#rivervale_lodge

*****

Some time later, after Squire Valter has had a chance to eat and drink, Brekke gives him a tour of the property (which also provides an opportunity for a talk with fewer people listening in). The fighting ring, the gardens, the stables....

He seems to know his way about horses well enough. Then stops "A winged horse? I know sidhe lords that would pay dearly for such"

A slight snort of amusement. "As do I. But he is not for sale. He belongs to young Connor."

"Ah, My Peer" A nod , somber to mosst non trolls but a touch of humor. "I like the lad. He is....joyful" Said dead pan but true

"True. There are other childlings here as well, and even the dour ones echo Connor's joy." A pause. "I do not wish to be a poor host, but as you have been sent here to be more than a guest, I must know more. Why is a greybeard a squire?"

"I did agree to answer all your questions. Dame Dagmar insisted I be forthcoming, as she should have . She is loyal to you. You are no poor host. I am a stranger who has worked with a rival house. That is a reason for caution and querry. I am a squire because I was never knighted. A simple curt answer that reveals nothing. It is.. a bit complex. I was squired later than most , having saved an Ailil knight. I impressed her. She offered to squire me. It was of use to family and I am unseelie, less so than i was. Seemed like a path to glory, but i learned later some times Glory has a price that is too steep"

A brow. "I would know more of that story." Half invitation, half request.

"Have you ever heard of the Foresworn of House Ailil?"

"I have not."

"They call themselves the disinherited" He explains "They are united in the common bond as oathbreakers. They are loyal to each other in a way, almost commendible that though I could not.. ah, let me go on first. They often volunteer for dangerous missions on behalf of the house claiming that, as they have lost their honor, they have nothing else to lose. While they themselves claim that they seek to earn the right to rid themselves of the title of Oathbreaker by proving themselves in battle or Fior, many believe they just want to revel in their notoriety. The certainly seem to attract many paramours and consorts by means. My lady became Oathbroken, and i had reason to believe she did it as a way to play a greater game and then joined the disinherited"

"And so you followed your knight into this group?"

"No" he shakes his "I found out she has broken the oath to set up a rival she had pretended to make peace with, then cast herself as havingly nobly sacrificed her honor and 'exiled' herself into the Disinheritted. It turns out she had set it up a year in advance. I did not like her rival, but to hear her go about how tramatic it was for her to break her oath, to lose her honor.. when I knew it was just a ploy, a brillaint ploy to be sure... I..' A frown "I denounced her, and lost my chance to join House Ailil. Let alone be knighted. I admire much about Ailil cunning, but I am still a troll and oaths matter. this wasn't some Liam bearing the weight of his king's folly, it was a choice, and she made it. I could not choose the same"

Brekke's brow knits as she tries to follow the machinations of this. "An elaborate scheme on her part. I understand the desire to denounce her." A pause. "You seek to join House Ailil still?"

"No. It is unwise . While the Baroness who is affiliated with that House was very kind to me, others would not appreciate my disloyalty"

"I am content to be a squire. to serve one or many. But I am cursed and should not be near the ocean"

She nods about the first. Then frowns. "Cursed. Because of the denunciation?"

"Yes. " A frown "to be on the ocean, or in it, causes me pain, it robs me of not just my troll might, but all might" the shame is evident "I become weaker than a childling"

"Is this a great loss to you?"

"It is humiliating, and my pride is injured by it. Worse, it means I ccannot defend others on the shore. When the dragon came, I charged out, and became useless. I do not know how to put the despaire I felt for THAT in words." A look around "But I do like the woods. I did not mislead about that"

So far, all true

"I do not doubt the shame of it. But I am glad the sea was not your love, to lose it so. I have spent some years upon ship, and such a curse would pain me. I will show you our ship later. For now, though, come see some of the woods here. It is not deep woods, but it is good land."

"It is amazing to find it in New Jersey... I mean no disrespect, but i worried it would be a glorified garden amid asaphalt"

That gets a bit of a grin. "I came here many years ago, and it was under threat then. Since then, much work has been done to defend what green land there is in Rivervale. Some of that work has come from the fae who live here, and much by the hand of Count Hemlock, who has influenced local mortal government decisions in his ways."

"Sidhe know politics" He nods as the tour goes on "Chieftain, I know you have much to consider before you accept me. I was not joking that I did not need to be YOUR Squire if it displeases you . I can be a general one. I find no shame in serving be it many or few"

"A squire to Rivervale? Hm. Perhaps." She regards him a moment, then returns her attention to the wooded path before them. "If that is to be your role, then it is not I alone who has a voice in that decision."

"I understand. " A simple statment and accepting of how it is

And the tour goes on

(Fade to forest )