#rivervale_lodge

"They are in charge," Kerri confirms, "Of the nobility. But every community, every freehold, every motley has its own power structure, and sidhe do not always see their way into those."

Tove looks thoughtful "So, perhaps we shouldn't be so welcoming to the Thane as he is Sidhe?"

"But you have to respect the ones in charge or you get in trouble."

"Years ago, I might not have been. But I have learned to grant the benefit of the doubt...and at any rate, he came from Kealan's hold, and that is a good passport in my eyes."

"Scathach. They stayed. And wear grey."

She uses a knife to loosen the cooling bread in the tins, and turns it out onto the cooling racks, each one coming out without any bits left in the tin.

Tove looks, "Huh"

"Yes. As you heard, the Chieftain and Kealan are old friends."

She nods. "Jousting! I want to try that. I had a dream about being on a horse."

"...a really, really big horse."

"Really?" Kerri nods. "There are troll-sized fae horses up at the Farmhold. We should see about you getting lessons, when possible. Though that might not be until after your saining."

Tove says "Dreams can mean a lot to us, you're wise to keep track of them"

"Do you have a journal to record your dreams, Dagmar?"

"No?"

"I've never ridden a horse. I guess you'd need special ones with how big we are..."

"I want to see the Farm. And Firnost."

"You would" Tove says "The DeBukes are good folk. I'm not sure I want to lilve That far from the sea"

"You'll see them both, but trod travel can be challenging for one who hasn't been sained yet. Give it time. Besides...you've got a house to build." A pause. "Tell you what, let's go shopping for a journal for you to use for your dreams, but you can also use a page to make a list of all the things you want to do as soon as your sained. Sound good?"

She grins. "Yeah?"

"The house is really shaping up beautifully" Tove says, "You should see it, Kerri"

She chews on a hangnail. "You.. uh.. gonna be back 'round, Tove?"

"I'll make sure to stop by soon." Then she sets about cleaning the baking tins while the others talk.

"well, if you don't mind me visiting you, Dagmar?" Tove says, a testing tone perhaps.

"I'd like it if you did."

A pause. "I don't think Jaymes meant anything.... I thought the chicken was really good.."

Tove seems humbled, "Well, he does sometimes frustrate me a bit, but, thank you. I'm glad you liked the chicken. You like spicy? I'll try to remember that"

A shy grin. "That's nice of you."

"And Tove, I think your cooking is just fine, but if you ever want some tips or ideas, let me know."

"I probably should learn how to do the meat more evenly, if you don't mind" Tove says "So thank you. "

"We'll work on that, then." Kerri nods.

Grumps. "It was plenty good."

"I'm sure it was."

tove beams at Dagmar "you are good for my ego. T hank you"

"Like you need me. But... you'll be back? Yeah?"

"Ladies, excuse me, I have a bit of work to do elsewhere." A grin, and Kerri slips out of the kitchen.

"Sure, sure.."

Tove watches Kerri go then, takes a seat "Dagmar , sometimes I worry I get in the way. you don't mind do you? I... I like Jaymes, when he's not making me crazy. And I like you. So..it seems natural, right to visit, but I don't want to overstay my welcome?"

Dag flumps on her earlier couch, limbs sprawled everywhere. "I like it when you come by. You're nice."

Tove is pleased "Thanks. I try. Means more coming from you actually."

"Yeah?"

"I mean, you've been real nice to me in particular, the whole time I've known you."

"Jaymes is pretty nice, too. Everybody is."

"True, but ... when Siv says she likes me, well, I'm pleased, but not surprised. She likes almost everyone at first. When Gerd says she likes me, I believe her, but i also wonder what she wants. When you say it? I know it's earned."

"is that silly?"

"No, I guess not."

"But sometimes I feel like a really different person here. Especially since Beltane."

"Well, no shame in finding one court more to your liking than another, we all have two sides. My own unseelie side is..well, nevermind that."

"Frank said I was probably unseelie."

"Maybe you are maybe you switched over on Beltaine. Seasons can have pull on us, but no shame in that. Olgar's Unseelie and a grand fellow, Frank is Seelie, and just as grand in his way. It's how we handle it, or so my father tells me. "

"Yeah? I guess. I just wanna... I dunno.. fit in."