#rivervale_lodge

"She did?" He glances upstairs to where she vanished. "Uh. Why? What's Blueheart Oak?"

"A type of tree, oak, ,very strong" She gestures to the staff, "It will pack a wallop if you have to use it. And we can help teach you to fight."

A bright, excited grin. "Coll! When do I get a sword?"

"One thing at a time" Tove says "Also, you face a challenge it seems"

"What's that?"

"You seem to be...immune to chimera when you're not enchanted. That means you might not be able to pick up that staff when your'e not enchanted"

His face falls. "So. It's not wood, it's chimerical wood?"

"IT is wood, dream wood. And ..well here." She holds out her hand to take it

Adam takes it carefully.

"Okay, feel the weight of it... now hand it to me, just for a moment, you'll get it back"

He does.

Tove takes it, then ...pushes him off his chair... not a strike, but definitely it has ..."Feel that? That's real... if I hit you with it with all my might, it would 'kill' you, or break a bone... and even those the un enchanted wouldn't know why you were in a coma, or limping... the pain woudl be there. The injury there. And worse... each 'death' would drive you a bit further away from us"

"Hey!!" He hops up, fuming, young fists clenching. "What was that?!?!!? You trying to prove a point or something!?!?!?"*

"Yes. That this is real in everyway that matters" Tove says, "I'm trying to keep you from getting killed because you think that because something is made of dreams it can't hurt you"

"Here now.. did it hurt that much? I pushed, not struck but if I hurt you let me see and I'll get it tended to" Concerned look

"...Stupid cat..." She stalks back.

Wounded male teen pride. "No, it didn't hurt." To Dagmar it might look like Adam is about to attack Tove or something, but he's backing down.

"Sorry, Odin was being a pain... what's going on?"

"I was just demonstrating to him that the staff has weight in our world, and in the world when he's enchanted. " She hands the oak staff over to Adam

He takes it with out snatching.

"It's a bit small for trolls, but about Adam sized I dare say"

"Sure?"

"I was wondering, is there a good way to keep him glowing? A treasure or some dross?"

"A Treasure would do it, but it's not good for Kinain to stay enchanted all the time, they can get Dreamstruck., They're more resistant than most mortals, but still it happens"

"Right. But Sally Mae is enchanted most of the time..."

"Even her home has areas they work that the balefire doesn't reach. And she has college and mortal friends she spends time with" Tove says "Also..her family knows about these things. They look out for that. All Adam has is us." She tilts her head "Unless one of his other family members also has some fae blood"

"So... since he sees, should we give him a down-low when NOT enchanted?"

"I don't... I'm not sure how Ignorance works different with kin?"

"That would be the Chieftains' call I think" Tove says "if it were up to me... well, I would say so far he's been a fine guest to our world . But it's not. "

"I'm sorry, Adam, I'm sure this is all just... overwhelming."

Adam has been waving the staff back and forth making quiet whooshing sounds. "Well. Yeah. Yesterday and after that burrito but... it's cool, too! Knights, right?!?! Real one."

"Yeah. Like... Lord of the Rings or King Arthur...."

"I mean, we get to be heroes, don't we?"

"Or villains" Tove reminds, "It's up to us to choose but.." a cough "I should let you two have some alone time to talk teenager stuff."

Eyebrow. "Teenager stuff?"

"School and so forth..." A pause "or do I need to hang around after all?" dubious glance at 'the boy'

The boy seems pretty interested in playing with his stick.

"You don't have to, nah."

".... we could shoot hoops?"

"Have fun.." She smiles

Adam grins, still holding his staff. "Come on.... I didn't know you were a troll when you challenged me. Don't you think that gives you an unfair advantage?"

She frowns, a line creasing between her eyebrows.

"Well, I guess I didn't think about it."

"I guess nevermind."

"Nah. Hey, come on.... what's the official penalty for the WGBA?"

"...I dunno?"

"I mean, how many points would you spot me? To make it fair?"

"Is it really fair to get points for free?"

"Are we fairly matched?"

A cocky grin, challenging.