#rivervale_lodge

"I believe he means it metaphorically, Sir Aidenn. They are close friends."

Gerd smiles "With you, Bro."

Gerd stiffens a bit at something said.

But keeps the smile up for Connor's sake.

"Hm. Well enough, as long as he is not leading folk to believe that I have, ah. Spread my patronage throughout these lands." A nod to the boy. "They have taught you the Escheat, and the laws of our kind, and those of mortals? Skill with magic, and mundane necessities?" Connor nods, his tail wagging just a bit now, and he proceeds to answer a series of questions from the Lord as he quizzes him on basic knowledge. What is a Fiona's crest? The main counties of Concordia? Two thirds of a quart? The Capital of Washington?

Connor is pleased now to answer these, showing off what he's been taught with ease, acing almost all the questions. "...and everyone knows that the capital of Washington is the DOUBLE-YOO." He finishes up, and demonstrates a hopscotch, followed by a zoom... zoom... ZOOM around the courtyard. Oh, when did he master quicksilver? Well, not master, it fades quickly and he stumbles over his own feet, tumbling and knocking over poor Squire Perchal.

Brekke frowns. She was about to make further introductions...but this has turned into one half of a dog-and-pony show. "Sir Aidenn...perhaps it is time for refreshment."

GERD looks very smug at Connor's quicksilver.

((apologies if I jumped the gun on intros!))

((Do we want to assume them done?))

))Dunno, think it works?))

((Actually, no, I think it's important they happen. I'll find a spot.))

Lord Aidenn: "Ah, yes, that would be appreciated."

The Squire gets to his feet, redfaced, and roughly shoves Connor off of him. "Oh, oh, sorry! I didn't mean to knock you." A bow to the sidhe, and his tail tucks a bit as he retreats to the lodge. "I'll ask Hearth for a cookie for you!" He calls back as he quickly retreats.

Her frown lessens, though, as Connor seems happy to demonstrate his knowledge. It's hard to keep frowning when Connor is happy.

"Connor, I believe the Squire is fine. Are you not, Squire?" Brekke asks...with the implication that admitting to being harmed by Connor might not look very hearty.

Gerd looks tempted to follow Connor.

"I am fine, but at our hold we know how to curb our hounds." The boy mutters, looking annoyed as he examines the dirt smudge on his previously impeccable tunic.

GLARE at the Squire.

Gerd says "Here at Rivervale we focus on minding our manners"

"Lord Aidenn, allow me to introduce the other members of the Lodge. Sir Franklyn, our Mountain and my trueheart. Dame Kerri, our Hearth, and her daughter, Sylvi, our Emissary. Dagmar, one of our Thanes. And..." She stops at the squire's lack of manners, and gives the boy a very serious LOOK.

A bit of her southern accent slips out, though to her credit she says it as calmly (if still cooly) possible.

"Gerd...please check on Connor." Brekke nods, her voice low, her eyes not leaving the Squire.

Frank nods from the back of the crowd; true, he's hard to miss even back there.

"Of course, Chieftain," she bows and moves on to find Connor.

He steps forward, his voice snapping at the boy. "Squire Perchal that is QUITE enough. You need not join us for refreshments. Perhaps you shall go to the stables and wait there, if you are going to show the manners of a beast. There may be a hose and trough should you be thirsty." A small bow to the Chieftain. "An apology, Baroness. The Squire is yet new to my employ, and should he fail to learn manners, shall not long remain in my service - nor shall I find it necessary to recommend him to any other." The apology clearly to Brekke, not to Connor.

Dagmar has armor and spurs - her house affiliation is less obvious, with the baronial tabard instead of her falcon.

A slow nod to Aidenn. "I understand, Sir...but I am not the one harmed."

A small frown, considering. "To talk back to one's host and better is unseemly, and may find him one day being judged as unworthy of receiving hospitality he or his men may need. He must learn courtesy even when dumped unceremoniously upon his rear, and to watch to whom he may direct his... sass."

"Oh, in that we are agreed, Sir. I merely note that while the squire needs to learn his manners, he has not hurt me. He has, however, hurt Connor. I expect you will direct him to apologize to the boy at some point. Now...please come in for refreshments. The squire, as you say, may wait in the stables. Dagmar, would you care to show him the way?" The subtext being that she should make sure he not mess anything up down there.

A stoic nod. She strides over to the much smaller squire and, well... LOOMS.

Within the lodge, Gerd is searching for Connor's in his usual spots

Brekke turns to lead the Ailil into the Lodge.

Oak and Edelweiss are perfectly behaved. Brown Dog may be a bit doofus-y.

Mackerel observes from an out-of-the way perch.

Perchal has quailed at the scolding from his knight, and looks defeated, though he straightens up to bow to the new knight who looms over him. "Dame Dagmar of Gwydion, I appreciate the escort." His gaze flicks after them, clearly wishing to accomany into the lodge, but he does not argue.

Connor, meanwhile, is waist-deep in the pantry. "Cookies.. cookies..." he mutters, looking for the good ones, the Fancy kind that they bring out for Guests. Probably left where Connor does not usually find them.

"It's okay, Connor... here.. these will be fine." Gerd says and helps "You okay?"

Aidenn accompanies, with polite praise of the carvings and layout of the lodge. "...not too dissimilar from one of my hunting retreats. I would be grateful of the name of your carver, as I could certainly hire for such fine work."

Connor nods and rubs at his face as he comes out, nodding to Gerd. "He's... he not very..." He shrugs, and gives her a wobbly smile. "He sure is REGAL, isn't he?"

A grunt, and she guides the squire to the stable where Stormwake reigns.

It's Kerri's turn to step up. "Sir Aidenn, what would you prefer to drink?"

"He's gorgeous, but hey.. he's also temporary. You hold on for one night" She hugs him, "and we'll be fine"

Brekke says, "Thank you, Sir. The work here is mine." She moves to fetch her own cup of coffee, unless Frank gets to it first.

Frank came in through the kitchen, nodded to Conner and Gerd there, and was pouring coffee for Brekke before she turned to it.

"Uh huh." He clings to Gerd for a moment, then straightens out her crinkled skirt. "Sorry, Didn't mean to brown up your blacks." A more solid smile as he comes out to politely offer around the cookies.

"Water, sparkling if you have it, would suffice. We may yet return tonight if the silver road agrees, and I would have a clear head. Ah, though my squire has my packs, I did bring a few bottles of cider from one of the local Orchards. Some of the finest Galas are grown in upstate, you know. Allow me to leave those as a gift."

Brekke gives Frank a grateful nod, accepts her mug of coffee, and takes it to her customary seat by the balefire. One would be hard-put to call it a "throne" or anything like that, but the impact of the sizable, solid, well-used chair is much the same.

Frank waits behind her chair, one hand on a back-pillar of the chair's frame.

Gerd follows Connor, more to let him know she's there. And she does not mind the hug at all

Kerri is off to fetch the drink. Her expression is a mask of absolute endurance.

He does accept a cookie, politely, though he does not seem very interested in eating it. His fingers rap on the arm of his chair, once only, before he realizes and stills his hand as he accepts the glass from the Hearth. Gaze traveling over the lodge with polite curiosity, returning again to watch Connor.

"The gift would be appreciated, thank you." She nods and sips her coffee. "And what news do you have from further north?"

"Thank you, Connor," she says at the offer of a cookie.