#debukefarmhold

"I wouldn't say no" CC says/ " Iwouldn't either" Maude nods "Sad night"

Emerson doctors two cups with a healthy 'drop'. "Ladies." he puts a touch in his own. "Miss June, how -are- you?"

"Surely been better" She admits

"And Miss Maude?" sympathetically, turning to her.

"Bad omen that she died before she could share herself with the fire" Maude frowns

"I have, of course, not been privileged to attend this tradition before. I thought it went well enough."

"Our hope was she would send herself ...her glamour, into the bale. We do it when we can before we die"

"Not unlike satyr practice, I suppose."

'Well, some differences. " Maude says then looks at CC "ours feeds the bale."

"Doesn't that...damage the fae spirit?" CC asks

"Oh no," June Maude says "rather it makes it more likely DeBukes will find their way back to the area or even be reborn here"

"Mm. Not to be indelicate, please forgive me a crass question but... what -did- happen to Agnes, then?"

"She just..died. " June Maude says "Clem says she came back to her and she's died in her sleep before she could do the ceremony"

"Ahh... " he nods "I am no expert, of course, but... it sounds like Da'an."

"thats what worries us' Maude says "An ill omen"

"I don't follow."

"Death to no gain, an empty dying.. no seed planted" Maude says tolerantly

"Surely not every Debuke feeds the fire ..that way?" CC says

"Few have that honor, but she was right next to it" June explains

"Perhaps the Balefire didn't need her?" guessing.

"It IS fit to bursting" June concedes

"It's the principle of the thing. Tradition means we don't have that fr when it gets lean times" Maude says "You two can't undertand, not being trolls nor DeBukes"

"Probably not." he agrees.

"Hopefully it's no il omen" June says 'Moutain did his part as usual"

Emerson nods. "Where -is- Emmitt?"

"I think he was talking to young Zara... crowd's too loud for her'

"Mm. I'll give her that peace, then."

"Agnes will return in due time, even without the traditional sacrifice, won't she?"

"Course, but it maybe ...further out. another part of the world"

"And when she returns to the Farmhold, she will bring with her new perspectives, perhaps, new experiences.... having had the journey from there to here to gain them."

"that's what our rumspriga type journeys while wilders are for" Maude huffs

"Perhaps that is exactly the time she'll return here!" he says brightly, encouraging.

"Can't count on luck for that

'

Says Maude

June nods "it's a gamble to say the least, mister stodgepole"

"And what is life, if not a gamble?" he says with a twinkle.

"You're a bit of a gadlfy you are, Emerson' Maude says "But we have too much to lose to jest about it, and with Kourtney barely tested... the farm is vunlerable"

"I may not fully appreciate the situation, and thus make light... but never my intent to insult." he says contritely "How can I help?"

"It's fine, sir" June soothes her mother, "You brought us coffee, and you're paying your respects"

"Have you ladies eaten anything?"

"Food is plentiful and laid out" June assures gesturing to a spread that folks are gathering arund "Some of the last cooking hearth agnes did'

'oh, and lots of apple pies"

"Yes, my dear, but you, either of you, -eaten- anything?"

at this, both troll grump and her kinain daughter look sheepish "Wellllll' one starts to say

"They haven't" CC shakes her head translating though it's obvious

"You must. For Agnes. I'll be right back." and he bustles off.

Food IS plentiful, with a surpls of apple pies (to be far those are going at a fine pace)

He stacks some plates and finds something to work as a tray, and puts together a platter of choices for four before heading back to the ladies. He doesn't rush; Callidora can work a magic all her own.

the food smells divine, Agnes really was an artist