#rivervale_lodge

"Symbols of the Great Houses." Frank explains "As charms."

She looks it over, and then passes it to Siv.

She shakes her head. "I cannot tell if these are random expressions or intentional messages. Either way, I think we must go after him."

"Okay, it's like a chaki in a store, " A pause "not sure I pronounced that right. Wait, after him?"

Frank checks the Mountain's desk. "Ah." he gets the packet of information there "I asked Lord August to send me his notes from the night of Adam's Saining. I've read them before but... perhaps there's something in here that will help?"

"Brekke, as I said... Connor recognized her. Word will spread."

Connor recognized her. Half the county may already know.

"Yes, the badger is out of the bag," she mutters.

"Well, good news is pooka don't always get believed"

"No, but their stories are often repeated."

She looks at the notes. "I would not know where to begin with these."

"The Thomases will hear; what is to stop them from going after him themselves?"

"I'll take them, give them a look-through."

"If I go and find him first."

She nods about the notes.

He takes the packet and starts paging through the notes.

"Have the Mountain review them when you are done."

"Can I go? Or someone? you shouldn't go alone on this. "

"Would you rather Vali look them over?"

"You need rest," Brekke reminds Siv. Then she looks to Frank. "Perhaps you should come with me, and we leave the notes to Vali? "

"Wait, rest? Mom.. you're going NOW?"

"I will go with you, of course, but what of Vali's suggest that there is an object of some kind that could be a key to finding him?"

Brekke frowns and paces a bit before answering. "You are right. It is too soon. But if we wait much longer it may be too late."

"Do we know where the Thomases are now?"

"I do not. I know they had been splitting time between EarthRunes and here."

Siv holds up a hand

"Siv?"

Frank glances back at the notes.

"they've got a third property they've been using more, or at least Brenda has. Near Firnost. You know, where no noble rules." Dryly "They are not currently here. Kyle is in a convention for marketing in Omaha. Lily is wandering back and forth hether and yon. Dame Bondraste maintains her home for the Thomas family but currently Brenda is not there. "

then she adds "I called in favor with the Baron"

An approving nod to Siv. "Well done. I may need you to call in another, perhaps with the Baroness. If the Thomases can be called into service of some sort, that may occupy them enough that they may not be able to get news of Adam."

Frank rubs his beard "Three locations, three of us.... do we have phone numbers?"

"I have Bondraste's, and the cell numbers for both Kyle and Brenda. Heck, I have Adam's old cellphone number but I doubt it would help"

Brekke blinks. "It...might."

Frank looks to Brekke. "We can call, figure out where they are... you think his number would help?"

"It is the Dreaming. Who can predict?"

"Mom, cellphones don't work in the dreaming.. only nockers really make it work"

"If they worked, Hearth Kerri would MURDER her husband for not calling more"

"They do not normally work. But it cannot hurt to try."

"But I could see if Baroness Coradel will help. Sure . How much should I tell her?"

"As little as possible. Does she trust you?"

"It won't hurt anything to dial the number, I suppose. Would Baroness Coradel help -Adam-?"

"I'd like to think she does. She's a house sister and she taught me a lot. She knighted me and taught me what Fiona means"

He flicks to the back of the packet and reads a little. "Hmm."

A sudden thought. "The cell phone. His number could be used to target a wisp, once we are in the Dreaming."

"Now, that might work" Siv nods

"And I think, if she sent him into the Dreaming, she would be glad to have news of his possible success?"

"Mmm...." Frank is reading the end of the packet.

"What have you found, Frank?"

"Truth, I'm not sure how the Baroness felt about Adam. His saining was a Fiasco."