#rivervale_lodge

The bale extends her (if it is a her) essence out. Shaped by troll dreams, her qualifications maybe slightly different.. taking into account protection, duty, honor...

and she feels the presence of not one, but three options...

Brekke "listens" to what the bale has found.

An image of a young woman... she has a knife, but the poise is wrong for battle. She cuts her hand carefully ,sprinkling it on tended wood, then casting that runed innto the fire "Take my health, give it to my grandfather.. fool though he be" a clumsy attempt at pagan prayer... but she is willing to give to save him

She frowns.

Another teenage girl, she stands in the court room, and her voice speaks "Yes, your honor. My brother said.. he said 'the roofies would make getting laid a sure thing' .. he didnn't know I'd come back for my backpack"

Her life is about to be dashed to rejection, for her parents look at her with unforgiving eyes

Her brow furrows thoughtfully about her.

The third one is a teenager too, younger than the others, and not as healthy for she is on a resperator. Perhaps she needs protecion and the bale hopes it can do so? But it has reason for each

Vali keeps typin

Thank you, she thinks to the bale, opening her eyes slowly. "Mountain...I have some possibilities."

"I... you have possibliites?" He looks to the bale "Ah, mmm well, score one for maggical fire. I have a candiate or two, but you first"

Vali extends his own senses to his lesser link with the balefire ,still so new to him . The flame seems tired, but smug, as if to say 'let's see if your samsung can top this, rookie'

She tells him slowly about each, offering her own thoughts as well. After the first: "She is willing to sacrifice herself for the health of another. She also believes in that which cannot be seen. That speaks to both honor and low banality."

"It does" He nods

The second: "She is choosing truth over family pressure. This speaks to honor. It seems her family would not seek after her if she left, also."

The third: "I do not know if she will suit the needs of a sidhe...but perhaps it is good that we know she is there."

He eyes the bale, "Not exactly what our qualifications were... shame to lose that kind of couragge from this world, but if any of it transfers or teaches... " then at the third "Sounnds like the third is the one I found. Girl laid out into a coma with Covid ..which I did't think was possible"

She frowns. "What would happen, if a sidhe were to inhabit her? She would recover? It is not an injury...."

A consideration "The Dream dance has revived folks before... that much glamour can slip magic in. That said, the bale may be tellingg something in the other two as well. But that would..well, we migght be able to make a pact. Help heal the first one's relation as best we could in exchange for her to walk the silver... or to offer the second freedom from an uncaring family that will cast her out anyway... it would mean enhantment to make the offer. The third option can't bargain.. for ggood or ill annd is less a threat to ignorance if all goes wrong. "

"Mm." She nods. "The first two should be found, nurtured, and supported...but the third may be the best choice for our current purposes." Still reluctant, but practical.

"What's your gut tell you?" He asks

"The third," she says. "The one you and the balefire both agree upon."

"Oh, I didn't say I agreed with itt. that was just a search on smart phone..." He reminnds "But we'll try her then." He does look troubled "It's heavy isnn't it? Choosing who to send out innto the silver for a fellow kithain's good?"

A deep frown. "It is not a burden I ever welcome. The Arcadian way is what it is...but I regret that it is necessary."

A deep breath. "The other are doing good work, and must have the chance to do more."

"The third may have done so, also...but she is closest to being unable to do more, unless we do this."

A nod "Mmm. First one sounds like she might be a possible dreamer for you. Do you have any dreamers, Chief? I try not to pry"

Clearly he failed because he's prying. But he is also mountain and dreamers are tied to glamour, so arrgguably his balicwick

"I have had some, yes, over the years. But I think my focus has been more on inspiring many, rather than one, in the work that I do among mortals."

"Mmm I should get tips from you about musing groups. Might help me as a teacher. Sometimes it seems I get one out of each class IF i'm lucky who even perks. Okay. The name of the third we have"

"Hm. I would not call it musing, entirely. It rarely reaches that achievement. But...sometimes."

"What is the name?"

"mmm maybe I should flex my Mountain powers and push you to muse one of these two girls. Don't want you getting rusty. "

A brow. "Rusty, hm?"

She looks to the balefire. "As they say, Mountain...twist my arm. What I have seen already has me intrigued."

"All the better and according to the smart phone, the girl's name is..."

"Alisa Curtis"

A nod. "Do you know her location?"

"I do.. her parents have a go fund me"

"And it lists the hospital if anyone wants o send flowers too"

A grim look at the mention of hospital. "I will bring extra dross."

"You'e coming with me? " he rises "Okay. wo is better than one. Grab a coat?"

A hesitation. "No. If you are going, best I do not. I will likely slow you down in such a place."

"You're not that rusty , Chief" Humor in his eyes and he is smart enouh to be out of speaker melee range when he says it "Okay. I'll get to it. " He rises and goes with Graves and the soul in the box

"Be cautious, Mountain, and clever. Alert me when it is done." She watches him go, then turns back to the fire. Closing her eyes again, she gently looks to learn more, even vague impressions, about these potential dreamers.

And... she and the bale communne

(end Scene)