#rivervale_lodge

"Dame! Squire!" Brekke greets them as she approaches from the treeline, returning from patrol.

A grim look but she tries to smile.

Brekke was looking pleased herself, but that look fades as she sees Dagmar's expression. "What has happened?"

"Hey Chief. I.. uh... we need to talk? I know we have guests..."

Brekke shakes her head about guests. "Tell me, what is it?"

Frown. "I don't know everything, not really. Uh... is Vali here?"

Vali appears to be .. not on site. he was earlier

"I saw him departing just a bit ago," she gestures to the woods behind her. "I believe he was returning home."

Connor looks around, but the crayons were cleaned up after all!

“He’s a little salty today.” Connor offers.

Brekke looks puzzled at Connor's comment, and looks back to Dagmar. "What can you tell me?"

"I.. so.. it.. something bad is going on at SIlver Wolf."

She frowns. "Is Nadeen all right?"

“We’re going to make sure that she is.” Connor nods. “Because that's what friends do.”

"I'm worried she isn't, or won't be."

HUFF.

"It sounds like she has some idiotic notion to sacrifice herself to some... chimera-ghost-nervosa-thing?"

"And there's omens that it is tied up with the magic on the Baron - his enchantments about... um.. about his wife..."

The Chieftain looks alarmed. "She said this?"

She glances between the two of them.

"I got it from a very reliable source, who I trust."

Brekke nods slowly. "Do you wish to bring others with you?"

"I... Chief, I don't want to risk Connor getting hurt."

Connor says, “I’m bringing Dagmar with me.”

He sets his small chin and nods.

"This is.. a lot of magic, stuff I don't understand well."

She nods to Dagmar. "I will watch over him." Then to Connor, "You understand that she needs to know you are safe, if there is danger."

"Vali and Nadeen both say he's tied into this." A deep frown.

"Because of what the magic is about."

Brekke grumbles, "This does not surprise me, somehow."

Then a puzzled look. "You do wish to take him with you?"

She rubs her face.

"I want Nadeen to NOT do this stupid thing."

"And I want to protect Connor."

Connor reaches and takes Dagmar’s hand. “We’ll fix things. My Knight can do ANYTHING”.

TRUTH… at least according to Connor

Brekke gives both of them a long look as she weighs the situation.

"Maybe I just drag her home?"

“She might bite you.”

A sigh. "Sometimes, Dame, there are not good options. Will you allow me to give you both some added help? It is not much, but it may keep you from some physical harm. Beyond that...you must rely on your best judgment, Dame."

“Peanut butter?” He asks hopefully.

"You think I should bring him?"

“Vali said I would go.” Connor says in a moment of seriousness. “But I'll take Dagmar with me so she doesn't get lonely.”

"It sounds as if Da'an demands it," she says, troubled.

“I’ll go pack!” He grins and runs up stairs.

A worried look after him.

Brekke watches him go, then looks to Dagmar. "He is your squire. You have a duty to care well for him...but that does not mean locking him away in safe keeping. He wishes to go, to serve you. Do your best to care for him as he supports you."

"The monster is his mother, or some imitation of her. Nobody is very clear."

Her eyes widen. "Oh." She frowns after the direction Connor has gone.

"Calanthe has been putting magic on the Baron for years, but now something's gone wrong."

"I think that is why we got their fledge right now."