#bergen_county

*************** later...************

A knock at the front door of the Barn. The Chieftain's familiar knock-knock-knock...nothing fancy or cleverly syncopated.

"I GOT IT" the teenaged cry and thud-thud-thud of feet down steps.

Brekke waits patiently outside.

"Thank you" Tove calls "Hands in dishwater"

Dagmar opens the door. "Oh, hey. CHief."

"Dame Dagmar," Brekke nods hello. She seems to be in a good mood. Or at least, there doesn't seem to be any urgent emergency at hand. "Is this a bad time?"

"No? Come in. You need a drink? We have lemonade and iced tea and.. I mean, I can make coffee?"

"Oh, I...was wondering if we could walk while talking? I do not wish to impose upon your mother's hospitality...she sounds busy."

"I mean, sure."

"Oh it's no trouble either way, but .. well, Brown Dog could use a walk if your'e going, Dagmar"

"Hello, Tove." She nods to the older wilder, and then says to Dagmar, "Yes, let us go." She turns to lead the way.

A nod from Tove "Enjoy the walk" to both of them

"Yes'm!" Brown Dog is called and a leash clipped to his collar.

A nod back to Tove. "Thank you."

Brown Dog dances with excitement - WaLk!

Brekke gives a brief chuff of amusement at the dog. "It is a walk, not a grand quest."

Oh the mutt bounces excitedly, the quest for new smells

"Well, try telling him that." Good naturedly.

"Hm. Dogs are seldom convinced when I say so." She heads off towards the woods at an easy pace.

Beautiful day here in the Kingdom of Apples, sunlight, light breeze, songbirds in the tree tops

A nice walk! Dagmar is content to enjoy it.

After they get a bit of the way into the woods, Brekke says, "Pennons approaches. Two months. We must begin training for the joust, again, you and I."

"Sure! Though Dee has been getting better... she'll be tough."

"Good. You need a challenge," she says with a grin. "And there is Doomwind." The name said with respect for a skilled warrior.

She nods. "I like Doomwind. She's cool."

"But Dee's new horse - Snowthorn? - that's a huge boost for her. Obviously, he's not as good as Star or Stormwake, but who is?"

A nod. "Not what I expected when I first saw her. She is admirable."

"Tell me of Snowthorn?"

"You might remember him from last Pennons - a white stallion, a warmblood. He had a sidhe on him that was unworthy of the mount. Totally wasted with that rider."

"Yes, I recall. But with the Dame, he has improved?"

"Aiden bought him, and Dee's been training with him to represent Silver Wolf. Now - she might not be going to Bergen for Pennons, I'm not sure."

"They're a good team." Dag nods. "But we both know each other, thanks to Joust Club."

"Mm. This is a fair point. Well...perhaps you may invite her before they are committed elsewhere."

"I'll ask her plans."

"Good." She nods, and walks on. "We will wait until you are settled into school again before we begin training in earnest for that. I know you practice with the other jousters, though, and this is good."

"I will do my best. I don't always beat Dee, though."

"I do not always beat Baron Kealan," she points out reasonably.

"That helps, yeah. I don't want to let the lodge down."

"Your sincere effort is all I ask in this." A pause. "Dame, I believe your father brought home news about the Mountain."

She bites on her lip.

"You're not going, right?" Anxiety leaking around her attempt to be casual.

A grin, and she shakes her head. "No. Not for a long time, if I have my choice about it. And neither is he. He is changing his role, not his home."

"I mean, I could see how he wants a break maybe. And Vali's a good choice."

She nods. "The Mountain has done a fine job. It is fair to him, though, that he have a chance to return to the road more. It is what he loves to do. And yes, Sir Vali has grown to be a fine choice for Mountain. His grandfather would be proud. Well, is proud, I am sure, though Gerd has not said so for certain."

She kicks a rock. "I mean, I don't... I don't like how much everything is changing, but I can't.. like, the world ain't about me. And Sylvi's going to be around more, she promised..."

"She is. And I wish to tell you more about that. But first...I wish you to understand something. Vali has, yes, grown to be ready to take the role of Mountain. And I hope that you understand that, someday, when it is time, I expect that you will take your position as Storm of Rivervale."

She stops.

Brekke stops as well and regards her.

"I thought it'd be Olgar..."