#bergen_county

The cucumbers, meanwhile, have jellied into a delicate slime - as has the watercress.

"Today, I shall play mother. Watch closely and see, aye?"

"yes" She says

He accepts one, giving it a curious sniff before trying it, and then going back for a larger taste. The stale bread he dunks in his tea cup to soften a bit, possibly uncouth, but it's tasty. And, though discretely, is still taking cues from Zara. He's been too long from sluagh proper tea himself.

The door opens, and in comes Mr. Thomas, "Pardon me, left a tool in here"

A low hiss from his daughter.

The waft of moldy meat and Symon glances up, hand flying to cover a mouth full of food and no teeth...

Zara sits up higher, chin held primly.

And stares.

Miss Lily was told to watch Zara, and looking at Zara's gaze, she then turns a similar gaze upon her father.

"Ah.. pardon.." He says feeling more and more awkward as no one says anything

And he makes his way to a shelf "Be just a moment"

Icy silence, unblinking eyes...

Lily's stare isn't as practiced, but for a first timer, most impressive echo of the example she is given. Cold. Penetrating.

Swallowing rapidly to clear his throat, then falling silent as well, though his gaze falls somewhere shy of the Troll - ah, he'll stare at the tea. That works.

Grabbing something hastily "Beg pardon.. you kids have.... uhm.. fun" He beats a retreat.

and is gone.

Lily sighs and makes a 'you see what I have to put up with?' gesture

A nod in his wake.

"Family. We understand."

She picks up her teacup. "Now... what is the news?"

"news?" the girl says , perhaps still embarrassed by her father's intrusion. Did he do it because he needed a tool, or was he doing it to keep watch, as Trolls are want to do?

"At least you'll hear them coming. Sharp ears, and hooves and heavy feet aren't exactly stealthy." He takes up his cup as well, taking a polite sip before offering, "There is a new Sidhe in Rivervale. Of Bannerhouse Truthbranch, which I believe is based near Earthrunes." A nod to Zara. "Perhaps you know him? Name is something... spice-related. Ann Marie called him Caraway, but said she thinks she misremembered."

"Truthbranch? Aye, August is its head..."

"Carawyn," Lily says "Sir Carawyn "

"Rivervale helped push the vote in their favor."

A blink at Lily, and a hint of a lipless grin. "That must be it. Thank you."

"you're most welcome," she says pleased, realizing what they mean by news now, "I have a fri-informant, he is terribly hard to understand, but he is an excellent listener, and reports to me when wer'e playing hide and seek"

"A fri-formant?" He seems a bit perplexed by that, and offers Lily a cookie. They are a bit dusty and shaped like... turkeys? Ah, they must have been set aside at Thanksgiving.

"Ah? Those who are hard to understand can have a great deal to say which only a fool would overlook."

"I can find their words an interesting puzzle. A cypher."

she takes the cookie, "Thank you, Mr. Symon. You are a gent."

He looks a bit greenish at that - an embarrassed blush, and he offers one to Zara as well.

"Delightful. Thank you, Symon."

She dips the cookie in her tea before gumming at it.

"If you can climb, there are rafters above the main room in the lodge, and some of the side rooms as well. It's a good place to sit, the lights shine down from under the beams, and no one can see you up there." Thoughtful. "And if you're not a climber, I bet I can figure out some toeholds on one of the walls... Hm. Maybe behind that big bookcase, if I have Dagmar scootch it out just a tetch." Did a midwesternism sneak into his speech? Ope!

"A satyr of Rivervale has taken the mantle of sorcerer's apprentice. It seems his chicanerous efforts were noticed."

"Ah - Dagmar is the small redwood with the axe?"

He raises an eyebrow at this. "That must be Zane - interesting that he has more drive than just chasing after waterfalls too high to climb." A sip of his tea. "It's a Halberd - Greataxe is three-dee-twelve but Halberds are more versatile."

"Oh, I am a climber" She admits wiht pride

"Ah? Have you the gift of spider-toes?"

With a blush, the girl takes but two fingers to a cup, touching them lightly, and lifting the cup with the finger tips only "I stick to walls"

"A mitzvah!"

"Mitzvah?"

He grins a little, not minding the greying gums showing this time now that the Dad is away. "Too uncommon, but still valuable. I've got frog fingers too. And toes." A small frown, then a shrug.

"A blessing."

"Aye. I can do just about anything with my toes as my fingers..."

"Oh" the girl says, delighted toothless grin

"Now, Miss Gerd and Dagmar the Tall repelled a pair of mercenaries this weekend - that is the source of the new obstacles in the training grounds."

"I once used my tongue to stop someone from falling off a trod into Certain Death. And you'd think he'd be grateful? But not hardly, and it was ages to get the taste of goat hair away." And then listens, with a nod. "I tend to avoid the training grounds, lest they try to muscle me up. There might be a weapon for me, but even the light ones are heavy in my noodle arms."