#rivervale_lodge

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It may be late August, but the morning dawns with the promise of approaching autumn in the air. Cool temperature with just a hint of crispness. The leaves on the trees are still fully green...for now...but summer seems to be entering its final act.

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Siv is pacing in her room, "Come on, Sylvi...get home so I can visit Jessica. Otherwise others will have to watch over the older wilders and grumps here and Dagmar's not ready..." Pace pace pace

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"You have no idea how much I wanted to escort you all the way from Alaska, pardon 'the 'Duchy of Salmon'. That's a less than impessive name" Olgar tells his daughter as they arrive at the lodge

Sylvi smiles. "Da-ad...it's a nice place. And it was a really amazing trip." She steps off the trod with him, her parka over her arm since Firnost. She's perhaps a little taller, has certainly gotten a lot of sun and wind, and has a new hatchet slipped through her belt. "I have a friend who wants to visit, too."

"Yeah? Mortal or Fae?"

"Welllll...." She hesitates.

Olgar looks at her, "Mind reading, not my art"

"She's a Pug'Wi." She says as if that settles it. "Oh, the garden looks nice!"

"A Pugawumpus? " He says then says "Oh yeah, the others have been working hard on it. Your mom's got this new plant I can't even pronounce..."

"Don't have to pronounce it for it to taste good," she smiles. "At least, I hope it tastes good. Anything else new?" A deep breath of Rivervale air...which, being in NJ, may not be as delightful as that of Alaska, but it's familiar. It's home.

"Oh lord, where to start.... Chief took Siv, Jaymes and Dagmar camping, not glamping. In fact, I think the term 'glamping' is banned from the hold judging by the way Brekko's face knits when it happens. So for a while we were a bit thin but Vali did with a little less girlfriend and hauled around so Frank, he and I got things done. Your mom didn't count as she's always getting things done anyway. I fought some odd chimera, helped other creatures... and Sally Mae is all cooey, think she found a guy troll she likes after all"

"'Brekko'? Really, Dad?" A wry look from his almost-fourteen-year-old, then the smile vanishes. "No more Dagmar attacks, right? No big bugs?"

"Nope, Dagmar has been safe, but then..the bug guy may have healed up during that time" Olgar says "Look, yu're getting bigger so you deserve to know ...Dagmar's still in a lot of danger even if we don't see it. Patrols have shifted to incoprate Jaymes and Dagmar's place. We don't make a fuss because we don't want to alarm Dagmar, but she's not stupid. She'll figure it out i she hasn't already. That means wheen you visit her house, you bring a weapon, okay?"

She nods. "I usually carry It-Will-Keel when I'm out, anyway. Oh, and...I need to tell you about this." She takes the hatchet from her belt and turns it a bit so he can see. It glows with Glamour.

"Huh," he looks it over "Edge on it could use some sharpening but.." His eyes narrow "It's more powerful than it lets on. Treasure to be sure..some sort of magic that... not familiar with it"

"It's not supposed to be used in battle. That's why the edge is dull. Dad...it's the Hatchet of Bury the Hatchet. Ever heard of it?"

"Only metaphorically, but it makes sense" He nods "I once saw a flag of truce treasure... it could stop a battle cold. Mind you, it didnt' stop it from heating up again"

"I don't know if this is that powerful. But it's supposed to help enemies be able to...to put grudges aside long enough to actually listen to each other for a while."

"Mmm " He sniffs "Nunnehi glamour... Rug Monster, I think this might be just what Jessica needs" A nod "Proud of you"

"I was thinking of her when Dika-Hannah and I went looking for it. How is Jessica, anyway?"

"She called her mom recently, looks like a whole squad of trolls got nailed by an ambush down there. Their commander was one Drega... Guy was running messages during the acccordance war back when he was Gerd's age. Used some treasure or glamour to flash them to the hold at Fenix...saving them all before he died. I think it put the Chief in a thoughtful mood. We lit a candle for a troll I don't think any of us have ever met. "

"The Accordance War? Wow, that's like...forever ago." Amazement. "And he was still around, fighting..." Then a sassy smirk. "There's hope for you for a while, Dad."

that gets her a head tossle, though he notes with mixed feelings of pride and nostalgia that he doens't have to reach as far down "Uh huh.... Suddenly I'm reminded of all the chores you are behind on, smart alek"

"Oh, but...uh...I have to go visit Jessica, right? Before school starts? I mean, if she needs this treasure so badly...." A winning smile.

"uh huh... you knwo the trods work both ways. She can hop up here right?"

"But...." A sigh. No use in arguing to leave again as she's just getting home. "Right. You're right." It sounds like acquiescence. Maybe.

"Sides, I think Frank's planning on using Siv's visit to her as a way to gete all his girls together" A pause "I DID just get you back, you know?"

"Siv's going?" A pang of injustice, and she bites her lip. "Maybe...you can come, too? Escort me down there? It's important, Daddy." Okay, maybe that last part was unfair.

He bends down and looks at her, "mmm. This is your mark, isn't it? Your stamp of..doing something. What, finding balefire wasnt' enough?"

A hopeful look. "Kinda? I mean...I'm not trying to be selfish, Dad, but...I got it. Dika-Hannah showed me where, and helped me a LOT..." this seems to be a massive understatement "...but I did work hard to get it, and I want to, I guess, finish the job, y'know?"

"mmmm" He looks thoughtful, "Tell you what, I'll talk to your mom about how long youll visit there and who is going with and so on... but I think we can arrange something in the name of 'Seeing it through'. JUst the delivery, understand. You are not going to hang around waiting for Peace to break out. Okay, Emissary?"

A bright smile, and she stands up even a little taller. "Yes, Rover-Dad."

"Heh" a grin

They go inside the lodge proper and he bellows out "Guess what I found...."

She puts down her backpack just inside the door and hangs up her parka on a hook. At that point, Kerri comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. "Well, it's about time!"

Sylvi smiles. "Mom!"

A few steps, and there's a warm hug in progress.

Olgar watches them hug, and feels you know, warm, fuzzy, but manly. "Seems our little girl grew a bit more while she was gone. May have to clothes shop before school starts. Won't that be fun?"

Kerri pulls back a bit and looks down at Sylvi. "He's not wrong. What did they feed you up there, magic beans?" A kiss on the forehead.

"LOTS of fish," Sylvi smiles.

"Sounds like you'll want Beef on the menu, or maybe some pasta"

"Both of which I can do," Kerri confirms. "Hungry for a snack now?"

"Yes, please." The food at StarBear was great, but she's missed her mom's cooking.

A wink from Kerri. "I'll be right back. Take your pack upstairs."

"Yes'm."

Kerri vanishes into the kitchen again, and Sylvi goes to do as she's told, a look to her dad. "Can you, um, kind of lead in to the whole hatchet-trip thing?" And she's on the way up the stairs.

"Uh huh" Amused as he watches her go, "Diplomat ready to talk to tribes, and Gwydions, but not mom.... " He smiles though and follows his wife into the kitchen