#rivervale_lodge

The one eyed Dougal enters in, wiping his feet

Brekke looks up from where she is pouring herself a coffee and blinks with some surprise. "Chieftain Hewitt? I was not expecting you. Please, enter."

She gestures for him to take a comfortable chair. "Will you drink coffee or something else?" she offers.

"My apologeies, Chieftain. Coffee'd be fine. Though I am glad you're here"

"No apologies needed," she assures him as she draws his coffee and asks to make sure she prepares it the way he'd like. She brings it to him, then takes her seat before the balefire. "What is it that brings you, Chieftain?"

"Well, " He nods "It's my understanding that my Bridge is a Freeholder now. And I am thinking of releasing for her oath early for the greater good, but at the same time, I'd neglect my hold if I wasn't looking for something to make up for the loss. In short, you've go a scotsman who wants to pinch a penny so to speak. Do forgive the lack of originality " he takes a sip "Good coffee"

She raises her brows. "Sylvi tells me she is willing...eager, even...to do her best to finish out her oath to you, Chieftain, as best she can," she assures him.

"Oh I'd not take the theatre job away for her for all the world, and I am grateful zane is tryin to help her out, but this isn't her helping here, this is her managing a hold... you and I know the power of that. the Focus required"

Brekke takes a deep breath and nods. "I regret taking her from you, Chieftain, but...there was need." She sips her coffee. "I would be glad to do what I can to compensate the loss. Please tell me your thoughts."

"First, you have every right to cut me out... the oath said if Rivervale called I had to let her go. But ... "

"Well, I was wondering, how do you feel aboutt helping train folks we send you now and then?"

She looks intrigued. "Train. In combat?" she checks.

"Our storm is a good lad. you've mett him. But we have nightmare chimera, dark threats... and more. Sending true rookies to you makes them safer until they learn a bit, while the storm and his men focus on defense. Also, I'd like our hold to be your sole provider of freshly crafted weapons, but that's na gonna fly is it?" A grin

A blink...and a slow grin. "We serve as boot camp and receive fine weaponry in return? Well...I cannot deny my people whatever weapons they may find questing and so on, but I can agree that we can make good use of the weapons you would send us. And we can make sure that others know where such fine pieces came from," she adds.

"BUY Fine weaponry in return, dross and the like" he laughs "I meann next time you run short of weapons, you come to us for purchase"

A chuckle. "Ah, well, that was too good an offer not to try to hold you to it. But yes...DarkGate will have Rivervale's custom for weaponry. In fact, I will have an order for you shortly."

That makes him look interested "now you have me curious. Any hint there?"

"Merely that we will have new fighters to train when you send them to us, and will need the tools to do so once they graduate from wooden practice swords."

"Ah, I was hoping you were asking for a custom job for your new Mountain or Freeholder. I know she's ggot a wicked knife, but Sylvi might want a new sword for that new hold"

"But yes, I'd welcome that for the others too" A grin "They'll nneed steel"

"Hm." She nods. "These are good suggestions, and I will consider them."

He sips some coffee "You're still getting the better ennd of this. Sylvi's just that damn good, even if only for a year. Let me tell you what she hasn't told you herself of the inroads she made..."

And he relates the suggestions Sylvi made, how she did more than get a theatre going, but helped each of the others, Hearth, Mountain, Storm and yes Chief. He explains about her taking up slack where she thought it could be used, her peace making ways and yes, how she dealt with a ravager and more

Brekke leans forward to listen to the things she had not known.

It is a very good story, and she nods, impressed, at each point. "Chieftain," she says, "it has been your offer of a position at DarkGate that allowed her to have those victories and experiences, and it has been your generosity that has allowed her to return here to take up a new task at the time it is needed. I thank you greatly for both." She sips her coffee. "Let me think a bit on the work I would commission of you. It may be that I have occasion for some specials orders."

"I should tell you, though, that I am not surprised by your tales of her. I suspect she has not told you of her first time competing in the Pennons melee, leading a troop of fellow young wilders....."

And it is Rivervale's chief's turn to brag... and the Darkgate's chief's turn to listen. Coffee mugs maybe clinked more than onnce

(Fade to Chief Chat about a new Freeholder)