#rivervale_lodge

He's been patrolling in the hot sun

"Go," Brekke says with a nod. "Thank you for speaking on this."

"Thank you for hearing me out, Chieftain, Mountain" He salutes and withdraws to do so

When he is gone, Brekke lets out a long exhale. Then she looks to Vali.

"Thoughts, Mountain?"

Once he is gone, Vali rubs at his horns and considers "I think we've done the honorable thing. It IS the part he's played all this time, mostly due to experience and , by troll standards, a general ease with other people. It was right to recognize it, even if he hadn't recognized it himself. For awhile we did get caught up in making sure this place wasn't for 'trolls only' but it's possible that made a blindspot.." he looks her over "For all of us. Even Tig himself. Hard to see that when the person himself doesn't see it. Chieftain, you're feeling a bit guilty. Don't. It's a hell of a tightrope staying true to troll ways while looking after non trolls. Goldinch was a step towards the latter, and this is just another step towards the former. It's a summer of change, for good or ill, and you're bearing the heat of it better than you give yourself credit for "

A sigh. "Thank you. That is reassuring. If it were any other situation, I might suggest that he explore other holds, or even send him to one. But we are about to lose several of our wilders to college, Mountain. Not permanently, but there will be a lack. I cannot afford to send any others away."

"Tig misses Lut, Lut is HERE, but he's gotten new responsibilies and focuses. TIg is also too proud to admit he misses him that much. Tig wants to feel useful, he's a troll, and he needed a reminder he is useful. Frankly, if I thought the DeBukes would forgive us, I'd almost suggest stealing one of these three away. Which they might. The DeBukes are well aware their wilders need to explore in the hopes they return"

She nods. "The three they have sent are welcome and so far seem to be doing well. And the DeBukes never decline an invitation to send one of theirs to us." A pause. "Do you think Lut is also restless here?"

"I think Lut doesn't want his mortal love to drive a wedge between us," He frowns "And you can't send him away from us without sending him away from her, Chief. Restless no. I think he has his own thing, and that's his lady pardon the simple wording"

"That is a known matter. And if he is content here, then we can find ways to manage his fae life and his mortal love together. It can be difficult, but it can be done, with the right support." A thoughtful pause.

At length, she asks, "Mountain, do you see other blind spots I may have? I did not see this with Tig."

"I'm not sure I saw it either until we had DeBukes musketeers charging about, Chief"

"Mm. In itself, another reason to bring in outsiders, so we may see the weaknesses amongst our own."

"They're coming" he says sipping "Should be interesting. " A look at her "I confess, I find this kind of a relief. Not KNOWING what was with Tig was a lot worse than having three guests we didn't expect. And new blood, even if it's only for a year or two might indeed give Rivervale a lot. The fire is curious I am not. .I don't feel it like you do, but I'm tied now and I don't think it resents it so much as is 'what's all this?" A beat "Sorry, Not sure where that English Bobby accent came from. I'm pretty sure that's NOT the voice the fire would have if it had a voice"

A low chuckle. "No. But that feeling? It is the feeling I had when seeing newcomers out on patrol. Somewhat unnerving."

A smile "Perhaps more akin to to a mother bear looking around and discovering she has more cubs than she thought?"

A brow. "More like knowing what her own cubs look like and wondering why these different ones are in their place. Speaking of mothers and offspring, though, have you had word from Siv?"

"Jonas says Siv got word from Piper that Piper needed her NOW... SIv left work and went right away. Latest bit from Jonas, is that she's fine. He's trying to talk her bosses into not firing her. Explaining it was a right of rescue. ANd yes, if this bit of half hints at trouble bother me, I can only imagine you're not crazy about it. I tried scrying your daughter, and as always it blurred out. "

A deep, slow breath. "I think...I think I would know if the worst had happened." But she's frowning.

"You could text her, or if you want, I can holler at her. I am the Mountain, if 'younguns' need to be told to report I can do tthat too"

Her brow furrows. "I do not wish to be the mother who pesters...." A tacit request that Vali do just that.

"Not a problem. As Mountain , and now sort of scribe for the hold, she is late reporting on the events I am to chronicle for our histories." He rises up and reaches for his phone to text

And, there's a giggle outside the hold.. faint, feminine

Brekke turns towards the direction of the giggle. Near the front door?

Indeed

A familiar giggle?

Not overly, certianly not her daughter

There is also mascluine murmuring, again, not familiar

A brow, and she turns back to her coffee. Apparently, unless there are sounds of distress, she is unlikely to intervene in youthful courtship.

A moment later, the third DeBuke, Djilas comes in. A fine strapping lad, in some ways he reminds her of a younger Tig, though you can't wash out the Iowa

Any sign of the possessor of the female voice?

Not inside, but if she peeks out the window, she can see Lucia walking off with a flower in her hair

She does happen to catch sight of Lucia, then nods to Djilas as he enters. "Welcome."

He stops and salutes troll style "Chieftain! Great to see you. Djilas DeBuke. We're on loan " Easy going and charming and she suspects a bit of trouble if left with nothing to do. The Hearth will see right through him as she does, not a bad young man, but one who needs a few boundaries.

"Love the sights here" he goes on. Yes, his eyes drift out the window

"So I hear," she says with a nod. Which part of that she's agreeing to is unclear.

"I appreciate your willingness to help Rivervale. How was your patrol?"

"Great, the people here are really friendly" He says

"Did you have call to provide assistance?"

"AH, call? We'll we got a call, Thane tig? Anyway, our Storm Murry asked for folunteers.." A grin then realization "OH, did I help anyone. Yes. Yes. One pretty young thing needed help with groceries"

"And another lovely older woman offered me yard work while she had a wine cooler"

then "Oh, and i spotted what I swear was the world tiniest unicorn" He holds out his hand "WOuld have fit on my palm."

"Hm." A slow nod. "So...you socialized and did some sightseeing."

"I'm told the thanes try to be on good relations with the locals here, Ma'am and I figured to follow in those footsteps but no violence on my end, Chief. ANd the little Unicorn trotted away when I came close"

She nods again. "I do not disagree that good relations are important. More important is being aware of risks to the safety of the people. I am glad you did not encounter risks yet. Ives had occasion to defeat a nightmare that threatened one of our allies, so be wary."

"I will" he holds up a spiked morning star "I was going to go into the kitchen get some grub, but I can head out right after if you like? Need me in the wilder areas?" He is not, at least ,a fraid of danger or hard work despite his unseelie womanizing bent

"Hm. Ask the Hearth if she has any need of your assistance. Tell her I instructed you to do so."

"Sure!" He says propbably missing that he's about to give a coded clue by that wording, and into the kitchen he goes

Vali calls out "Sorry, no text response yet. I'm going to try Piper's "