#rivervale_lodge

"Yes."

"Okay" She says swallowing.

"Dagmar.. thinks he could just go on a youthen quest.. .ike how you and mom got a few years younger when you were out on the Sea of Ages in the Deep Dreaming. I.. tried to tell her it's not something you can control"

"You are correct."

Guilt "And..then I felt bad for not having faith in Vali, and . ..maybe destroying some of her own hopes. I don't mean to be banal"

Something curves under that beard. "I would hope not. I'm not sure you can be."

"Arguably it would hit me harder but that's not the part that worries me. Dagmar's come so far... I'm the older cousin...she's not used to good family and nwo thanks to Jaymes and the rest of us she has it. I should find a way to inspire her not.. crush the good she sees."

"Siv. Is this about Vali or Dagmar?"

"Vali.. .and ..maybe about me" sheepish "And it shouldn't be. Didn't mean to make it so."

"Why not?"

"Because his needs are a lot more important than me worrying about how good a job I'm doing as ..well, role model or whatever"

"What if he needs you to know how good a role model you are?" Her father, always a challenge.

A look. "Why would he need to know that?"

Frank shrugs.

"I don't know."

"Then why would you ask such a ..." A sigh "I love you dad. I don't always get you, but I love you." She weeds and work "Do you think Sylvi and I are right?"

Frank smiles; she can see it, even under his beard, even if it's small. She knows the tells. "To make you ask the question."

"You realize how incredibly aggrivating the Socratic method is right? I suspect it's why he was poisoned" Hey, public education taught her something!

Frank chuckles, but it's a sound she loves; a sound that means he's pleased. "Yep. Been there myself. You ready for school?"

"Nope. " She says "I'm ready for sailing, ready to visit sis, meet the Baroness Coradel again... but not school. Nope"

SHe does smile at his chuckle though. She remembers grabbing his whiskers when she was so small... and him chuckling despite her tugs.

Frank.....nods. "Okay."

"Okay.. so.. Vali how.. how would you test him? Omen?"

Frank gives her an expressive look.

"Right.. I'mm prying?"

He nods, and mulches.

And she mulches too. Working with him. Quietly.

for about five minutes.

Then "I do not see how the rest of you just ..silence."

"I know." And he works.

"FIne... Grunt nod sniff sideeye sniff grunt nod" And she continues weeding

"Siv, do you need....allergy meds?"

A GENIUNE grunt snort (He thinks he's funny)

Then a fond shoulder bump and back to working.

Mulch...

His daughter wipes her brow and then goes to work again. She's not any faster at the work for not talking.

Behind them...a figure moves quietly.

But surely.. there's nothing sinister in that?

(End scene)