#rivervale_lodge

Brekke adds, "I would appreciate it if you help her learn."

Horse face in Dagmar's face. See if she blinks

An eyebrow at how quickly Dagmar deflated.

She does startle a bit.

Then the horse's eyes search the trolls. There's a challenge in that steed's gaze.

Quietly, "Let him see you, Dagmar. Be still."

She turns her face away, and stills - teh brush stopping where it was.

Her brow furrows as she watches. "Dagmar...I believe that you can learn to ride him...but he needs to know that you can face a challenge."

Jaw jut. "It's stupid. Just forget it." LIE.

It's hard for Dagmar to read the expressions in a horse's body language

Brekke might have a better chance

A sigh. "Dagmar...it is not stupid. And I am sorry. Sometimes...my humor is not successful, and it seems I step wrong with you often. I meant no harm, and I beg your forgiveness. As for Stormwake...I think he would like to know more about you. You have done well with brushing...would you please show him the edges of the property so he knows the land?" She hands Dagmar the lead on the halter. "Do not go further than a few yards into the treeline on the woods side, for now."

She flushes again, looking guilty now. "I... no.. it... " A frown. "Sorry, Chief."

She swallows, and fusses with the halter lead in her broad hands.

She shakes her head. "No apology needed. Go, while I work on the stable walls." She turns back to the makeshift shed/stable that's being erected rather quickly.

"Yes'm."

"So... you understand that, Stormwake?" She asks the horse, trying for casual, bit there's a note of nerves behind it. She wraps the lead around her hand, the re-does it.

A head bob

and he seems ready to let her guide him. But she's not sure the horse respects her... not yet.

Oh, she knows he doesn't... and it is reflected in the slope of her shoulders, and the timidity of her hold.

"Between the Lodge and the woods there's a fair amount of land. That there, that's the practice ring.... "

She escorts the horse about... he moves with a steady watchful gait, ever ready and...

well, Dagmar might get the feeling the horse is ready for an attack.

not from her, just... like a warrior learning new terrain in unfamiliar turf.

"It's pretty quiet here. Nothing's gonna hurt you."

A slight swish of the tail, a stamp of hoof. And ready to move on to the next location.

"We don't have horses around here. Can you go on a trod? Cause the DeBukes, they have lots of horses...." Leading Stormwake down the trail, towards the waterside.

A soft bob of head, an answer?

"That'd make sense. You know, the dogs are real smart too - Oak and Edie."

A huff . Perhaps not overly impressed with canines. The little ankle nippers. As a horse, he's not crazy about going where the treees get Too thick... nope, want a clear path if you're going to be able to charge the enemy.

"That there's the Kestrel - ask Siv, it's the prettiest thing in the world."

Prettier than a mare with the sun on her flanks? Impossible

"Oh, agreed. But Siv's Siv."

They circle lastly near the road area.... and then...Dagmar hears a roar of engine and someone yellilng

"I had a horse once. Well, not me - another Dagmar..." She stops and frowns at the noise.

A classic muscle car weaves to and fro like a beserk snake, somehow despite the season, it has chunks of ice slowing it, but not enough to stop it... On top of it, Siv has plunged her rapier through the roof and is trying to hold on for dear life.. on the hood, blooded near a broken window, and looking very pale is a bloody and hurt Vali who appears to be strapped to the hood by some sort of wire. And in the driver's seat... 'Fran'!

"Hang on, Vali!" Siv is yelling, but if it weren't the fact his fae mein hadn't blinked out, Dagmar might assume Vali is dead! He looks.. he's not moving save when the car tosses him in his wired net.

"What the actual..."

Stormwake whinies angrily rather than breaking in fear. He does not know what is going on but he doesn't like this thing.

"Stormwake, can you help me catch up to that car?"

Then gunfire, as Fran with a freehand, the other on the wheel, fires a very mortal gun through the roof of the car

Trying to kill SIv!

The horse twists and seems to shrink just a bit ot make it easy to mount him!

Okay, she doesn't ask again... hands on the horse's bare back, and she has the strength to mount without stirrups.

And sticks to Stormwake's bare back like a burr. A flick of the halter rein and a touch of heel.

There is no way they should be able to catch the muscle car, but the ice ... and the swerving...

And Stormwake thunders down the street, horse shoes almost sparking! gaining

Siv cries out... as she is knicked, then yells "Dagmar? You have a horse? Get Vali off the hood! He's nearly dead, Dagmar... if he died, it'l lbe my fault!" She looks for a way in

Dagmar draws Flyswatter. "This is why I need a damn spear!"

Stormwake gains closer.. closer!