#bergen_county

"Star is the fastest thing EVER. If someone quick-silvered her, she'd go BOOM through the speed of light. But I like Blueberries, they sound less like you'd get a tummy ache."

"Well then, we'll go talk to the Farm and see about you riding Blueberry a bit."

He sips his strawberry milk, and his tail wags.

"I still need to finish my 'pologies here too. Adam, and Symon. I had an Adam idea that I told Gerd, to help him ferret out backseat sneaks... but Symon I don't know."

"Symon is very touch about his image and how he appears" Tove nods "Sluagh are a surprisingly vain kith in their way"

"Well... Symon might want a favor in return. Or a secret."

"I could braid flowers and ribbons in his hair like the horses." He sounds doubtful, but can't help but stifle a giggle at the mental image. "Oh. I hear a lot of things. But how do I know whose secrets are fair to share?"

"I normally just tell Lily. She's probably my best friend. After Jack. And Brown Dog. Oh and Dagmar. And Brogan. But definitely Lily."

"Hm. You could double-check with Lily what secrets are fair."

He gives Dagmar a pat. "YOUR secrets are safe, because you're Knight. You're MY Knight." He seems pleased by this. "And I crossed my T's and dotted my I's, so I'll keep them safe and that's no lies."

That gets a little smile.

"Lily might help you with Symon too" A thought "She's not sained but she seems a quick study"

"She's the smarted girl I know, and I know a LOT of girls. She gets fussy at her brother, though. Maybe I don't understand because I don't have one?"

"You have a sister." Helpful!

"Sisters are GIRLS. You should know that as a Knight." A goofy grin.

"I guess so."

"Do Squires ever teach Knights anything? I have lots to learn, but I know some things too."

"I can talk to quiet things because my ears are big enough to listen, and jump medium-sized trees in a single yip, and run fast even if I have trouble stopping. Oh, and overthere things can turn into overhere things."

"Well, patience, I imagine" Tove says "Squires teach knights patience"

He giggles. "Sure, but that doesn't sound as much fun."

Snort-grin.

"Are the drinks good?" Tove asks

"I like it because it's Strawberry but without any monkeypaws trying to take it." A slurp.

"She doesn't care for milk much. It's a secret."

"She also doesn't like it when something LOOKS like a fruit pie, but turns out to be an onion Pie. " Amusement in Tove's eyes . "Pie thefts went down after that"

Another snerk.

"ONION pie?" His nose wrinkles up.

"I mean, if you put in tatoes and cheese..."

"No onion pie for the squire," A nod "Though I understand a certain amount of veggies is important for Squires to get big and strong"

"Tatoes and cheese in a pie... and some beefs and carrots.. and gravy..." Oh, she may have lost him.

"Potatoes are a vegetable."

"They are" She look amused, and Dagmar can see her mom is making a note of this list the young squire is making. "Potatoes are a Dagmar approved Veggie I've noticed"

"We have a secondary oath, that of Nokra."

He nods solemnly.

"I am familiar with it" She nods somberly "And will respect the oath"

"Dagmar, will we go on quests?"

"Sure!"

His ears perk up! "Where to??"

"Not sure yet..."

"I have a quest for you" Tove declares "But it is not for the faint of heart"

Brow.

"I'll pack the provisions. I know all the food groups. Twinkie, Powder donuts, nutter-butters..."

"Okay, we'll have to talk about those sometime..."

"You must go upstairs, there, in a contianer, you will find.. the Dirty laundry! Return with it to me, and put other dirty laundry in it.. and your reward will be TWO Sundaes... " A look "Will yo utake this dessert quest?"

SIGH.

"Noooooooo it's too terrible... so many stairs...."

He's already scrambling that direction.

"Many many stairs" A nod, then a smirk at her daughter. Moms really DO think they're clever

"Yeah yeah." She follows.

And she may need to reign in Connor's enthusiasm. The more laundry, the bigger the sundaes, right? She stops him just before emptying an entire drawer into the basket...