#anywhere

"They... well, I don't have to be my parents." he says "Learned I liked animals, horses especially..." He says as they ride. By now, Dagmar is getting the feel of the gait, her hips learning to move properly

"Horses are amazing." She agrees.

"And sure, you don't. I know for sure I'm not gonna be like her."

A nod at that, "your mom.. Tove that is, we heard her singing on Youtube. Normally we try to disconnect here, but some of the folks here really like her stuff, so they figured why not invite her. Have her sing a few horse songs. Ready to go a biiit faster?"

"Sure! I think... I remember, sort of?"

"What kind of kinain are you, anyhow? We have Sally Mae, and Zane's mom... toll and satyr..."

"Near as they can tell... I'm a mutt" He grins "I tried to do the math once, and it was like... 35% troll, 15% Satyr, 30% Boggan, 10% Pooka , 10% Eshu and.. maybe a drop of sidhe? I don't know"

"It's not like I have a full blood's gifts like some kinian do...I mean, my teeth don't shine whenever I smile like Hazel's do, and I can't sort folks out as quickly as Edwin... and I'm sure not super strong, though I get a work out around here"

"Well, so you're a jack of all trades then!"

"I suppose, now, we pick up the pace a bit like this.." And he shows her how to adapt to the increased speed without hurting the horse and without losing control... from a trot to a cantor and then, for a brief time, a full gallop!

She adapts pretty quickly - the gallop easier to ride than the trot!

And Pippin loves it... there's so much to do so much to do so much to see, so what's wrong with taking the back street? You'll never know if don't go! You'll never shine if you don't....

"Easy there, All Star... " Heath laughs though it's hard to tell if he's telling Dagmar or Pippin "Nice but let's not get too far out"

And yet it is GLORIOUS... hills and woods and trails

"Oh, I could do this forever...."

"Worse ways to spend eternity than on the back of a horse" Heath agrees

"Agreed. We don't have horses at Rivervale."

"Well maybe there's some place nearby.. we..." His eyes drift down the hill and he frowns

and curses under his breath

"What's wrong?" She looks.

"Unwelcome visitor" He admits

"bad guy?"

Below, she sees another horsewoman, her own stallion coal black... she is sidhe, and there is nothing folksy about her.

Dag sits up higher in the saddle - like she needs the height!

She smiles, a shark's smile and inclines her head up at them from her lower path. She is dressed like some fairie tale princess and she is lovely, yet her eyes survey the two nly for a moment and instaed lock onto Pippin and Thorn and the land around them.

A little frown. "Who is she?"

"Baroness Síomha Stormstaff ap Daireann... she wants the hold" The boy says sadly, "And she's likely to get it"

"That... why?"

"Long story, you're here for learning and fun... our problems are..well... nothing you can do about it"

Her jaw juts out and she glares at the sidhe. "You don't know that."

"I don't I guess.. but " A sigh and heath continues "The Duchess of APpliacha Duchy is old..superold...and not well. She's the only one who's been protecting us from take over attempts for years... but her protection is expiring soon. WHen that happens... Baroness Siomha, being of greater rank, will challenge Dame Hazel. And probably win. Then take it by right of pennons... one she has from a Count of her House sponsoring her. Daireann want land. Stormstaff has picked this one" A frown

"So, I mean - it's only if she wins the fight, right?"

"And, I mean, Hazel could hav a champion..."

"Anyone of the hold can fight on her behalf" he says with a nod "And none of us are warriors. And... Stormstaff is better than Dame Hazel And Hazel is our best. We're..kind of screwed. Time is running out before the protection must be renewed"

"Petty woman" Heath mutters

"So.. so why not get in someone? Or.. like.. choose the kind of fight? Maybe a race?"

"No one honors a LLiam's right to things.. so ... Dame Hazel can't issue the challenge and name the terms. It sucks"

She snorts. "That's bullshit."

"and she chose this place because of one stupid thing" He sighs "Well that and she likes horses... sort of. No, Siomha was injured, you see? Came here to ask safe haven, and she got it. ANd she was tended to... but AFTER a hurt mortal.. who was worse off. The lady of Daireann declared this an insult... and this is her revenge."

"That... that's BULLSHIT."

"And the place does so much good" The boy laments "We help attention defficient disorders, autistic kids, and more... sure, we got well off enough families that pay, but the real work is helping folks find nature and ... overcome their own challenges with the horses to help them" Heath scowls "And because a Liam put a mortal's broken head ahead of a Daireann broken foot..... Stormstaff will, when Midsummer comes, come here, declare her challenge, and seize the hold. Probably fire half of us. Sell some of the horses... keep the ones she likes and who knows what else to.. well, she'll rule the area"

"That's not right."

"You have to stop her. It's not fair."

Below, the sidhe baroness calls up "Heath, is it? Oh yes, Heath... tell your employer I look forward to seeing her when... oh, it's coming soon, isnt it?" A throaty chuckle that's pure Disney villain

Dagmar flips off the sidhe.

"Would to god I could... " And the boy grabs her hand "Don't. Don't don't. "

GLARE. Not angry at Heath, even if he receives part of that fire.

"And who..." one might have trouble reading her eyes from here, but it seems as if Stormstaff's eyes narrow "is your friend?"

"Oh her? She's no one..." He shrugs "A girl from California.. Calli from Calli...leaving on the plane in Chattanooga soon"

The boy lies shamelessly, and not bad either.