#rivervale_lodge

"Well, lucky twenty-eight?"

"I knew a changeling who got snuffed out by the system" Hastein comments. "It's why so many run"

"Well, I just woke up. April." She studies her cocoa. "I don't wanna lose here."

"you won't" Olgar states simply

Her gaze shifts to the Rover, a hint of doubt showing through. "...Yeah."

"Yeah" he says with certainty

"Well, I ain't gonna blow it."

"Guy's not going to take you on at this late date and bale anyway" Hastein shrugs

"I mean..." She frowns now.

"Trolls won't, I guess. Duty."

"But I'm not gonna screw it up, anyways." Firmly. "I get to do it as Dagmar this time. I... I get what you mean, though. Some places, like - yeah, some places I bet were cold. I've not dealt with that too much yet."

Olgar refills her coco

"Duty? Whatever it takes. Good deal" Hastein rolls with it.

"Well, like - the Escheat says they have to stick with me, so long as I'm Dagmar. Dagda too, I guess."

Olgar grunts "It'ts not just duty with jaymes, kiddo."

She bites on her lip and nods. "Four months."

Hastein rises, waving off a second cup, "Sorry I brought it up if it's giving anyone grief, but I gotta go anyway. Good match, Dagmar. " He looks at Olgar "You're annoying as a teacher, but thanks, Olgar"

"No grief. No. Sorry."

"Good match. We can do it again?"

"Sure. I'll not fall for the same stuff twice" He says and smiles just a bit, then heads out.

"Hey, I ain't tricky. We'll see who falls!"

"You tell him, kiddo" Olgar chuckles

Once the Rover Trainee is gone, Olgar says "Punk's got potential. I'll give him that."

"He seems cool."

A grunt "Amazing how many girls seem to think so"

"What? He is."

A curious look from Olgar, then "Ok. Mostly I'm just focused on keeping him alive. With luck, he'll guard the trods around here on his patrols"

"When I get sained... " She considers. "I guess I'm not... I wouldn't be... when I get sained, how much would it cost to get lessons about trods and stuff?"

"A six pack of good beer" he says

"...oh."

"Or maybe a really good slushie. "

"...Are you making fun of me?"

"Not really, maybe yanking your chain a little, but it's not thte same thing." he grunts "Dagmar, you're of the lodge. I'm SUPPOSED to teach you stuf if you want."

"But I wouldn't be a fledge anymore."

"So? you think Frank charges me for soothsay?"

"I... yeah?"

"... I mean, I figured it was... like.. barter, maybe?"

"Yeah. Look. It may not look like it, but we keep learning even as grumps. Slower maybe, but it happens. And we look out for each other, and it works. I mean, if I make you better at say trods, then maybe one day that means you help protect a trod I'm not around for so it works out to help OUR home area. the Chief teaches me a double feint. it saves my life. She doesn't have my wife sulking because I died. Whether you consider it enlightened self interest or family, or both... we help shore each other up."

"...so, later, you can show me? I don't know if I want to be a Rover or not."

"I sort of want to be a thane, maybe. I can be one, right? I'll be almost fifteen."

"Sure. And lots of non rovers learn about trods. Some nobles, but Eshu all day..and yeah ,some thanes learn about trods to and guard the entry to them"

"I could do that! Keep the Lodge safe!"

"I think you already do some."

"Patrols... bug man before that. So on. Don't sell yourself short, Dagmar. We're trolls. We don't DO Short"

"We're tall!" A grin.

"And proud" He grins back "Now..hate to do this, but your dad wants you home? something about homework?"

"I'm going, I'm going." Good natured gruffness, and she takes her cup over to the sink - washing it and setting it aside to dry.

Olgar nods, and leaves her to it. He's got his own things to check on

At least there's no biology tonight.

(End Scene)