Bründir perked up at Gabe's quip and spun around to the charming man, "See, that's why people don' like ye. Not sayin's almost as bad as lyin'. If yer gon' give us somethin' like that, jus' say it or a price ye want fer th' whole thing."

In order to diffuse the tension literally enveloping him, the dwarf spins about to the colossal pair next to him, "Val, Thurston, we've got trouble comin'. Sheercleft's raw but ready after th' Goblins, but we're no army. See to it our garrison's ready. Please. Seid, y'got a way we can send a message to t'dwarves an' elves? We got time t'walk it there, but not time fer walkin' back. Um...Na...Kia, was it? Yer here fer.....Jex, yeah?"

Nakia smiles nervously, still fixed on the hammer wielding giantess and the fiend in front of her.

"I'm here for the children, and for the business that Jex is supposed to be running." She nods. "But as he isn't here, I'll take what you can offer. Seems your plate is rather full"

After making sure that Val is not going to attack Gabe with a last look in her eyes, Thurston nods and turns towards Nakia, but he remains near her. 

"I helped him on the first stages of the orphanage. Tell me What do you need?" 

"Perhaps this is not the time. When everyone is calm, perhaps you would like to come and see? The children have worked hard to help get things ready for the opening and were looking forward to showing Jex, but they would be glad to show you too. Jex has done a good job and the orphanage could be self funding, but it will need a nudge, some luck, and for the town to stay safe and stable for a time."

She glances once again at Val and Gabe.

"Sure" says Thurston, closing his left fist when she hopes that the town would be safe "I'll be there and I'll bring along some of the rest." 

"Sorry t'say, but Sheercleft's not gon'a be safe fer a time. There's word of a damn army marchin' up from east o'here. We've gotta get this place ready, an' any help'll be met twice over when it's done." Bründir let slip a tone of concern for the first time since the first news came of the impending reclamation force. He'd seen a goblin army set to rout from his own people, so the levy of confidence was mostly firm. Still, there were still those lost from the last time...

Val seems to calm as the others speak with her and this strange fellow seems less of an enemy of more of a misguided companion. She looks at the others sheepishly, putting the sling for Rook back over her shoulder. "Yes, you are right. We do have more important things to focus on. We need to start preparing for this army. Fortifications should be built, food gathered, bandages created... "

"An army? How far?" Nakia looks with concern. "Who sent them? Did Jex anger someone powerful again? We need to provide assurances to the merchants or this may all be for nothing. Do you have much coin? It is possible we could cut this off before the town comes under real threat."

Aiden raises a hand. "One thing at a time," Aiden says. "A Breannian baron is the one sending the army. He wants Sheercleft for himself...ostensibly. He may have other motives."

"I don't mean to overstep, but have you tried a negotiation. Or, removing the threat in another way?" She lowers her voice. "Is that where Jex really is?"

"We will certainly try to avoid a battle," Aiden says, harboring a newfound appreciation for the woman's good sense. "But there's that old adage -- I've heard it in both Breannian and Norscan tongues -- hope for the best, prepare for the worst. And no. Jex likely has no knowledge of any of this. Why? Who is he to you?"

"Shame, he would be the best for the job. Perhaps another could be found though, if you have the funds?"

She sighs. "If battle is likely, I will help anyway I can to avoid it, we can't have the project undermined by more instability. Reassurances need to be given to travelling merchants, we should do our best to move any on before the army approaches, and keep any conflict brief and tidy."

Aiden raises an eyebrow at the ignored question, but moves on regardless. She holds her ships close to port, much like Jex.

"Conflicts are rarely brief, and never tidy," Aiden muses, neither disagreeing or agreeing with Nakia. "But yes, we should be sure to have all the merchants well on their way before the baron gets here. I do not know what funds we have, and it is unlikely that we would find others more suited to...erm...'removing the threat in another way' than those in this room. At least not that could get here in time."

Gabe, who has stepped backwards away from Thurston and Valaith after the giantess lowered her weapon, is leant against a bookshelf watching Nakia intently.

"Of course, she deals in death," he whispers gleefully to himself, eyes sparkling in the candlelight.

Bründir nudges himself in with an awkward cough, "If I may, I don' think talkin'll patch this over. Long story, but this one comin' don' give two stones 'bout borders 'r trade. They're comin' fer us, an' comin' t'claim Sheercleft under a boot. Just works out tidy they had a claim before."

The dwarf was frustrated by the almost comedic timing of participants in this meeting. Just as soon as they'd worked to the point of business, someone else entered and warranted introductions. He held no bad blood over it, though. He appreciated the spirited enthusiasm of his comrades, and trusted them to come around soon enough to the tasks at hand. This newest digression, however, got Bründir looking about the room until he came back to Gabe. This manifestation of Matthew knew all the same histories and secrets. Such things that were lost to time, but he seemed to take note of. As he combed through possible questions, one finally struck his interest; a smoldering ember that always nagged at him but the moment made him tuck it away. "Gabe, a moment?" The dwarf nodded toward the door, so as not to overlap and muddy conversations.

"There are always others" Nakia smiles at Aiden. "You just need to know where to look for help." Her eyes look quizzically at Gabe for just a moment at his mutterings, her mouth half moves to speak but she steps aside as Brundir calls out to him, to let him past.

"You know, Jex was never one for letting part of himself into a place, but he's opening an orphanage in your midst, so you must know him better than perhaps any. And if you know him and his characters, I would not want you to think that because I knew him before that we are the same. He asked me here though to help, something we had talked about long before and a long time dream of mine and his. So I hope you can believe, despite his tendancies my honesty, and the honesty behind this endeavour. And that I will help, for him and for the children under his care."  She seemingly loops back to Aiden's question, clearly having been mulling over the best answer to it.

"...but of course," Gabe tells Bründir with a gracious smile, accompanying the dwarf out the door.

"I think we will welcome whatever help we can get," Aiden says, watching Brundir and Gabe leave. "Where does your skill set lie?"

"Oh I'm not much a warrior myself" Nakia shakes her head, almost alarmed. "I know people though, and can connect you with what you need. When it comes to it, I'm not without a few blessings to bestow, though I prefer to avoid such things."

Once comfortably outside, Bründir closes the study door behind them and faces Gabe, "Yer full o'answers, so now I've got my own questions." Without hesitation, the dwarf pulls forth Dumdrengi from its scabbard. The blade shines in the hallway like a sun thrust to high noon, but the shining doesn't seem to bother its wielder. "Dumdrengi. Dark One's Bane. Blade of Lord Erik Spangelhelm. Prob'ly a hundred other names, too. Recognize it?" Bründir holds the blade like a barrier between the pair, arm outstretched for proximity to gauge Gabe's reaction.