#rivervale_lodge

"Ikenna the Illustrious is not to be so easily passed off!" The Eshu boy protests to Kerri and Anne Marie and Sally Mae, "You would enslave an Eshu? All because of one incident with a mode of transport that wasn't even being used?"

Anne Marie says "Selling tickets for a 'tour' of Frank's truck is not an incident that is safe."

"And Caspian's mama is an Eshu, she's not going to 'enslave' anyone" Sally Mae says

Kerri's arms are folded as she looks down at the boy. She's heard plaintive arguments before. One look at her face should tell the boy that this one ain't gonna work.

"I would like a new jury, and better lawyers" The boy says

"I'm not entirely sure you're properly respecting the horror of the word 'enslave' when you use it that way."

The worse thing is he is adorable in his audacity. "Well, perhaps not, but I am young."

"Yes. Let us help you ensure that you survive to be older."

"why can't i just wander free without supervision through this wonderful land of Bergen? Is the... Count... Kithist? Against Eshu?"

A whisper.

"Because you are a childling, and eshu have mentors too. We know one willing to take you in... and you can get an education AND wander" Anne Marie says

"Or do you think an eshu who might mentor you couldn't possibly be a true wanderer?"

"See, you seek even to control my thoughts! Oh tyranny" the boy says miming pulling at his hair, "Listen to the stories of my lamentations, O children of the Desert."

"You're from the Bahamas," Sally Mae says "Somehow I don't think you've ever seen a camel in your life"

"Ikenna, I don't understand," Kerri says. "You don't like us. Why are you fighting going to a place where you might find you like your mentor better?"

"I.... I never said I didn't like you, I only said you were oppressors" He says "Hardly the same"

Anne Marie says "it's okay to be scared, Ikenna. Even Eshu can be worried about the unknown"

The boy fusses "Scared? Afraid? I? Ikenna the Illustrious? Ha! It is to laugh"

"How about this: one of us takes you to meet your potential mentor, and you see what you think. We certainly wouldn't simply ship you away to somebody that was a bad fit."

"I would hope not. Even though Tiffany, the fuzzy one, has threatened to launch me into the sun"

"I would think you'd jump at the adventure of it all. Now, which of us shall take you to meet her? You choose."

"I choose..." He looks about "oh what a pity, Siv is not here."

There is a knock on the door.

"Excuse me..." Kerri goes to answer the door, pulling it open.

Oh despite the fact that Caspian is big and broad shouldered for an Eshu, one can see a resemblence between he and this lady, though she is instead slender . The woman is a grump in seeming only, an easy smile, eyes twinkling with stars that never stopped reflecting in them. Her garment seems a mix of various locales and culture, "Pardon me. I'm Dilara DeBuke. A thousand blessings on your home, but I was told there was a boy here in need of guidance? "

"Oh! Welcome, Dilara. I'm Kerri, Hearth of this Lodge. We were just about to bring Ikenna to you, but I'm glad you've decided to join us. Please come in." She gestures for the woman to enter.

"It seems my kith's gift for being where the story is has not deserted me" She wipes her feet, then comes in and looks about "Goodness, it's the farm all over again. I used to think I was tall" A smile "Then I fell in love with a troll. Ah, but that story will have me going all day. Sally Mae! How are you?"

Sally Mae says "Better now that you're here," And gives her aunt a hug.

Kerri smiles. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"Anything with a drop of honey would be welcome" Dilara says "And thank you, Hearth."

"My pleasure. Just a moment." And she vanishes into the kitchen.

Anne Marie says "Ah, Dilara , so good to meet you in person" Clearly they've talked on the phone "I must again apologize for not being available this week"

It's only a little while before Kerri returns with a pot of lemongrass tea, a cup and saucer, a little container of honey with a dipper, and a plate of pastries, all on a platter which she sets on a table. She pours the tea for Dilara. "Was the trod clear on the way?"

"Yes, your husband says he would prefer no mushrooms in his dinner tonight. Apparently he had a battle with chimerical fungi men ?" Dilara says.

"A messenger? You're leaving me in the hands of a messenger?" Ikenna says dubious

"Again? Well...as long as he's home for dinner, I'm fine with that. Dilara, I'd like you to meet Ikenna. Ikenna, this is Dilara DeBuke."

And she folds her arms again as Ikenna gets mouthy. "What gives you the idea that she's a messenger, and what makes a messenger unworthy of you?"

"Oh, I have played the messanger," Dilara says as if it was no big thing, "I have carried word of secret doings to those who fight for freedom past the angry eyes of dictators having to make sure they saw me not. I have passed notes between the star crossed and peacemakers alike. And then there was the great Cyclops who .. oh but I will bore you all with my talk of time as a messenger"

Ikenna gapes "Wait... what about the Cyclops?"

He seems to have forgotten Kerri's admonishment

Kerri contains a smile.

And she shares an amused glance with Sally Mae and Ann Marie.

Anne Marie does the same an exchanges a look back. Sally Mae doesn't look surprised.

Dilara says "Oh perhaps later on the road, if I decide I need an apprentice. " A look at the other ladies "The boy is, I hear, likely as unseelie as the Autumn road?"

"Well, he is certainly uncomfortable in this largely seelie Lodge. I'm not certain, of course...and these things change."

"I am free" The boy says "And not for the taking."

"Sure likes 'taking' others for all their worth though" Sally Mae mutters "Aunt Dilara, the boy's a natural born con artist by nature"

"And he's more than a bit happy to lay the blame on others when it should be his," Kerri adds.

"But..." she adds "...he is full of energy and creativity."

"Stole a lemonade stand and moved it to a new location to profit" Sally Mae says.