#rivervale_lodge

The Wayburton home has that mix of Bohemian and Ivy style one might expect

The Chieftain has a serious expression as she approaches the Wayburton abode. A pause, and then she knocks on the door.

"I'LLL GET IT!" A young girl's voice, Lydia the kinian no doubt, and sure enough she swings it open "HI CHIEF!" She pipes up

Brekke bows her head slightly in greeting. "Hello, Lydia. I hope you are well."

"I am! Did you know Basil is getting sained soon? " She may recall basil as the african american cousin to Piper.. lad has the most interesting ring that came in with him that summons armor and weapon and seems to be an activist, but then satyrs do have their passions, "You're invited I bet. How are you?"

"Ah, yes, I think I had heard something about that. I look forward to hearing more details. I am well, thank you." Her expression has remained serious throughout. "I would like to speak to your brother and father, or either, if they are available."

"SURE!" She turns and races off

apparently to go get one or the other

And shortly, the Professor shows up, dressed in his usual tweed "Hello my liege, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

He has come out with two cups of coffee. One of them definniely black and strong ala Brekke

Brekke blinks at the formal greeting. "Liege? That is unlike you, Professor. Thank you," she accepts the coffee. "I need to speak with you about what happened yesterday. I don't know how much Zane has told you."

"Oh, well I didn't know how formal this was. but Zane told us..well, the lad's pretty mucch annn adult and a wilder as well and must have his adventures, but he seemed really tired and didn't care for the blood stains. I asked and he said he had a tiff with a golem? And seemed to be unsure of broaching something with me beyondn that"

"Ah." Brekke nods. "I wish to speak with him because I do not have all the details myself. But Zane went, on my order, to rescue a child being held hostage. I could not go with him; there were others at risk, and I had to stay where I was. There was no time to wait for help...at least, that is how it seemed at the time. I know that he was successful. I wish to know how he was successful...and to apologize for putting him in that situation."

"Wait, my son didn't have help in this..adventure? Entirely by himself?" The professor says

"Entirely," Brekke says, grim guilt in her tone.

"He COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!" And for a moment, satyr passion bursts out, not as an intellectual academic, nor a political reformist, but as a father "He's not a warrior and magic doesn't solve all things I . ." But he takes a LONG breath "I seem to have lost my temper..." Easier more breaths "I am sure you see why"

Brekke withstands the blast stoically. When it subsides somewhat, she nods. "I do." A pause. "May I speak with him, Professor?"

"yeah, you can" A voice speaks up, Zane "Dad, yelling at the Chief? I chose to go. It's okay"

He comes behinnd his dad down some steps

The professor looks at Zane "You could have told me"

"I was preparing the final draft" his son jokes lightly

Brekke sets down the coffee she'd been given, no longer feeling the right to the offer of hospitality. "Zane. I am glad to see you, and looking better than you were."

"Thanks for letting me say by the fire, it helped he last of it" The young buck says. he's definitely become more of a man, that gawky ness is gone, more lean muscle even for a 'wizard', but it's the seriousness in hsi eyes that reflect it the most as he puts a hand on hsi father's shoulder, and the other goes on Brekke's wrist "Please, don't let the coffee get cold. "

She pauses a moment before nodding. "My thanks." And she retrieves the cup and takes a sip as bid. "Zane, I do not know exactly what happened when you were there. Events at the hold...they happened too fast, too chaotically. It was not the approach I had hoped to take. What happened at the house?"

"Well, at first pretty smoothly. I veiled myself, got close, peeked into the place, that kind of thing?"

She nods, listening.

"I saw McClean alone, surrounded by three golems. One of them had this .. blunderbuss like arm pointed at the boy.. at all times. Still, they seemed lethargic ? I slipped in... and I don't think I got noticed, but the golems stopped, talked to each other and said something about 'The master says the mortal has outlived his usefuless. Cut the thread'

Brekke winces, then shakes her head regretfully. But she remains silent as the story continues.

"Suddenly I was using glamour like crazy... I fuddled myself to look like the boy.. and said "You'll never catch me' and that thing fired.. holy crap" He says "I was already leaping behind a couch when it did or I'd be worse off than I was. I cast another bunk.. and managed to make gun golem look like me ..the intruder, to its compatriots. It was hard, i wasn't just chimera, there was real machinery mixed in and... more glamour sucked out. But it worked. They beat their third member to death while I got the kid and tries to get away. I pushed him out the window but then got slammed from behind.."

"Oh sweet thomas payne" His father says now putting a bit of whiskey in his own coffee

Brekke scowls. "Hit from behind," she repeats. Then adds, "I cannot truly expect otherwise from such devices."

"Honestly I kind of owe Sylvi for being alive. She was the one who kept us in shape for the big pennons games? I mean not just her but she made sure I could fight a little. Mostly I dodged. I used another spell.. hexing one... and it hit a fuse box and ... well.. I remember getting the kid into the jeep and driving as a bruised mess"

(Pause)

"Hm." Brekke nods. "You should tell Sylvi this." Then she shakes her head. "I am deeply sorry, Zane. It should not have happened that way."

Zane tilts his head "Chieftain , I kind of figured things went wrong when the golems went nuts . And when I got there there were like.. what DOZENS of those things ? You had your hands full. Was I mad? A bit, and only for a short while. Was I scared? OH Yeah, all through it. But I lived, and so did my half brother.. and YOU guys freed the baron."

Zane says "It's in the past, and I don't know what the future is, so... let's the present for the gift is" He smiles

"As you say. And thank you." She looks to the Professor to see if he had any reaction to the indication of a half-brother.

"HALF BROTHER?"

"ah nertz" The son says as his father gets it

"Ah. You have not told him."

"Or...you have now."

"I just did.. yeah.. Dad? I swear the kid looks like you already.. he's what, six..seven? Old enough to pop and.. well Ynis was a student to your classes.. that many years ago" Zane says

"Oh my.." the satyr sighs "If I'd know I'd have lent support"

"Surely she would have requested the help if she wished it."

"True. She was a strong willed woman then, I imagine that hasn't changed"The professor says

Zane says "From what I gather, she risked getting in a feud with the Chief for a long game" A look to the chief "That about right?"

A deep breath and a nod. "She nearly drew me to strike her. But something struck me as wrong."

"She called you out because you would draw attention to the troubles one way or another.." The professor grins "Oh she studed her ethical quandries"

She nods. "It worked. I am glad they are reunited and the Admiral is released." A frown as she thinks of the man.