#rivervale_lodge

Frank grunts and brings his part and rag with him.

Inside the Lodge, Brekke says, "Would you care for some water, Mr. Dyer?" Hospitality, but of a thin form.

Frank takes a seat at the table, carefully setting the part down on the rag.

"No, no. thank you, but mostly I'd like to apologize assuming I have the story straight? My girl stole Frank's rig?"

"Eden participated." Frank says flatly.

"Doesn't make what My daughter better for your likinng I'm sure"

"We do not know the exact details of how it was done. But they left clues to the rig's whereabouts, as taunts."

"And no, Mr. Dyer...we are not pleased. We are both very, very angry."

"Wait, Taunts?" He says "Pardon me, what taunts?"

She raises her brows. "I would say that leaving a clue at one spot for the next spot where the truck might be found, a taunt."

"May I see this clue?" he asks "Not that I doubt what you say, but rather I wonnder if the intent was strictly taunting"

She looks to Frank. "You have them on your cell phone, yes?"

Frank puts the phone on the table, nods.

"Show them," she requests.

He opens the phone and pushes tiny little buttons carefully, then hands it to Dyer.

He looks over, and yes, a look of amusement, then he sighs "they're not tauntinng you or at least not JUST taunting you. This is lettinng you know the vehicle is fine. "

"And where to find them if something did go wrong"

He seems to believe itt's true "My daughter did wrong, but she's not intentionally cruel."

Frank meets Brekke's eyes.

Brekke meets Frank's look. Then looks back to Mr. Dyer. "Mr. Dyer...I am not about to dismiss the act because you believe it was not intentionally cruel. It was cruel. And it was dangerous. And it drew resources away from the Lodge as individuals attempted to respond to an unknown threat that had taken a treasure that is VERY important to more than the Mountain alone."

"You understand as her dad while I have to clarify her intentions? They don't make what she did right, but it does make a difference , atl east to me it does" he scratches his chin, "Trust me, I want to leap to her defense, but she should know better than this, given her mother taught her to respect the semi"

"And you understand that I cannot ignore that two members of my barony stole a vital treasure and means of livelihood from our Mountain and my trueheart?" Her Gwydion temper is rising slightly.

"I do, and she'll make amends. She'll be punished" he assures "And in a way that helps make it up to Sir Franklyn"

She narrows her eyes. "I believe you will punish her. But I intend to do so as well. Be aware, I am seriously considering banishment."

"You're not taking my family from me!" he snaps! then he catches his breath "i'm sorry.. it's... "Another long breath "I would ask you take into accounnt she saved a changeling life, she and Eden."

"That was NOT their intent in taking the Dawntreader," Brekke says, her volume rising. "To try to excuse a crime with an accidental opportunity to do the bare minimum of Right of Rescue is not going to work, Mr. Dyer."

"Bear minimum? This isn't the time for puns i.. oh.. I see . I would say there is no minimum. He was goinn to die. they saved him. The fact they didn't plan didnn't make it any less heroic. Look, the truck should be fine, my daughter learned how to drive one from her mother"

He is pacing now with worry

"-That- is your answer?" Frank rumbles "How long as she held her CDL? When was the last time she drove over the road? How does any of that mitigate grand theft?"

"Wait, " he stops "Let me get this straight, mortal law is crucially important, involate, but right of rescue is meh? Saving a lIFE is meh?"

Brekke folds her arms.

"She did NOT take the truck with the intent of rescue. She has proven that she cannot be trusted."

"She deserves punishment... yes, but banishment?? It was a prank gone over done, but she is a pooka. "

"My point is those qualifications exist because they are important to the safe operation of rigs like mine. Those girls risked the lives of everyone on the roads with them."

"It was a crime. The idea of 'prank' was mere justification."

"The fact you're making excuses for them is troubling to me, Mr. Dyer."

"Excuses? You have no idea how good a driver my daughter is or isn't, so you want her punished because of what you think she MIGHT Have done instead of just what she did? While ignoring what she really did to help a fellow changeling? I'm not making excuses, I am, unlike her, able to tell you the truth. "

Dyer says "Chieftain, I have said before she was wrong to do what she did. But Banishment? DO you know how that label sticks on someone? Any hold she goes to, if word gets out, will soon learn she's banished.. and they'll think it's for something big like Escheat breaking"

"SHE DID NOT TAKE THE TRUCK TO SAVE A CHANGELING," Brekke says loudly. "DO NOT CONTINUE TO USE THAT AS A JUSTIFICATION."

"Tread carefully, Mr. Dyer."

"What will your daughter do next? What can we expect of her now? And how will you try to justify it in the future? I do not trust her, Mr. Dyer!"

"I'm saying it should reduce her punishment. I already agreed it didn't JUSTIFY it. I said it should reduce the wrong. Stop talking like they were going to KILL dozens or something since we're talking about justifications"

"They -could- have killed dozens, so very easily, Mr. Dyer." grimly.

"or they COULD have saved five more people, stopped a forest fire, and returned your vehicle safe and sound, Mountain. that's my point. I'm talking what htey DID do, eve nif not inentional, you're talking what they MIGHT have done?"

"Did the Mountain know that his rig was in safe hands? No! Did he know it would be returned? No! Did several members of my Lodge get drawn into pursuit over this theft, not knowing what they would face when they eventually found the culprits? They did, and that put them at risk! That is NOT a hypothetical, Mr. Dyer. It is what happened."

"You could have called me, her father? I could have at least told you she could drive an 18 wheeler safely. She was wrong, I said that. What do you want me to do write in stone? But banishment? "

"WE DID NOT KNOW WHO TOOK IT."

"Banishment of a proven thief? I am seriously considering it."

"I..." he stops and breathes "I'm sorry, of course you didn'tt." A breath "I'm sorry, Chieftain, Mountain, I love my daughter very much. And whatever you may believe.. she's not.. she's not a bad kid"

She gives him a look. "She is not? I have not yet seen evidence of this. I have not heard much of her except when she is creating chaos."