#bergen_county

"Just because he can eat everything, doesn't mean it necessarily tastes good. Like, I prefer stuff that's gone off, but that doesn't mean I want rotten brussel sprouts. Even I have some discernment."

"Oh, yeah. Brussel sprouts aren't the worst... I mean, they're not okra."

"my mom microwaves them as a 'quick snack'" Zane shudders

"Ew, Dude."

"I know, rite?"

Adam finishes the bun. "Ok, so..... what do you guys want to do?"

"Kerri made me try them. She just gave me a look, you know?"

"Well, horses."

"Okra or Brussel sprouts?" asking Sam.

"So you got a new horse? Is she another troll-sized one like that bruiser the Chief brought home?"

"Sprouts. They weren't too bad. Lots of butter."

"Star! Oh, she's not as big as Stormwake, and she's beautiful..."

"And smart! And fast!"

"Horse crazy." Adam confirms to Zane.

Zane nods "Most girls are"

"I'm not crazy. They're just amazing."

"Dagmar isn't most girls." He remarks in her defense. "She doesn't want to play pretty pony dress up. She's a knight, and knights know horses."

"Exactly! Thank you, Symon."

"You're right, Symon. She's not most girls." Adam agrees.

"Plus, of course, we're getting ready for jousting..."

"And I mean, there was the time I jousted the car, right? So it's a relevant skill."

"Well... I mean, I'd like a large assortment of girls in order to properly quantify. Maybe every girl in the barony will line up so I can be fair handed" Zane says with pure innocence

"You.........." Adam waits to get clarification.

"None of us really fit the mold. Which is good. Zane, stop while you're ahead."

"Well, Flyswatter isn't really a lance... but yeah, Stormwake and I, we stopped a car with this evil nocker..."

"Right..stopping" Zane says

"Not a lance, if it was it'd give you a +2 strength bonus to charge attacks, which stacks with improved save. Halberds are better on foot though."

"Nocker, that's the ones that cuss and break things?"

"Fix things. But yeah. So, anyways, he was all set to cause trouble and was trying to run over Vali..."

"Stormwake and me, we charged and BAM, hit the car with the halberd."

"Mr. Gardner?"

"Yeah." Zane says "Sir Vali is mister Gardener... he's on a quest now and everything I hear"

"Is that why he hasn't been at school? Huh."

"Yeah. It was pretty cool. I felt like a knight."

"Well, he did it on a weekend mostly" ZAne says

Adam smiles charmingly at Sam. "That's good. I mean.... sounds really cool, but if it made you feel like that, then that's WAY Cooler."

"Do you mind dropping me off on the way back? I want to get these to the gremlin while they're still fresh. Oh, and here - " He hands the large jar of crystalized ginger over to Dagmar. "Can you give this to the hearth when you see her?"

"It's sweet and a little spicy. I figured she might make something out of it. Or it's good from the jar."

"Sure, no problem." Adam lets them all in the car.

"Can do!"

And they drop off a certain sluagh, then head towards the lodge ... there are horses to admire!

And Adam gets instructed in all the basics - what side to approach, what the tack is, how to put it on..."

Star shies away from Adam. She seems less comfortable around the boy than she did with the girls and the Chieftain. But, if offered some treats and reassurance, he might get a pat before she moves away.

(Pause end scene)

Much as in staff, Dagmar is an earnest, meticulous teacher when it comes to horses. Star is pointed out, but also given space. Stormwake is the star for tack lessons - all the bits and bobs, how to adjust straps and tensions for the comfort of both horse and rider...

Adam stays away from anyone that doesn't want him there, that includes Star.

He is, though, serious about learning this stuff.

Zane pays attention, and seems interested, but he's cool with mostly observing Dagmar show how.

Stormwake, vain thing, preens at being the center of attention - and lets Adam know with an indignant snort if something is unacceptable

"Now, you mount from the left - if you can't do it without pulling too hard on the saddle, you should use a block. Don't want to hurt his back."