#rivervale_lodge

Frank does not.

"Sir Truthbranch the younger is ... a fine example of his House."

"And you are sometimes very diplomatic" He approves

"Okay. I'll leave Bancroft alone. Besides, last I heard she still sees Kelly too. Kestrel pooka. " A shrug "I hate to say this, but Siv seems to like boys and for the most part they like her"

"Vali." very quietly.

"Okay okay Sorry. Not helping am I?"

"No."

A sigh then "Okay, let's try this. She loves you and her mom very much, and I suspect she has some ethical walls more firmly in place than she wants to admit."

"I hope so."

"I know so. She's still a King. "

Frank nods slowly.

"And she totally covets her parents' ship" Amused shake "Between Dagmr whooping up high, and Siv behind the wheel like she was turning across cape horn , I thought those two might declare a desire to go pirating then and there."

"They can declare the desire all they want."

"The point is, they had a good time. Maybe they'll enjoy sailing on the water just as much when you and Jaymes take them boating on the lake"

Frank gives him an eloquent eyebrow, silently asking 'What are the odds?'

A shrug and he rubs at his neck, despite his change in demeanor, he does seem tense lately.

After several beats of silence, Frank asks awkwardly. "You and Tiffany... getting along well?"

"when we see each other, which isn't often. She's got her duties, I've got mine. Trods still take a little time." Then "Also, nnot sure...how serious it is, you know? I find myself wanting something stable, and she's been great, but when I bring up the 'where are we in this' talk the subject gets turned to something else. So I don't press"

"She's a pooka. Maybe she can't help but turn the conversation."

"Aside from what she says, or doesn't, what does she -do-?"

"She's a guard at New Agengard. In her mortal life, she was in demolitions removal and retrieval as a soldier in the armed forces. "

"No." Patiently. "In your relationship. She might not -say- anything about 'where you are in this' but what does she -do-?"

"When I was sick with a fever, she...didn't leave. She wiped my brow, tended to things, and when I started to get better poked and proded me to get more so. When I tell a joke, she laughs or jokes back, or sometimes makes a nose face if it's a stinker, but she pays attention. She stole one of my favorite shirts. I let her, it looks better hanging around her than on me. I wont' go into details, but there's something about a woman wearing a shirt that's long enough on her to reach to her thighs. She asks me how I'm doing, and when I start to feel sorry for myself gives me some 'there theres' and 'poor deer' and if I push it she threatens to bite me. I THINK she's joking on that last. She calls me up when she's in trouble or worried, and I tell her it will be okay. "

Frank nods slowly, watching to see if Vali is as dumb as Jaymes. Or himself.

A look "Frank, I know we're well beyond causal lovers... it's just she shies away when I give a voice to it. What do you think I am ? Jaymes?"

A puff of amusement. "No. Pooka can't speak straight. Maybe she's trying to... steer clear of that."

"I worry I'll spook her. I do no want to lose this." A thought "But at the same time. mm"

Frank shrugs. "We're trolls, Vali. You might decide you can be happy not talking it through, but rather accept the gifts you've been given."

"So stare at her with stoic love?" Wry

"If that works for you." He agrees. "Just be glad for what you have that's good."

A nod "I guess "

"I spent a lot of time early-on agonizing over .... well, it doesn't matter. But all that energy could have been better spent."

A smile at that, "You know. I think I'll try to take your experience into consideration jjust to break the trend. I at least, am not a teenage girl"

"You know, if I were you, I'd make a crack out of that." Not without humor.

"Thank goodness you're on a higher plane" A smile

"Only sometimes, Vali. Only occasionally."

And they heads on back to the Lodge

------

(Later)

"Chieftain, do you have a minute?" Vali says

"Mm?" Brekke sits before the Balefire with a mug of coffee. The room is otherwise empty, for the moment. "Yes, Vali?"

"I wanted to talk to you privately for a bit ...about the impromptu visit to New Agengard?"

She looks at him quietly for a moment, then indicates the room with a nod. "Will here and now suffice?"

"I suppose it would." He says and takes a seat after making sure no puppies are about

Brekke nods and waits for him to begin.

"Okay. Tiffany , my girlfriend, isa pooka, so maybe I lost something in the translation but." A deep breath "Did you actually threaten the Countess in her own hold?"

A blink, and a pause. "Tiffany claims I did so? Or does the Countess?"

"Tiffany LIKES AKanthea, and she was there when you apparently threatened the Countess "

Ack, Flee the Dread Sovereign

A thinking pause. "Vali...I will answer your question, but first I have a question for you. I know that you have visions that come to you whether you will them or not. But...I believe that for the Countess, glimpsing the Da'an of another must be an intentional act. Do I have that correct?"