#salmon-duchy-lands-aka-alaska

"Well, those do tend to be the majority."

She nods, chewing on a cuticle.

She tilts her head a bit. "You are anxious." A statement, but one that invites discussion.

A small shrug. She rubs her palms against her thighs.

"I've met Hemlock. So."

"You have impressed Hemlock. No small accomplishment."

"I... what?"

She nods. "He has commented on your skill. Made note of your growing reputation as something of a folk hero. I thought you knew this."

She rubs the back of her neck and shrugs again. "Oh."

"I... I guess I am kind of anxious. I... it's one thing, in Bergen. Everyone knows who I am there. What I can do."

Oak (Totally not Ivan and never was) senses tension and leans against Dagmar

"And I don't actually... if it's not at the Count's, I don't actually deal with traditional nobility much? For all I've got decent memories, I don't know what I did to earn being a Gwydion Knight."

"Hm. Well, if it is of any comfort, the fact that you were revealed as a Gwydion knight was no surprise to me. As for everyone knowing you in Bergen...that can be supportive, but can also be limiting, I think."

She fidgets a little. Frowns. Takes a deep breath. "It's dumb."

A blink. "Which part?"

"I wanted to do this! I practically begged Vali for a chance to do..." Hand wave. "More. Do stuff outside of home. Prove myself."

"And now you hesitate."

She nods. She's chewing on a knuckle, now.

Brekke watches her for a moment. "I understand. It is difficult to feel like 'enough' when it seems there is more to be done, but it is also difficult to do those things among new people where you don't know if you will be 'enough' for them."

A gusty sigh and another nod.

"I know that Rivervale isn't traditional. I've heard some stories from Kerri about before. Silver Wolf is pretty... formal, and Earth Runes is, well, Fiona, so that's not something to go off of."

"I do not think there is such a thing as a 'normal' freehold or barony. Glamour would not thrive in such a predictable place, I think. But you have done well in non-traditional, formal, and...well, Fiona holdings, yes?"

"I don't think I've pissed off Coradel. I don't think Coradel could pick me out from a line-up, either. But, well, are any of us memorable after Siv?" A lopsided grin.

A brief, amused sound and a nod. "That is a point. But this also means that you did not commit some outrage that she found unforgivable."

"Hey, I'm the square one."

"I cannot say that is true."

"Hey, my juvenile delinquent days are years behind me."

"Oh, years. Yes. So very long." Says the much older woman.

"I'm gonna be 21 in April."

Then a blink. "April. Of this year?"

She nods!

Again, that slight amused huff. "Those years passed quickly, from where I view them."

"I mean, with freehold time, probably less than that physically, but legally!"

"Oh, yes. But still...it has not seemed so very long. And yet, at the same time, you seem to have been part of Rivervale for a very long time."

"It is a paradox I do not care to resolve. Merely to note and appreciate." She finishes her coffee.

"Rivervale's the first place that was ever home."

"So, yeah. Forever and barely any time."

Brekke starts to say one thing, then pauses and redirects. "You know that these visits, these explorations, will be part of the experience that will help you to serve Rivervale."

"I... could I tell you something?"

Brekke sets down her mug and leans a bit forward in her chair, elbows on knees. "Please."

"I've thought..." She looks down, then up at the ceiling. "I've thought, sometimes, about what... I mean, we've talked about Storm, but..."

Brekke listens carefully.

"But Chieftain, that's usually one of the three. To be one of them, you need to be ready for leading everyone, not just one area."

Brekke's considering Dagmar's words carefully. "I am not sure I see what you are suggesting."

"That I..." She sighs. "Rivervale is my home. I - Kerri is a great Chieftain. But she's... she... you..."

"She won't want to do it forever, either."

"This is true." Brekke still seems to be waiting for clarification on where this is going.

"You were able to come here, you and Frank both, because you knew there were people who could take care of Rivervale with you gone. Do right by her. Keep the barony safe and strong."

"Yes. I have great confidence in the people of Rivervale to continue a strong legacy."

"I need to do this. I need to be able to do politics. Deal with sidhe, because they are the majority of nobility, control most of the holds. Sylvi's got her own path. Siv, too."