#bergen_county

...

Things winding down at Pennons, for some it's been a perfect day, for others a few disappointments... and for Kerri, down right odd. She's never BEEN the person folks congratulate for ALL of Rivervale's Wins!

She's also never been the one who isn't part of a competition. Never on the other side of the awards stage.

Oh sure, praise for Dagmar, Praise for Siv, Praise for all... but through her all praise can go. And now... sshe's on the side, having done no part in her own yet everyone keeps ... yes, very odd.

(In Alaska, Brekke gets a text with Sam giving a thumbs-up selfie in front of TWO horses!)

(Eventually, Brekke will look at her phone. It might be a day or two. But a message is returned: Very well done. Did Baron Kealan land in one piece?

(It will rain well, tradition is upheld. He is very good at landing.)

Kerri, now a conduit between the victories of her people and the balefire of the Lodge, catalogs those victories very precisely. They are Rivervale's.

And she hears a voice new to her, "I'm REALLY Sorry, don't send me back?" //"It's okay kid, I've been hurt worse by bigger caps than you" The second voice .. Kerri's husband "My fault, I brought the hoagie near your mouth."

"Olgar?" She turns quickly, because that definitely sounds like he's been damaged.

The man who has competed in axe throwing, Spear fighting, and general melee with many today with barely a scratch is bleeding from his hand, fortunately a finger was NOT Severed

"It's all good, Hon," Olgar assures

Kerri bites back a curse and quickly fishes out a cookie from the first aid kit she carries in a shoulder bag.

"Eat this," she says to him. It's an order, though it sounds gentle-ish.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Says the rotund girl "I just eat... a lot." She eyes the cookie as it is offered even if not to her

Olgar takes the cookie and keeps it OUT of reach and downs it

She takes a deep breath, exhales, and only then turns to look at Swilla. "Please. Do not. Bite. My husband."

Swilla GLARES, and it's intimidating, redcaps are terrifying, but Kerri has worked with Dirk and can hold any catch of breath, stop any backwards step, then Swilla looks guiltily "I didn't mean to... I went after the sandwich."

Olgar sees his finger is healing up

"I understand. I do. Just...please be careful." Swilla will certainly notice that there's no Dictum happening, and Kerri wonders just how much this girl is going to push her boundaries. But she manages a grin. "I think it's almost time to get back to the Lodge."

(Brekke's reply is, again, a bit delayed: Ha! Very good. Yes, he has had practice.)

(The last message gets a heart react, but Dagmar doesn't push further)

Swilla nods but says "Nobody better make me wear the muzzle. I'll ain't doing that again" A SCOWL, then gentler "Okay. Uhm... does the lodge have a room I can use or do I get a cot somewhere?"

"No muzzles," Kerri assures her firmly. "You can ask Dirk about that when you have a chance to talk with him. And I'm sure we'll find room. Funny thing...I keep finding new nooks and crannies sprouting, cubbies I never noticed in all the time I've lived there."

"We lost the singing fish" Olgar tells her.

"Did it taste good?" Swilla asks "Did it sing going down?"

Kerri pats Olgar's shoulder comfortingly.

Olgar looks over at his wife "Well, wwhat replaced it is better anyway. And yeah, the place is under a reno sort of but if need be Swilla can room with Ylva"

"That's a possibility. Swilla, what's your favorite way to sleep? We've got beds, but I know that not everybody prefers that. We've been known to hang hammocks, for example."

"Well, the corby used to shove me in some corner and throw a blanket at me... one time I tried to move near the stove just to be warm , but they kicked me and woke me up. Said no one gets near the food. The knight usually had me in the stable rafters depending on where we traveled"

Kerri nods. That was pretty much what she expected. "Well, maybe try out a bed tonight, see if you like it. And we'll make sure you get a snack before bed." Not for the first time, Kerri thanks the Dreaming for that cauldron.

Indeed,it is not quite limitless, but throw a can of spam in it and it can even feed a redcap

"My own bed...shit, this is cool" Swilla says "I think I'm gonna like probation " Sheepishly she looks at Olgar "I AM sorry about the your hand. I couldn't use mine"

A puzzled look...why couldn't Swilla use her hands? Is there something obvious that Kerri's missing?

Olgar also looks confused "The balor wouldn't let you use your hands?"

"Oh no, my old Corby. I was th eonly childling... so to teach me to learn how to bite accurately, they would throw my food at me or tie my hands at the table... ha, I got good at catching stuff with my mouth after a time. But you gotta bite fast and swallow or it might hit you in the eye, and sometimes it wasn't food they threw. " She chuckles "One time I got a crowbar thrown at my head. If I hadn't caught it with my teeth I'd broke my skull. They said hands were cheating. One time I did it, they knocked me down and kicked me for ten minutes so i'd remember. " She tries to laugh it off "Good thing I got padding huh?" Patting her girth

Kerri blinks, startled. She schools her expression again before saying, "Do you think you could relearn using your hands to eat? It's not cheating to do so in Rivervale."

"The knight was already trying. After I bit him he muzzled me, with him I had to push food through the muzzle wire so I used my hands there"

"I'll try to eat wth my hands" She says "But.. uhm.. I may eat a fork or two so if you got plastic ones?"

"Right. Okay. Well, we'll practice," Kerri assures her. "Tell me what skills you have, Swilla. I already know you have some experience with horses." But I'm not sure I trust her with our horses just yet.

"I know horses some, but mostly I know how to dress someone in armor, shine it, polish stuff... fetch. I shovel shit" she adds "I got pretty good at polishing."

Kerri nods. "That will definitely come in handy. Come on...let's head home." And she sets about gathering up those who need rides back to Rivervale.

Olgar nods "I'll rally the troops. Maybe Gerd" he gives his wife a look, and couple telepathy engages. MAYBE Gerd , who has an eating disorder might have ideas for a young Cap who has been trained just to use her mouth

Kerri gives him a look in return: I married a clever man.

That you did. he almost winks...And soon, things are unwinding all over and Rivervale's crew is packed and ready to go back to the lodge, covered in glory!

It's been a different pennons, but a good one nonetheless, and a sign that Rivervale may change, but will still grow!

(Folks can feel free to follow up in side things, but Pennons is done)