#rivervale_lodge

And so it was that as Brekke returned from patrol, she began running into some unusual faces heading out on patrol. A puzzled look and a grateful nod to each she passes.

A wilder troll she does not know, with dark hair salutes her troll style. She is outfitted in a chain shirt and leather battle skirt. She looks famliar but hard to place. DeBuke?

She's clearly on patrol, and has a rivervale sash

"Hold, friend." She offers the salute back. "Forgive me, I mean no insult, but I do not remember how you are called."

"Eulalie DeBuke" she says "Acting thane, Chief. We only met once, and i was a childling then"

Now the facial features click. "I see you, now. I do not know when you had your togail, but congratulations." A beat. "Acting thane? I did not put out a call...." She frowns.

"Well, we got one," She says "AIn't no trouble chief. You're short staffed, and there's still nightmares around. Chief Clem was happy to send us"

'well, Storm murray was the one who picked us. "

A nod at the mention of short-staff. "It is true, and Storm Murray has good sense. Well, if you are heading in this direction...." She fills in the temp-thane on some of the common issues that might crop up.

She listens then nods "I've heard of Miss 'McGilllicudy' " Somberly "I've been told she might be teased but also must be protected. I'll patrol there. "

An approving nod. "My thanks. Is there anything you need?"

"No Chieftain. You've given me a good lay out of the area. Thank you. If you see Ives, please tell him next time I want woodland patrol. I hear it's pretty"

"Ives DeBuke is here as well? What others?"

"Djilas" she says with a grunt ("Though he is probably patroling for girls")

An amused brow, then a nod. "I will watch for them. Good patrol." She gives a parting salute.

The girl returns it and goes off while Brekke heads to the lodge

Her amusement fades as she gets closer to the Lodge. She focuses on her link to the balefire before she arrives -- any trouble?

Puzzlement, and mild amusement, and a touch of relief

A bit of reassurance in return, and then she is entering the Lodge.

She enters in to See Mountain Vali scribbling furiously on a paper. The smells of food from the kitchen shows a lot of cooking going on. And there's a troll wilder she doesn't recognize, either Ives or Djilas. So many of them, she's sure they've met her before but who can remember all the names?

oak wags to see Signe, and the dutiful daughter wags back but stays by Brekke's side till released

"Signe, relax," Brekke gives the pup a signal that she's off duty. As she approaches Mountain Vali, she nods to the visiting troll. "Welcome."

The bowman gives a salute "ives DeBuke, Chieftain. Chief Clem sends her regards." A pause then 'And I have something to report and inquire about?"

Ives looks a bit embarrassed at having been so wordy but it needed to be said

Mountain Vali looks up "Oh Chief, thank goodness"

She returns the salute, and then makes a just-one-moment gesture to Ives as she speaks to Vali. "Mountain, I understand we have received generous support from our allies."

"YES, Thane Tig hatched this plan" Vali says "I don't know whether to give him a comendation or a kick in the pants for the lack of warning. Lut backed his play though"

"Well...it shows initiative," she says, though she quietly shares Vali's frustration at the lack of communication ahead of time. She fetches herself a coffee. "You have been assigning patrols?"

"It was either me or Kerri and I lost the coin toss" Vali smiles a bit at that though "Also the Hearth HAD prepared for fewer mouths to feed this week so there's a grocery run. Sir Carowyn is working with Alysa on patrols, Dame Tiara.. our dear Centauress, returned from Caer Falken to assist and of course, Thane Tiffany is working on her side of things while Romana babysits on and off though the girl has a life so I fear i've been here less than I like. We were undermanned" He admits "With Siv racing off because she was called to the south as well. But I ramble. Here, let me show you the patrols I have set up. You've got a better mind for patrols than I so mostly we followed the usual patterns but with new faces"

He shows them to her

"Let me see them in a minute, Mountain. Ives DeBuke? You say you have a report." She settles in her seat, taking a sip of coffee as she prepares to listen.

"Yes, Chieftain" Ives nods "A nightmare was attacking a winged wolf in the northern part of the woods. I slew the nightmare, a thing of smoke and tentacles, with the help of the wolf defending herself. I then prepared to slay the wolf as they are a threat to cattle or your horses only.. it spoke . what it said indicated she was an ally so instead I bound up her wounds and carried her back to her pack in a more southerly den. She's under their protection now. I do hope i haven't been tricked, but I thought you should know."

He says it rather matter of factly

Brekke leaned forward with concern at the point where he described his readiness to dispatch the wolf, then relaxes as she hears the rest of the tale. A nod. "You were not duped. The SkyWolves are our allies here. You did very well, and thank you for taking such good care of her. I will check in on her den tomorrow."

"Lest I could do." he shrugs "Glad I wasn't duped, ma'am'

Ives hides it well but she suspect he is alarmed a bit he came that close to dispatching an ally

"I also appreciate your caution on our behalf, and your success against the nightmare. Have you eaten and rested?"

"I have not eaten, but I'm young. I don't need that much sleep" Ives shrugs

Vali grunts ("youth is proud")

"Hm. I remember that age," she mutters, good-naturedly. Then a nod to the kitchen. "Go, ask the Hearth for a helping of what is prepared now. We will all eat together tonight."

"Now, those patrols," she turns her attention back to the Mountain.

"Yes, Chief" He salutes and goes into the kitchen

"Oh the Patrols is only part of it," Vali shows her "more letters from Gerd too. Should we recall her a few days early?"

"Hm. How is her time at Brightwinds going?"

In the kitchen, a busy but efficient Kerri makes sure that Ives has a good amount of cheese, cold sliced meat, and fresh crusty bread. "Sit there and eat up. Cider?" she offers.

"Well, apparently Gerd helped the Baroness placate a jerk count" Vali says "And also found some likely recruits . One an elderly healer troll, and antoher a fellow with a great skill in kenning"

"Yes? Interesting. Well, send a message. Ask her if she feels her work there is done for now. If so, she should return."

"Sparrow gets good reviews, the Count who tried to order her, not so much. " A scowl "This guy wouldnt' share dross for healing his own commoners because he needed them for.. get this, fireworks"

(Kitchen) "Yes, please. Thank you"

A frown from Brekke. "What is this count's name and house?"