#debukefarmhold

"Hi Jack, bye Jack...." She can't help a laugh. "Oh man. You weren't kidding... Should I check in with Mr. Torin?"

"Might want to" She says

"thy doom cannot be escaped, oh piper, for truly, this is a school of the damned" A soft whisper comes behind her

She JUMPS.

Hand on her chest she whirls. "Who?!"

Lily beams "hello, miss piper"

"Lily, not until she signs on, please" Clem says deadpan

"Jeepers, hun. How are you? School of the da- darned? It doesn't seem so bad to me."

"I said the other one but don't tell anybody" lily says "I'm well, thank you. Miss Puttyroot tells me my reading comprehension is frighteningly good for my age"

"Frighteningly good, is it? What are you reading?" She thinks back... Lily is how long... carry the three... "I really liked these books when I was younger - they were about another planet, so it was like Sci Fi, but the planet was all lo-tech and had Dragons so I guess it was more fantasy... but the really cool part was that it was all about a guild of musicians, well, one girl musician who was determined to become a Harper..." A small smile, remembering. "But maybe you're more into Goosebumps? Do they still do Goosebumps, or Scary Stories to tell in the Dark?"

"Yes, they have those and I like them fine, but Lemony Snicket's series of Unfortunate events too" She says "Do forgive me. I must go. I have to feed my slug"

"Feed it to what?" She asks, but the sluagh is already on her way. "Wait, do I really want to know?"

"I doubt it very much" Clem answers, then gestures "Torin.. Skald.. how are you?"

Torin looks tired, and a bit sheepish "I don't know about THEM, but I think I need a nap"

"Oh, Torin - Mr. Torin, that is." She gives a little bow to the elder. "I heard that you took Jack in - is he running you so ragged?" A smile.

"Oh I'm used to Jack " A grin at that "The little ball of energy true.. It's that he's got me out numbered 20 to one now or so it feels. " A chuckle "Piper, you're finishing your own education? that's wonderful. Folks were worried you weren't."

She reddens a little. "I just need to do it on my own time, y'know?" And a glance over at Clem. "And maybe with a little help."

"No shame in that" Clem agrees "Torin, Piper has offered to help you teach music, and might even take over now and then, it will help her with credits and more. I figure it's up to you and her to work out who teaches the younger or older kids. I know you could handle it, nap time or not, but Myrttle Anne might be a bit sour if we steal you full time"

"And time is something i have plenty of these days, with my best lady off being a knight errant and her sexy dictionary off helping out... well.. everyone and anyone... I work nights, but I'm getting fat and lazy during the day."

"Well, I surely could use the help" Torin says "A voice like yours should be heard a lot. Mostly I'm teaching the kids children's songs but now and then I slip in sagas and eddas. We've got a lot of non trolls though so I'm worried this old skald might be coming up short in what stories and songs other kiths have to tell."

"The eddas are lovely, it's true... but they DO tend to go on..." A grin. "Maybe if you set them to pop music - " A hand held up. "I'm kidding. Mostly."

A chuckle "Hey, there's merit in it. My daughter's better at it, but I have a half finished tweak on Cats in the Craddle about Odin and Loki"

"Cats in the craddle is ah.. not exactly new, Skald" Clem says

"Well, it was new to me" the man smiles "Starfish put it in my head"

"I don't even pretend to know. You two talk, compare notes and needs and don't skip lunch" Clem says "I have to attend to some duties"

Torin chuckles "Well, how about I tell you of the various kids and you decide which you think would be more your group" And he escorts the young satyr wilder off to talk shop and..teaching music!

How'd THAT happen?

(End scene)