#rivervale_lodge

"No emergency. Vali's looking for you."

"Oh well, I don't know how she snuck up on me but she did"

"Ah." Some relief at that, and she exits the Lodge. "Vali? You are well?"

"Well, except for the flamingo massacre. Tiffany is being really FUSSY about our future home," He shakes his head, "I thought an ex army gal would be used to settling pretty much anywhere"

Frank rubs his beard.

Brekke blinks. "Well, flamingos are...clearly threatening...?" she ventures.

"Pick a T-Rex clean in 15 seconds." Frank observes.

A bemused look at Frank. "I see."

"Sorry, plastic pink lawn flamingos" THough he chuckles at Frank's deadpan delivery

"Mm. Far more offensive."

"Yeah. Well.. ah, Chieftain, did you want to talk about the vision I had for you? or the quest I requested? If you have time for either?"

"Of course, Vali. Let us speak. Where would you prefer?"

"Give you some privacy?" He offers.

"Well, the vision should be private, the quest we can talk the three of us if you guys want."

A brief frown, but then a nod. "As you say," she says to Vali, then a grateful look to Frank as he offers privacy.

Frank nods, and goes inside, bringing his duffle with him.

Brekke watches him go, then turns back to the newer grump. "Now. A vision."

"Mozel Tov" The Beaumayn says

She blinks. "What?"

"Teasing." he says "You guys really ought to just sell that acorn. or regift it ... "

Brekke colors slightly. "Well...perhaps it will become a wedding gift at some point..."

HIS turn to blush "Touche .. anyway... my vision for you? I saw two paths... one lead to..death under a dragon's shadow but oddly, I don't think either of us are surprised that's a possilbity. The other path..well, that's good news"

She frowns and nods. "Yes...I...I see that possibility clearly as well. If it happens, I hope my life would be taken at great cost to the beast." A pause...then a deep inhale, redirecting her thoughts. "Good news?"

"I hope so too... I saw the forest near Rivervale...autumn world and near dreaming alike. The trees grew taller, and in number Chieftain...teeming with life of the wild."

She looks intently at him. "Vali...does the second vision depend on the first?"

"And in the distance, between two of the oldest largest trees that had locked limbs... I saw the banner of Rivervale. It was still fluttering"

A hopeful look at that, then she looks down. A nod. "Good, that." Her voice sounds somewhat rough.

"Chieftain, I think if you end the dragon, If we end it, if..anyone ends it, it holds prosperity in its reward... but to get back to that 'do you need to DIE' for this to happen? No. I do not believe the message is 'you must die so RIvervale might live'. Wow... you took that to a darkpath and this was the GOOD Vision"

She looks up, and seems amused by him. "Rivervale lives. It does not fall. It would be a good vision, either way."

"ANd this is why I'm probably not Chief material" He says "But I did a little studying. Dragons , well, the wicked dragons, are poison upon the land... and yet, when they die... in some stories, yes they poison things even in death, but in a few...they return what they've stolen. Now, Skallstyrke has destroyed innumerable lodges over the centuries. If even a fraction of what he took is returned... well, I leave it to you and Frank to suss what that might mean, he's the mountain. And yes YOU can share the vision with him, I'm not sure I can. It's..tempting fate if I take the gift for granted that way"

"Understood," she nods. "And Vali, you are right. The destruction of Skallstryke promises huge benefit to many. We must see to it." A sigh and she shifts, loosening her shoulders a bit. "Thank you. Shall I get Frank so we may speak of other matters?"

"Vali you are right" He sighs "Wow I love that sound" then he winks "Thank you. ANd surely, I value his council on many things"

"Come inside, then, and we will speak together." She opens the door and leads him in...and gets that cup of coffee that she'd abandoned before.

Vali goes in and pours himself a cup as well, not as sugared as before though not as straight as some still

Frank has a glass of what appears to be cider.

Brekke gives Frank a brief grin and a nod, and she goes to settle in her regular chair by the fire.

He settles in on the floor at her feet, as usual.

"Now, for my boon, I asked to seek out a dragon bane weapon. Chief, is there one you want me to get in particular?"

She automatically rests her free hand on one of his horns, a familiar posture for the two of them.

"Well...Speaker told me of several weapons that are dragon-bane. One of them, Gram...Speaker said that it is the 'slayer of Fafnir'...a wyrm related to Skallsryke. It may be wise to seek that one."

"Gram.." He says with a surprised look on his face, "That would.. be an honor to return to the waking world"

Perhaps not so much surprised as a bit awed.

"You know of Gram? It would be a mighty quest, Vali."

Dag tromps in, her hair up in dutch braids and still in her basketball clothes.

Brekke looks up and nods at Dagmar. "Good afternoon, Dame."

"All decked with gold and gleaming bright, in some tales it has a dragon emblazoned upon it. It has other names... Grandpa had me read a few tales."

Brekke grins and nods at Vali. "Vegard would have, yes."

Vali nods to Dagmar "Don't let stormwake fool you. He's not maltreated. I gave him an apple slice earlier"

"Hey Chief. Frank, Vali..."

"And Stormwake lies."