#debukefarmhold

On the farm, girls and boys skip rope, a contest to keep up with the rhyme , skipping rope to a tune can take effort, harmonizing it all, a true challenge

"Miss Brekke had a big axe
And a hand so Grim.
She used em to create a river of blood
To see if her foes could swim.

Well her axe it did not falter.
Dark forces hit end of rope
A dragon tried to eat her lodge
But she punched him in the throat

The Yule star called the centaurs
The centaurs came back home
An evil man said "Bring them to me"
"Where ever they may roam"

"I'll break their shackles," Said the grim hand
Hammerstrike, she offered aid
A wriggly sluagh friend?
He helped them in the shade

Well the centaurs they were rescued
The bad man he was caught
Of course there were some battle scenes
Where every body fought

So Miss Brekke beat the dragon
The Centaur Napper her lodged wrecked
She's still got lots of years in her
Wonder what she will do next?"

And that's the sound Frank hears as he enters.. children jumping rope

An eyebrow, but at the moment he has other concerns. He seeks out Hearth Agnes.

Annd he finds her , preparing dinner. The old woman comes out of the kitchen then looks surprised "Mountain Frank?"

"Hello Hearth." With a fond tone and expression. His beard moves. "Good to see you. May I come in?"

"What sort of question is that, sit down, sit down. You want something light to eat , or a real meal?" She does not mention the option of not eating "I'll get you a cup of coffee, young man. Been too long since I've seen you. Afraid Emmit's not in if you've come to consult with him but maybe in a few hours?"

((Back!))

"I don't think I'm here to see Emmit, actually. Can I bend your ear a bit?"

"Well, I confess, I sometimes have an uncomfortable of habit of giving people too large a serving when they ask for a piece of my mind"

"But my ear is yours to bend if you need it"

"Just a cup of coffee, or cider. I've been eating cookies."

"I think it's a Cider talk" She gets him some "Sides, we're proud of our efforts." She makes one for herself and sits down

"Thank you." sip "Young Juniper came by Rivervale today."

"Did he now?"

"Mm. Interested in learning more about noble 'Holds."

"I may need something stronger than cider" she sighs "Do go on though, if you please"

"He said there'd been some kind of DeBuke committee vote about his visit? He and Brekke went to Teaneck, out near our way."

"I see. well, I can tell you the commitee didn't include any adults. Oh my, Da'an does bite." She frets "My fear is reaping consequences. "

"He mentioned the idea of House DeBuke." Frank says wryly.

Agnes looks heavenward "Oh now you're just tryinng my patience! " She is not talking Frank

Sip.

She sighs "I thank you for telling me, Mountain. Juniper's always beenn trouble but I fear the childlings have made a move because we old folks move too slowly. What I WANT to do is yank each by their ears. Are any of them goinng into dangerous holds by your standards? I.. I worry I don't trust my own judgement like I used to" A sip

"Mm. Join the club."

"Not that I know of, but I only saw Juniper."

"I'll send out feelers then..." A curious tilt "Join the club eh? Story there"

"Just age, I guess."

"mmm " A nod "Comes for us all, though frankly you seem mighty young to ME"

Frank chuckles. "Thank you for that."

"Just the facts, Mountain, just the facts. My bones will be feeding the earth much sooner than yours. You've got many useful years mountaining ahead of you"

"Agnes, you've got years left." he points out "And your bones will enrich wherever they lie, but that in the earth or in your bed at the end of the day or anywhere."

"Now don't butter me up, young man but thank you"

"Just the facts, Hearth, just the facts."

That gets a chuckle from her "Now, how are you and your kin?"

He nods. "Had both girls in the same room recently, it was nice. Jess is doing great things down in Renaissance. Siv's working both mortal and Fae jobs, very impressed with that."

"You got a powerful right to be proud. Jessica's tackling a bear of pensuilar size, and Siv's workingg? Well, I knew you and the CHieftain raised em right. Never met a Rivervaler that shirked from work"

"Both a mortal job -and- still working for Teaneck as well as taking patrols and other duties at Rivervale."

"Well goodness Frank.Remind her her SHE's young, won't you?"

"She has a lot of energy." wry sip.

"I think the shorter trolls have somehing to prove atimes"

"Her height is just fine. Well within growth standards for her age."

"my apologies..." A smile "I won'tt make comments about Jersey air"

"She was raised in fine ocean salt-air."

"I think I owe you another cider"

"It's excellent cider. I won't turn it down."

And so he gets one

He sips.

"So you don't know anything about Juniper's interest in noble 'Holds or in forming House DeBuke." Frank nods "Brekke wondered. Your permission to let her know?"

"Please tell her, we could use extra eyes on them, but for now, let's give them lots of rope" A nod

"All the better to hang themselves with?"