#debukefarmhold

Frank's truck heads up the farm road, a dozen eyes on him, even in winter there's always a troll about.

The trailer stays in the shipping
yard, so it's just Frank and the Rig. Still, worth keeping an eye on. He pulls into the Farmhold equipment yard.

A girl child peeks out behind a snow man, she wasn't hidden really, troll childlings have a harder time hiding. She looks at a wilder to see if it's okay, the Wilder, a shaggy haired guy, nods.

"Hello, Mister King sir?" The girl comes up to greet him.

Frank steps down heavily,duffle bag in hand, and smile. He looks tired. "Hello. I'm Frank King."

"You're the Rigger, the King of the Road, Knight of the Highways, Unstringer of fell symphony, and Mountain that was of Valley and River?" She gasps "Beloved of the Grimhand? Father of the flamefree, and of the Waveborne?"

"I am."

"I am Beyla Manyquestions! So named by your very trueheart, none deny I earned this name " A look at his Rig "has your rig seen much battle? how much can it pull? Would you like to come into the cold, you look dim. Did you face danger? Did you cast a lot of cantrips recently?"

Frank is placid in the face of this onslaught "Yes, it has. Many tons of freight, and more. Yes, I would like to come in if I am welcome. No. And no, no cantrips."

"You're always welcome, Mister King, Sir. Please, follow me" She says pulling him along "How did you get some out of your battery? Is it because your old?"

He allows himself to be pulled. "Battery?"

"Sorry, I mean... you seem low on glamour"

They get to the main building and go inside. The balefire in the franklin looking stove is powerful, and Frank immediately feels better just being before it.

Agnes, Hearth, is warming her hands to it, but then she sees Frank and blinks "Frank? OH my. Have a sit down, right away. "

A soft chuff. "Thank you, Hearth Agnes. I look that bad?" he comes in, sets the bag on the floor and sits on a chair next to it.

"Well, Frank, let me put it this way" The old woman says "Yes. You look last month's winter left out in the snow" A nod "Speaking of same, I'll get you some grub and a drink. Beyla hunn, you'll be helping me"

Frank closes his eyes, resting. "I'm fine."

"I'll decide what and who is fine here, young man" Agnes says, and goes to the kitchen

"Hmmphm."

Soon, a bowl of wonderful smelling soup

is brought before Frank "Eat up, Frank. Then you can get your rest"

He nods, and eats. "Delicious, Hearth, thank you." after a few bites.

More than delicious, she or the childling have donated a bit of glamour into it

It tingles, and he opens his eyes to give Agnes an eyebrow.

"Mmmph don't act like Kerri would be above that, Frank. Hearths are bullies. Part of the job"

"Said I'm fine." he points out, but keeps eating

"And I told you I decide who is and isn't fine" She reminds back "What did you run into anyway that iced you up so?"

"Mm. Autumn Person, I think. Chilly bast.... person." Frank is observant of the childling present. "Got past him just fine. I carry items for that sort of thing."

Beyla's eyes widen

Agnes nods "Happens now and then. Well, you'll rest by the bale tonight" She says

"Grateful, Agnes. Thank you." to his credit, he doesn't argue that.

"You're welcome. "

He finishes the soup pretty quickly.

"WHere is this Autumn Person, so I can warn folks?" Agnes asks

"No where near here, Hearth. I was inbound on Ottumwa, heading west. West Point."

She nods "I'll make a point of spreading news anyway. We got folks who drive here too now and then"

Clem comes in pacing..and does not seem to notice Frank. Clearly she'd dstracted

Frank nods. "Went by Mr. Knowling."

"Charming" Anges looks to Clem "Chief, we got an autumn person report..."

"Near Silverwolf?" Clem turns, then says "Oh, Frank. Hello, Sir"

"No, not near Silverwolf..." Agnes mmphs "What's with you, Clem? You come back pleased about the dogs but distracted"

"Nothing" Clem says suddenly all business "Now about this AUtumn person?"

"Name's Knowling... Frank met him, inbound on Ottumwa, West Point. Heading west"

Clem nods "We'll spread word. Guess you're with us for the night, Frank"

"Gratefully so, Chief. Thank you."

"You're welcome" Clem says "Had the pleasure of looking at the pups. Oak was sweet to them , very patient boy for a first time pop"

His beard shifts. "Brekke said she was planning to get up there. Oak's a good man, as it were."

"That he is. Does his own pops proud"

"I'd like to call home tonight, if that's not a bother?"

"Phone's yours as long as you like" She points to an old frog phone with a rotary dial