A little poisoned. A little poisoned?" A laugh, more of a hiccup. "Is that all? And you're running off to play the hero and... and..." Clipping over to her, crumpled note in hand. "You were just going to disappear, with a... a note?"

Siv says "Well, I have a plan so yeah..." then realization "Oh... PIper, are.. are you upset?"

"You got POISONED by a Balor, and now you're going to go fight him again? Why... why does it have to be YOU?"

Frank reaches up and rests a hand where Brekke's hand holds one of his horns.

Siv, normally fearless, sassy or even stuborn jawed bites her lip and actually looks.. a bit cowed?

"i.. I... well, repay all debts. He did.. we had a duel... see..and I owe it to the sluagh what was chained up to deliver on my offering him hope... so you.. so you see?"

Brekke's hand turns to take Frank's hand, but she looks to the balefire, perhaps a bit uncomfortable with sitting witness to their daughter's relationship drama.

"What if he caught you and used iron, and this note had been the last I heard from you? I'll never forget when that Balor stabbed your mom with that nasty iron dagger, and we thought we were going to lose her... but at least we were there. But you'd go alone?"

Frank sighs.

"Piper, pudding, don't be like that... I've done this before.. things far more dangerous" She entreats, cajoles, placates "When I get back I'll have a great ltitle story for you"

Her eyes flash. "Don't you 'puddin' me! Siv, I love you, but you're being a... a... a big dumb lug! You don't HAVE to do this alone! Why can't you be brave together?"

Brekke clears her throat. "Piper. Wait."

WINCE

She stops, turning to look at the chief, and swallows whatever she was going to say next. A bow. "C..chief."

A deep breath as she turns to look at both girls again. "Siv is right that she can do this work better as one person. She has arts that will demand less effort and energy if she is applying them only to herself. And...she has experience and skill. However...Siv...If this is something you aim to do, I want it to be a multi-pronged approach. Just as with the human trafficking. Many here know what has happened. Coordinate their strengths and skills in a way that supports what you intend."

Fighting back tears as she struggles to reign in her emotion and listen to the Chieftain.

Frank nods agreement.

"I... " She looks at Piper "is.. is that okay with you , Piper?"

A small voice. "Would you at least consider taking Jonas? I would go to hell and back to help you. I couldn't live with it if you ended stuck in some evil noble's prison...." She swallows hard to continue. "But I know I might just... get in the way. But he can hide, or change form.... " She pleads. She doesn't even consider that Jonas might have to be asked - just taking for granted that he would be there.

"But.. but what if Jonas gets HURT?" Oh this is a nightmare. Piper is mad, but putting Jonas in danger!

Brekke says, "It is not a bad idea. Then he can be close, but unnoticed."

A small hoof stamp. "Then he would rather be there getting hurt by your side then at home wondering if you'll return!"

Does she speak for Jonas here? Or herself?