#rivervale_lodge

"Oh, they had already left!" Bix says "I didn't mention that?"

"Left. No, you had not. You mean, returned here?"

"I assume so." Bix says "I mean, they're wilders so we knew they take care of themselves. But don't worry, no harm came to your Horse. "

A nod and happy horse sound from Stormwake.

A pained look to Bix, then a sigh. "Thank you." She goes closer to the stable. "Good, Dagmar. You can finish cleaning him up?"

Brekke has taught her how to scrape the sweat out of a horse's hide after washing and before brushing.

"Yes'm!" Dagmar is also quite damp, gotten her share of hose spray.

Stormwake isn't going to break into a gallop tonight, but he's looking good.

Bix says "Oh.. there's your daughter."

Brekke's about to fish her phone out and start struggling through a text, so this pronouncement is a relief. She turns to look where Bix is pointing.

Siv comes around the corner with Sylvi.

Dagmar diligently scrapes off the sweat with the proper tool, chattering softly to the horse about how good he is, how handsome, how smart...

Siv waves "hey!"

"Siv. Sylvi." Brekke looks simultaneously relieved and concerned. "I understand you were at the Farm today?"

Stormwake seems to enjoy the attention AND the rflattery.

"Yes, Chieftain," Sylvi answers with a smile. "It was great!"

After scraping comes brushing!

"Even this ship going girl had a really good time" Siv agrees.

A grumpish eyebrow. "A very good time...doing what?"

"Oh, Mountain Emmit needed our help," Sylvi says. "He was really appreciative."

"Yeah, and he showed us so much" Siv grins.

Stormwake enjoys the brush.

"So much!" Sylvi agrees.

"Chieftain, do you need me?" Sylvi asks. "If not, I want to get back to the Lodge. I could really use a shower." She fans herself in the sweltering heat.

"Got hot and sweaty myself" Siv agreees

An odd, wide-eyed expression, but all Brekke says is, "N-no. No, go ahead, Sylvi."

"I'll leave some water for you, Siv, promise." Sylvi winks to Siv, nods hi to Bix, and heads back to the Lodge, waving, "Hey, Dagmar. Hey, Stormwake!"

Brekke watches her go, then gives her daughter a look. "What exactly were you helping Mountain Emmit with?" A brief side glance to Bix.

Bix says "Well, the horse is delivered. I better to see if Mountain Frank needs me." and unless detained, he walks off

"Hey." Brief wave, but she's working.

Siv laughs at Sylvi "Yeah but will any of it be hot water? Shoo"

Then Siv turns to her mom, "Well, we had a lot of polishing to do mom. Took both of us."

Brows up. "Polishing?"

A belated nod to Bix as he goes.

"Oh sure... " Siv says "Sometimes I'd take the sides, and Syvli would get the top... other times we'd swap... Mountain Emmit told us to do it whatever way felt natural"

Brekke winces, then takes a deep breath. "Siv. Kindly tell me what, exactly, was being polished?"

"Big Brass mirror he's working magic with..." She says "I mean, huge...see, you couldn't use cantrips on it, because that would affect the resonance ? I think that was the word. So clothes and elbow grease it was." Siv says "He's got a big ritual to try."

Siv gives a confused look, "Mom, have you been in the heat too long? You're acting a bit odd."

Brekke may, in fact, have slumped a bit against a fence post. Siv might even hear a mutter that sounds like "...to old for this..."

Dagmar has to work the tail.

After brushing, tail and hooves... a few weeks of practice, and she's feeling pretty confident!

"Great job, Dagmar" Thumbsup from Siv

A nod. "I think...I will go inside. Help Dagmar if you would, please, Siv."

Then another look to her mom, "Sure..." Concerned, "I worr about you mom... I know that when you came back from the sea of ages you got about six years younger, but sometimes you act like you gained another twelve. Not sure why. Have a sit down, rest up. I'll ask you about the ship later."

"About the ship? What about...." Then she puts up a hand. "No. Later." And the Chieftain of Rivervale Lodge turns and trudges back to the sanity of her balefire.

Siv cocks her head , and watches her mom go, then rejoins Dagmar "Do you know what's going on with mom? She's acting odd." And she helps Dagmar put supplies for the horse away.

"Dunno. I didn't notice anything?" She gives Stormwake a slap on the flank. "Okay, you're clean! Go run around!"

And he does, but with less energy than this morning. Clearly he's used a lot up today.

"Hope it went well for him. Sylvi and I left the farm earlier to go shopping , one of the reasons I was late to tell you about it. "

"Yeah? Have fun?"