#elsewhere

"happy to help. Are we setting this up as a fostering, an adoption, or a tutorship program?"

"Not sure. I'll have Siv get in touch."

"I don't think anyone did."

"Thank you, Anne Marie."

Next, he'll call Carowyn.

And Carowyn is just as surprised "Does Count Hemlock just launch squires intermittently at people?"

Frank sighs. "It has been known to happen. Can you come by and meet her?"

"I do. Kassedy is Liam, Siv's not. She knows it, welcomes the help."

"Well, then I'll definitely drop by"

Siv has come down, a box carefully taped up and she sets it downn

"See you then."

Kassedy comes out and offers the knight her sprite (Which rhymes)

Frank squeezes out of the phone closet.

To Kassedy it might look like he's getting out of a Volkwagon; amazing he all fits in there, really.

The squire gapes "Does.. that hurt? I mean, aren' you worried you'll get stuck, Sir?"

He chuckles, a low rumble "Not at this point, no. Lots of practice."

Siv smiles "Dad's full of surprises"

The Squire smiles. She looks about "this place is BIG, I guess it has to be?"

Frank nods. "We'll need to right-size the furniture in your room, Siv."

"Good point dad. I think I can get some chairs her size"

"though I think she migh like the 'KING' sized bed" Siv smirks

He sighs; he's heard all the jokes, after all. "Maybe a stool, too. For reaching. At least until her height kicks in." He smiles at Kassedy. Well, his beard moves at least. "And Siv, you need to be in touch with Anne Marie. She has some questions."

"I'll give her a call now" Siv ods

"Should I do anything else?" Squire Kassedy asks

"Yeah, have a seat, take a load off, Squire, get used to the place... and say Hello to Mackerel"

"Mackerel?" Kassedy looks about "You have a fish?"

"You'd think so, she's my cat. She normally stays at my appartment but..."

"We have rather a lot of animals around here." Frank explains.

"Oh! " Her eyes light up as she sees Mackerel and pets her "She's lovely"

Oak sighs. Another cat person

Frank drops a hand to Oak's ears and pets.

Oak wags happily

"Oak is SO your dog, dad" Siv observes "Maybe a bit of mom's too"

"I like dogs fine, but I miss my own cat" the girl sihs

"You have a cat?"

Kassedy's face grows sad "I had a cat.. I was like 6. He died"

"I'm sorry." Frank says gently "That is very hard."

"It is...but he's over the rainbow bridge now so, it's okay"

Siv looks touched and sad for the girl

but Mackerel enjoys the strokes

"Are you interested in caring for the animals we have here?" She's seen the horses, the dogs and cats....

"Oh I would love to learn" The squire offers

"Well, that's a good skill TO learn" Siv agrees

"If Siv agrees." Frank coaches.

"Please, Lady Captain?" BIG Eyes

Siv muses it over with exagerration "Well... you'll need lessons on how to behave around horses, and so on..."

"I can do it really"