For Glenn & Country

[Tolleson]

It was a long walk into town, not impossible, but certainly worth planning if one had any intention of keeping appointments. Plus, walking and carrying, for Genny was possible only for short distances and with small objects. Lest the state of them improve over countless tumbles. A carriage then, and hadn't it become a regular affair. Arriving at the office the too tall red-head ducked out of the vehicle and turned back to pull out several large volumes, loose sheets and scrolls that once clutched were near bursting from her arms.

Within the bustling office interior there were stacks of paper and posters, desks lost under the chaos of an organized mess behind which are some smiling and rather welcoming, at least to Genny, co-workers. The banners speak of Governor Burnie, a bit of news distributed several days earlier; but thanks to Giuseppe's message, or common sense in general, was unsurprising news to the red-head. The post had long been his, title or no, and Burnie's staff continued to churn as it had for months regardless of the 'honor'.

It isn't too far a journey, hefting the load of miscellany onto a modest desk in a space she had carved out for herself, nearest, of course, to Glenn's office. Straightening her skirts and her hat, a properly tailored dress looking tidy if not quite prim, Genny abandoned the stacks and began to look over heads and search the halls and room that lay before her.

Using resources was another thing that hadn't come easily. The first time or two she had even questioned another in the office, inquiring if it would be all right. But as Genny had acclimated to the post and began herself to evolve into a more confident woman she simply snagged the messenger boy away. It still felt a tad rude, but she had very likely saved him from what was surely a rejection considering his less than subtle flirtations and that the girl was already engaged. Plus, there was work to be done and the office didn't staff messengers to sit about idly.

She had observed Renea a few times, spoken with her casually but today it was necessary to be in town, necessary to interview the former mercenary per Burnie's request. And so a letter was written in some fine but nearly illegible, fast-handed script, scrolled out across a half sheet of parchment:

[INDENT]Renea-

May this note find you well. I have been informed of your recent meeting with Ser Glenn Burnie and upon his request ask that we meet.

At your leisure, I have much to do and you will find me in the library for the remainder of the day and most of the morrow.

Sincerely and Gods Be With You,
Genevieve Tolleson[/INDENT]

The boy was sent off with little instruction should she not be able to read, Genny recalled that the woman was learned. And had a sword, best not to insult her early on. Affairs in order, her cloak was put on with haste and she would make for the library with little notice to see whether Aleksei or Burnie had even returned to the office from last she saw them. There was so much to be done.

[Caile]

The messenger found her with saw in hand, attacking a piece of lumber with a single-mindedness she'd previously reserved for hacking at the enemy. She'd been building structures with a unbroken fervor finding the task to be a wonderful distraction. When the messenger cleared his throat politely, and that failing to attract the mercenary's attention coughed a little louder, she placed the saw along the work station she'd thrown together and turned to face the young boy. With a duck of his head he handed the missive to Renea and waited, barely concealing his boredom, while she read. It was a short message, and quickly finished, since it appeared there was no need for a response she gave the boy a few coins in thanks and sent him on his way. She'd clean herself up and head to the library as soon as she finished putting her tools away.

Changed out of her work clothes now and washed, Renea walked into the library in her standard outfit. Her trousers were a sturdy and serviceable and her shirt was loose but not hanging, chosen for the way they allowed for easy movement. She wore the longsword at her hip as she always did, save for when she was working with construction, and it seemed as much a part of her as any of her limbs. The blade was relatively new for her, being a mere ten years old, but the style of sword she'd worn for so long that she never even thought about it anymore, it was just there when she needed it.

She questioned one of the library staff for directions and thanked them in a quiet voice, heading for the desk where Genny was working. She sat across from the woman, shifting the sword so it wouldn't tangle in the chair, and stretched out her legs with a soft sigh of relief. The construction was using muscles she wasn't accustomed to using and it was nice to stretch out for a bit.

"Good evening, what can I do for you?"

[Tolleson]

Several large tomes lay strewn across the table, open at various chapters and whose subjects seemed barely relevant to one another. Renea may have recognized that the same script from the missive littered pages of loose parchment in a neat, concise script written in such a way it seemed intentionally to conserve space. Completely absorbed in whatever study she was conducting, the former pie-maker's head rose startled at the sound of an approach only to calm somewhat at the sight of Renea.

"Ah Renea! Oh.. uh, thank you for coming at such short notice." She dabbed her pen of its reserve and set it aside, not bothering to close the books or set aside the the work.

"Please... forgive the mess, I... it has been... well the week it..." Smiling graciously, amicably and a bit flustered she took pause and a deep breath - there was little shame left to be felt for stammering it happened so often. But her thoughts collected quickly and she continued a fair bit more organized.

"It has been a busy week for our Mister Burnie. There is much to be done and more, I suspect, every day forward in these times." What 'these' times were, was not entirely clear. Despite the fact that she could hardly complete a sentence to save herself, Genny was never one to needlessly spread sensitive information. But then again, this all had little to do, at least immediately, with Renea.

"Any matter... I do apologize that we meet here," as opposed to a pub or perhaps the sweets shop Glenn had taken Genny to during their 'interview' process. "But considering the sensitive information... and ...strategic importance of Myrken Wood... And of course the position you'll be filling." And still some ambiguity dominated her words. Genny folded her hands and shifted a little in her seat, actions more out of inexperience and uncertainty than anything else. Why Glenn had entrusted this to her when there were surely more sociable people on his staff was anyone's guess.

"Well... I suppose.. tell me about where you're from. Why you've decided to come here, that is... besides family," if there was another reason; she smiled awkwardly, recalling their conversation from the other night.

[Caile]

She didn't doubt that anything Glenn did had motives beyond the obvious and that seemingly careless decisions were far from. Thus his decision to have her questioned by Genny was not as random as it appeared, at the very least her general nature would make Renea feel more relaxed and open. She recognized this, but also recognized that she had nothing to lose from playing along, for the time being anyway, and so when Genny asked her first question Renea answered honestly.

"There really isn't any other reason to be honest. I wandered this way in search of possible work and ran into Cer, Rielle I believe she's known as here, and then Beta showed up and Lamai is nearby. After that it just sort of felt....right to stay. So I did."

There wasn't any more to the story than that, she had lived a nomadic lifestyle for so many years that moving from place to place at the drop of a hat had been normal, but she'd also been trying to avoid life and it would seem that she was at least willing to cohabitate even if she wasn't entirely willing to wrestle with her demons. She still had secrets she wasn't even willing to admit to herself but as far as Myrken was concerned they wouldn't interfere with her ability to defend them at whatever costs were deemed necessary.

"No need to appologize, I'm a big fan of multi-tasking and I certainly don't take offense."

[Tolleson]

For a moment Genny becomes visibly relaxed, happy that she isn't being entirely rude with her work spread between them. And then somewhat excited, smiling to the mercenary's reply. Not that Renea knew her well enough to realize that Lamai's James was her beau.

"Oh, are you related to the good Lady Lamai?" Perhaps a strange question, but it had many implications, the least of which was not an alignment with Thessilane. Not that Genny cared, personally, but Glenn did, which was what mattered. And something to be kept in mind. But she wrote nothing down, content to simply converse as two friends might, even if they weren't quite yet.

Of course, as a Thessilane born girl herself it was nice to have those with whom she could relate, at least in some capacity.

[Caile]

"To be completely honest with you, I know that I somehow am as she calls me Aunt, but I'm not entirely certain how. I don't have any biological family of my own and what family I do have is somehow related through Cer..er Rielle I believe she calls herself now, and BetaFlame." She gives the girl a rather wry grin and shrugs her shoulders as if admitting that the whole thing was really beyond her understanding and she just took the entire thing on faith. "I am rather fond of her, though the last time I saw her she was still a young child." So many things changed when you ignored your life for a decade or more, she shouldn't really have expected life would wait for her, but it was a shock to see just how much had changed when you weren't looking.

Renea still wasn't entirely certain on the politics involved. She had been able to grasp, through the repeated use of the term 'Thesshole', that relations with Thessilane were less than cordial but she didn't really need to know any of that. She wasn't being hired as a diplomat and all she needed to know was who and she'd figure out the how, the why wasn't really her business. Wind her up, point her in the right direction and watch her go.

[Tolleson]

At her tale Genny's smile only grows, wide and friendly until it reached a downright jovial grin. There didn't seem to be a problem with the inability to explain her family ties.

"She is a lovely lady and dear friend," and something more, somehow. Genny suspected some link between Lamai and James, even more so now that James guarded the pie-maker's mind from the terrible dreams and visions from Catch's mind.

Regardless of the strings that attached the town, families, friends, allies, and enemies, uncertainties and all; Genny relaxed a fair bit again and let her smile fade to one of polite conversation.

"I don't mean to keep you long... I suppose, its really just a matter of allegiance." With a slight sigh she looked away as if determining how best to proceed or if to share her story at all, but it was resumed at once without much pause. "When Mister Burnie spoke with me he was worried about my allegiance with Thessilane, as I was born there and only recently returned." Recently of course, a loose term as she had been back to Myrken for months now.

"...I .. well... as a mercenary..." She returned her eyes, her lips still smiling, but sweetly as a friend or someone only offering genuine kindness might. "It may have been easy to switch your alliances in the past, but no coin, or promise can sway you... We will very much rely on you to protect the people of Myrken." The words she spoke hinted to her investment in the town and her love of its inhabitants. There were too many people here she cared about so even if her request was on Burnie's behalf it was taken seriously for her own reasons.

"Oh.. of course... I don't mean it as offense or .. distrust, its just," but it was that, to some extent, wasn't it. "In these times..."

Her words trailed and she added nothing else, trying to smile, but feeling as if, perhaps, she'd put her own foot in her mouth in trying to explain her earnest need in being able to trust Renea in the position she would be filling.

[Caile]

"I was a mercenary yes. I may be again sometime down the road, but even as a mercenary once I gave my allegiance to a cause, even if I was getting paid to do it, I didn't change it halfway through for better pay or cuter outfits." She tilted her head, giving the young woman a wry smirk though not a cruel one. It was more of acknowledgement of her position in the wold and it was a question she had fielded many, many times before. "My family is a part of this community but more importantly, I've made myself a part of this community and with those relationships I've declared my alliances. Whether Glenn Burnie sanctions it or not I will fight for Myrken in any way I can." And that was the rub, wasn't it. She didn't need his sanction to protect what she felt needed protecting, she'd just be more useful folded into existing groups rather than getting in the way because she didn't know what was going on.

She smiled across the table to take any lingering sting out of her words, her hands folding overtop her stomach as she leaned back in her chair. It was an awkward position Burnie put the poor girl in, asking possibly offending questions of a highly skilled swordswoman. Not that Genny would have to worry about any violence from her of course, but it was still awkward.

"I suppose that the most succinct way to sum it all up is this, Once bought I stay bought, and money isn't the only way to buy someone." Her loyalty was to Myrken and its people.

[Tolleson]

Recovering the awkwardness with an amicable smile Genny nodded. Surely she could not have answered so sincerely, so delicately, or so succinctly; perhaps it was admiration for doing so rather than trust.

"We are lucky to have you," there was understanding and gratefulness, but most of all a sense that she truly seemed to trust the swordswoman's words. Not just because she seemed to have a sense of duty and honor that many among her profession lacked, but also because she was damned skilled and very soon Myrken would face a time when her skills were absolutely necessary.

"Thank you, I mean... for coming and for talking... I hope I haven't offended you," with the sincere hope that she hadn't she would bid farewell to Renea and return to her work unless the swordswoman had any other questions or remarks.