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</div>Nash did not believe that Penelope truly thought that it was good to see the skinwalker at all.  While polished, the performance of the niceties reminded Nash of the young woman's father, who Nash remembered had a better talent for it.  Throughout the years, the members of the Graves family practiced what the white man called 'realpolitik', outwardly lofty in ideals but ultimately worldly practical.  Speaking with a forked tongue was a phrase that was even older than Nash.<br/><br/>Hearing that Penelope's parents had both passed was troubling to Nash.  Her time away from Oak Creek could not have been made shorter.  There had been a working relationship between her and the Graves' of the previous generation.  That was gone, now.  Now she had to forge a largely new arrangement.  Still, there was a history of some understanding and some cooperation between Nash and the Graves'.  Nash hoped that there was a foundation to build a new understanding.<br/><br/>"You have my condolences for your loss," intoned the old skinwalker.  "Your father imagined that you would be strong enough to succeed him.  From what I remember of you then and what I see in you now, I think he was probably right."  She squinted a little, "Much strength, maybe a little rough around the edges."<br/><br/>It was a little disappointing that her brother, Arthur, had a vocation in the occidental sciences.  Therefore, until he returned, practicality dictated that he was dead to them.<br/><br/>It was good that Penelope was quick in coming to the point of business.<br/><br/>"There are portents in the sky, in the wind and on the land that point to the gathering of great evil coming to the land," said Nash, her poker face showing no trace of truth or deception.  "In part, it comes to gather from this world.  In part, it wants something to come from the other side of the Gates.  So I've come back to Oak Creek.  I have some ideas on how we can help each other."