#rivervale_lodge

bzzt Like Sally mae?

After another pause: bzzt I remind you that Sally Mae was raised on the Farm.

Then: bzzt I will speak with the Mountain about this, likely later today.

Adam watches the one-sided exchange hopefully.

bzzt Ok. But he didn't choose his family, right?

bzzt Thank you

"She's gonna talk to Frank."

An additional text: bzzt Are you being pressured, Dame?

"Frank?"

bzzt Pressured? No.

bzzt It doesn't seem fair. You let me come.

"Frank is one of the big three."

bzzt We will speak on this later.

bzzt Okay

"You're -all- big....."

"I mean, the three in charge."

"Oh! So... wait. Which ones are which?"

"Frank, Kerri & Brekke."

"Frank and Brekke are married. Frank is also my dad's brother. Kerri is Sylvi's mom."

She frowns. "Is it because you aren't related?"

Shrug. "Sounds like it. So wait.... so Frank is Siv's dad. Huh." Thoughtful. "Wait, who is Sally Mae related to?"

"The DeBukes, a troll family."

"At the Lodge?"

"A different one."

"Oh." Thought "Can't be that I'm not a troll, she trusts Dirk for God's sake.....Oh. It's 'cause I'm not a fairie at all. Not Fae." Glum.

"But..."

"But neither is Sally Mae?"

"Yeah but at least she has troll family." Then he chokes out in hushed outrage. "This is racist! S'cause I'm Sidhe and not troll!"

"No! Nadeen's one..."

Glum again. "Not even really Sidhe, though..."

"No, you're kin." A frown.

"She shouldn't do that, someone oughta make her give people an honest chance. I'm not -bad- or anything!"

Sullen.

"I mean, there are. Laws against That! Well, mortal laws....."

Dagmar quietly shrinks, looking down at her knees.

Adam slumps sullenly in his seat, then glances at the other teen. "Sam? What's wrong?"

"I don't think she's racist..."

"I'm... I don't understand it. They let me in."

"I wasn't related to anybody, and I'm not.. I... I guess now, being Seelie now and being with a House and everything... but then? I.. I mean, they let me in, and Dirk too..."

"Hey, wait, right? She's the Chief, you said but... isn't there anyone, like, in charge of her? The feudal system was big on that, everything started and stopped with the king so..... so, like, who's over her?"

.... an eyebrow.

"I don't think you wanna go bitching to Count Hemlock. We can work this out with the Chief."

"Count Hemlock?" Eyes bright.

"Yeah. The next guy up. He's.... no, man, you don't wanna."

"What... who... is he?" Hushed whisper.

"The Count."

"He's... he hurts to look at!"

"Dude! Like... like a monster? Like Medusa? Stone, and shit?"

"No. Like the sun."

Adam looks puzzled.