#rivervale_lodge

Sir Vali , Mountain scowls

Brekke notes this, and she sets aside the scroll she was reading. "Mountain? Something is wrong?"

"Yes, unfortunately, it's beyond our reach" A shake of hsi head, "A sluagh contact , who i won't name, tells me the Menagerie Exotica is in the Duchy, but not in Bergen"

"The...what?"

"The Menagerie Exotica collects Chimera, the odder the better. And to display them, it cages them. Think Moma Fortuna from the Last Unicorn. "

She frowns. "It is not the role of Chimera to be captive in that way."

"What part of the Duchy?"

"Hence my annoyance" he nods "Back when I was a knight errant, I encountered them once. It didn't go well. They had a phoenix in a glass orb. " then he considers "By now, not sure. I've sent out more feelers, but my contact says south of the County"

A blink. "Near Rutgers?"

"A rough estimate, like I said, my contact mostly was able to assure me they weren't within our jurisdiction. I wish they were." A scowl "I thought they had stuck in willows"

"Hm." Irritated agreement. Then a thought. "Do you think they were up in Bergen at some point? Or that they are headed this way now?"

"It's possible" he considers "I'd have to ask around, but does that help us if they've been and moved on?"

"It is not that. I am concerned. If they have been here, might they have one of our chimera in captivity? Or if they come here, might they capture one?"

A frown "You're right. One of the skywolves, for example, would be right up their alley."

"Yes. And there are others."

"Well, that's my niche then, as chimera they fall under mountain I imagine" A nod "I'll patrol around and do a census of sorts. Think we should ask the Spymaster for help?"

A nod. "He is further south, to begin, and has more ears and eyes in the region."

"We should also alert our wilders at Rutgers. Dagmar, especially, will want to be aware of those who would mistreat creatures, chimera or otherwise."

"You want to talk to him or should I ?"

"I will. Please check with your contacts here, and contact the wilders."

"I'll give them the low down"

She nods and rises. "Pardon, Mountain. I must visit our neighbors." And she heads out on the way to see Baron Kealan.

And he nods...to tend to some calls while she does that

(End Scene)