#debukefarmhold

"You are a better Mountain for your wild-hearted travels. But they do not see that."

"Mmm we do tend to punish worldly success" A frown

"And yes, I can see Clem pushing for.. she's been trying ot get the young ones out more. "

"The world changes, and that which cannot bend..." A shrug.

"Says the nice jewish girl dating a fair haired Iowan " A wink then a sigh "I know. I know."

A grin.

"And yet Mama loves him. It works out."

"Well, mamas are usually right" He concedes "Hope your family is well?"

"They are! Hirim has actually had quite an influx on custom orders... rich and bored folks shut up at home, apparently, redecorate..."

A chuckle "And learn new skills, or call on those with the skills. Good on your uncle. Hirim quite the character, I hear, but a master of his craft is allowed to be"

Fondly. "Aye."

"Clementine suggested having Mara visit the Hollow - well, not that directly, per se. But it is full of nockers... I could, mayhaps, have her stay with my parents, or my dear friend across the street..."

"Your dear friend a sluagh?" He asks

She nods. "A most mannerly lady."

"Mara might be a bit loud for her then, or perhaps turbo fit her antique clock" The Mountain says, not even joking about that

"Point."

"There also might be room in the guild barracks at the hold..."

"Mmm she'd probably throw into that, elbows to gut if need be." he says "She's had to squabble with cousins bigger than her at the table for food. I think it was good training for asserting herself"

"True that - and yet I have heard grumbles that she isn't doing "real work" here - that keeping the tractor alive, or inventing, is less valid than tilling a field or standing guard."

"Yes, Clem's tried to step on that. Guess it's the same all over. The farmer sees a paper pusher and thinks that fellow has never done a day's 'work' in his life, the paper pusher sees a guy with a rake and thinks 'if only that sap had gone to college'"

"Aye. But again - a crack at the foundation."

"Think you Mara and Caspian are the last, and not the first?"

"Oh far from it, we've got satyrs on the way, at LEAST One.. seven kids with satyr blood as well as troll? One has to hoof it"

"Aye, several of them are bred true..."

"So much as omen can see aught of that."

"I took a peek myself, but cautiously. You know how the Da'an frowns on trying to short cut those close to you at times" more a statement, because he knows she DOES know

"Oh, aye. I have the appropriate distance from the babies."

"Noted. Though I got the feeling Winter and you, well...given her near brush with death"

A smile. "She has a beautiful da'an."

"Some would say Slaugh's estimations of beauty vary" He nods then ponders "Those kids, at least some of them, will want to stay at the farm. "

She nods. "Some will. Some will wander."

"But handled wrong, those who would wander may, instead, flee."

"I guess I better consider the future even more than the past" A frown

"The future waits not."

"I know your intentions are good but I do know That much" A hurrump

"Aye, aye, teacher-mine."

"Course your own nocker family might say Knowing how to forge Means Jack and Squat if you never heat the coals" A nod "I know what you want me to do, who you want me to side with. I can tell you Clem remains chief as long as she wants it, and as long as I'm alive"

One of the runes falls over on another with a click

"I dislike that being said so baldly, for I can see the needle that threads."

"Oh, I've got a few years left yet" He says

"Still. She might be convinced she does not want it, that she would be better to step down... and that..." Zara frowns. "I do not think that ends well."

"Mm something you've seen in the threads? Or just guessing?"

"Guessing. But I could cast..."

"But you know Clem... " A frown.

"Yes, " A frown to match hers. "She's got the makings of a natural leader. That's not always enough "

"No."

"People can select leaders to reflect their worst impulses, may choose from fear..."

"I am a dream of Fear, but I can tell you, that is not the place from which to select a leader."

He nods at that

"I have been loathe to press too hard upon soothsay since my last... ah... adventure..."