#rivervale_lodge

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Brekke doesn't go too far from the Lodge, not while waiting for details on arrangements, but she can't keep herself from walking a brief patrol...past the empty stables, at the edges of the dormant gardens....then, scowling, back into the Lodge.

Dagmar is heading down the steps to the main room after urging Nadeen to go get some sleep.

"Chief."

She looks over expectantly. "You are back. News?"

"Good news. I mean... all considered."

"Mm? Tell me." She gets a mug of coffee more out of need than pleasure.

"So - I met his second. And I feel like we got mostly favorable things. Two days time, with staves, and a protocol cast on the two of you to keep rage or cheating in check. He wanted it on his lands, of course, and they rejected Hemlock's, because he's a Gwydion."

"But I got them to agree to Silver Wolf." She bites on her lip.

A blink. "SilverWolf." The mug pauses halfway to her mouth. "Hm." Another moment, and she completes the sip. "You have a better sense of them now than I do. You do not think the Ailil will show preference to the unseelie?"

"I think the Baron won't approve of poisoning dogs or horses."

"Especially as Star is from his lines."

"Ahh." A satisfied nod. "You have a very good point there."

"Yeah, so... I figured they would assume an Ailil would side with them. I think we can at least trust him to be neutral."

"Yes. That was well chosen. Very good." A deep breath and her shoulders relax marginally. "So Gildas will fight his own fight? The second will not?"

"That's my understanding."

"The cap seemed kinda pissy about it."

Brow. "Pissy?"

"She.. okay, like, didn't say it direct... but more, like... tone? Like him going in seems more emotion than sense?"

"She...does not approve of him pursuing this vengeance." Making sure she understands.

"I don't think I'd go that far."

"More... I mean, sidhe versus troll?"

"Mm." She nods. "I am surprised, as well. I wonder how good he is with stave."

"For that matter..." she finishes her coffee and sets down the mug. "I should practice."

"Can I? I mean... you'd want a partner, anyway?"

"And Speaker is one-handed, but Flyswatter, I usually wield two-handed... "

"Yes. I have fought with stave before, but it is not my primary. I would appreciate it. Come." She turns and heads through the kitchen and out to the practice ring.

Dagmar follows!

And soon the clack-clack-CLACK of staves can be heard as they get to work with the practice.