#rivervale_lodge

"Frank." Brekke's tone is unmistakable -- there's a problem.

She has approached him as he is outside working on the Dawntreader. They are alone, which was probably the idea.

"Yes?" He turns, wiping his hands on a rag.

"I must speak with you." She doesn't want to interrupt the work he's doing, but....

He comes to her. "What's wrong?" alert, concerned "The girls?"

"Safe," she assures him immediately. "And you know about the Witherton, the photographer." She scowls. "We must find the one who hired him. However...there is a different matter we must discuss. About the Count."

"Hemlock."

"You need to go to him?"

"Not immediately. But when I received word to prepare for a census, I went to see him, to ask why. I spoke with one of his staff who shared some thoughts. There seems to be some thought that, if Queen Mab is to pass soon, there will be some rearrangement of the nobility within Apples."

Frank considers this as he stows the rag in his pocket.

"Then you must."

A brow. "I must...?" Asking him to complete his thought.

"You must ... be part of this rearrangement."

"And we must discuss what this may mean. There are many possible ways this can go."

Frank nods. "Here, or... where?"

"We can discuss here." She looks at the Rig, rests a hand on it briefly before continuing. "Hemlock may be moved. One of the barons may be appointed to his place. Or..." A pause. "There was a sidhe at Caer Falken I have not seen before. A Daireann. She seemed to be looking over the land. Perhaps she was only taking the air, but....perhaps not."

"Moved.... promoted?" he focuses on Hemlock for the moment.

"That is what I mean, yes. I have no specific reason to think it other than what the boggan said."

"Mm."

"What of this person you saw at Caer Falken?"

"Baroness Ailbhe Yewstorm, of House Daireann." She recites. "Reputed to be seelie. Unlanded."

He nods, slowly. "What are your thoughts?"

The thinks for a long moment. "There may be no change in my role. It is not likely that I would be asked to take a higher title, I think, when there are sidhe of equal title and status available in the County. On the slim chance that I am reassigned..." She looks back to the Lodge regretfully. "I will have to go. Hearth Kerri will be the next Chieftain. She may need to accept a higher title. She will not like that."

"If Kealan becomes Count...I may need to allow him to win the joust more often," she says with a hint of a wry grin.

A soft chuckle without humor. "She will not." Then a smile "Do not allow him that. Beat him honestly, everytime you can."

"It is not good politics," she points out of the latter, "but if you ask it, I must."

"Just a suggestion."

Then more seriously. "If the Daireann is positioned as Countess...I have no way of knowing what will come after."

He nods. "She would be ill advised to dismiss you."

"Mm." An agreement, although not a particularly confident one.

Frank regards her; he IS confident about it.

"Well...perhaps we will not need to find out."

He nods. "Perhaps not."

"But I thought it best you know of the possibility."

"Brekke... No matter what happens, we will be together, and we have friends."

She reaches and touches his hand briefly, and gives him a grateful look.

Then a refocusing breath.

"Now...Witherton's employer."

Frank's eyes go dark "Yes."

"He will likely try to hire another. Witherton was hired at Firnost, I believe. We need ears there."

"Symon would be perfect...but I would not pull him from his studies."

A long pause. "I could return there."

"I do not think so. You are well known to be part of Rivervale. I do not think he would speak within hearing of any troll, regardless."

After a moment's pause. "You do not think it is...he."

A longer pause. "I cannot say."

"I wonder if it would be wise for someone of the Lodge to visit that club."

"To...have a word."

He nods "I wish I could but... then... who?"

"Oh, I think it could be either of us, if we are visiting the club. Not Firnost," she clarifies. Apparently she means the Ember Club.

"Or both."