#rivervale_lodge

"...Aye?"

"Just thinking if I could get him to her home village briefly... the area around it.." a pause "or take some pictures myself"

"That he could go from I mean"

"Ah! I can ask him."

"Oh, it's just a concept, need to make sure I can make it possible first"

"Well, getting to Norway, for one..."

"And back" A nod "Alive"

"All important!"

"You might be a bit cross with me if that last one wasn't possible"

"Aye."

"Zara, you know Earl well. How.. how'd you learn about him? I mean...boys have secrets of their own a,nd I know it's probably wrong, but sometimes Idon't like it when Bancroft has secrets and won't share with me"

"Well.... trolls are not very secretive. But... I watch him, aye?"

"mm so a bit of nosing around is..normal in a relationship? or am i a bad girlfriend if I pry?"

"Well, I pry."

"And you're not a bad girlfriend so.. that makes it okay" Whew

"I... guess?"

"Earl snoops more than I'd like, but.. I forgive? Fair's fair."

"Well, if he mehed your life you might feel insulted the other way" Siv says "But I admit to being surprised. "

"It took time to find the right balance. We each have some secrets. I likely have more."

"Likely " She sighs "maybe I'm looking for excuses. It's just you don't know Bancroft. He listens to.. well, I can ramble for hours and he listens to me. He's always there. And he's like a troll in sidhe form. He is bound to duty, a thane, and he's quiet and ... watchful. And I'm used to him having duties, or being there for me, but theree's someething he hasfor himself and I.. know that's healthy, but why is he keeping it secret?"

"Because... we need secrets. Surely, you have secret dreams - things you hold safe in your heart, precious, delicate, that even speaking of them may tarnish them?"

"well, now I feel bad." A sigh "Okay. When a sluagh tells you not to pry so much, sterotypes permitting, it's probably best not to"

"I'll be patient. " A blink 'oh my. More patient than I thought"

((oop))

"I do understand the temptation... but.. I think it's a sign of trust, nu?"

"Yes." She sighs "And he's more than earned it" a chuckle "Sometimes I'm glad soothsay can't tell my dad much about me. He'd be very happy if..well nevermind"

"Uncle Hirim used to snoop around Firnost to make sure I was okay. SO embaressing..."

"I can only imagine.. firnost, where anything goes and everyone is equal..except your young female relations. They better check in"

"Exactly."

"You know mom used to run Firnost? or close to it? And Sis was Nameless there, or Westward and ..o h you'd know about that, one of the few girls let on the rafters, you saw my 'Nameless 2' get up" Amused "I wonder if I'll ever be important to me?"

"I met Jessica at Firnost, aye. And... well, the Rafters are turf, and to be respected."

"And I know she was once freeholder there. There's a statue."

"I love that statue" she admits. "It drives mom nuts. the cheerleader statue that replaced it? Uncle Vali told me all about it"

"Firnost is a silly place."

"I would go there because it seemed exciting - the Hollow is always the same..."

"Dougal hold right? the Hollow?"

"Aye. County seat, so quite a decent court. Not many sluagh there."

"Been to a Dougal hold. Kind of stuffy but efficient? "

"Mostly, yes. There are several nocker guilds there - the workshops are loud, boisterous... a'times explosive in a literal sense..."

"Ha, well, there you go, something interesting happens ..all thanks to the nockers"

"More loud than interesting. No good secrets, it's all trade this, invention that..."

"Stuck in a mechaanically creative rut" she tsks

"I am sure they are fascinating if you are a crafter, but those secrets bore me."

"I can understand that. Sometimes I just know mom is listening to me talk about modern school drama and showing true willpower by not having her eyes glaze over. She's good mom"

"For me? sometimes mom or dad start talking about the' danger' and extra dross and ... I nod and just try not to look at the clock. i KNOW all that, but they need to tell me agian, so I listen. Dreadfully boring sometimes"

"Parents worry so."

"....it's annoying."

"So annoying. 'Now dear in ME younger days i was battling to liberate hundreds mayb thousands while arm wrestling Lovecraftian horrors that wanted to drain my soul, but you bundle up and bring warm dross'"

"Exactly!"

"I know, rite?"She throws up her hands. "I love them both so much, but nargh."