#rivervale_lodge

"it was deserted property!" he protests

Dilara looks HIGHLY amused but hides most of it from the boy.

"Vacant, not abandoned, Ikenna. One might mistake you for a piskie, except you don't apologize for taking what you shouldn't have."

"A Piskie? They don't know the value of anything" He says.

"oh, so you know the other kith so well do you?" Dilara says eyes narrowing "Our mortal brethren face such comments daily.. we bound to the Rom... and they were called thieves and slaughtered. We bound to the tribes of Afrique, and they were seen as strong backs and weak minds. We bound to the Persian, to the Arabic, and our empires labeled savage... always we are the stranger in our journies, bringing the gift of stories.... but ah, you would rather join those who spurn the different rather than be the traveler? "

The boy's mouth falls open. "I..."

"Dilara, I'm sorry...perhaps Ikenna is not yet ready to be mentored." Kerri sighs.

"YEs, well, I doubt he has an interest in cyclopses and far travels. Of the hard challenge of not playing the jackal, but rather the lion... no, it is too much I fear..."

"I am no jackal" The boy gasps.

"Oh? And what has your cleverness done besides prey on those who you see as unable to stop you?" Dilara says "You know many stories, but what stories are there of YOU? Do you think they praise you as Ikenna the Illustrious? Or mayhaps, they are but short sad comments on how you cannot be trusted. How you never enter a road and it is the better for your passing? We collect and leave stories in all we do, Ikenna the ignoble, and I think you are deaf to the stories you leave in your wake."

Anne Marie whispers to Kerri softly "oh I like her. I may take notes."

A quiet nod to Anne Marie, and then Kerri says, "Dilara, do you think there might be any hope for this childling? Your words are rather bleak."

"mmm " She appraises "Do I see hope?"

"I am hopeful! I can be great!" Ikenna says, almost looking ready to cry.

Dilara says "Ignorance never breeds greatness, it only destroys what is great around it"

Sally Mae actually makes a sympathetic wince . She's faced wrathful aunts of her family, in laws ando ther wise. Not fun.

"And greatness takes work, Ikenna. It does not come simply because you believe it should."

Dilara leans down and whispers to the boy, though attentive ears might hear "I see tears forming in your eyes. There is no shame in this... but I also know the ways of the crocidile . Your story is one of a trickster, why would any believe tears from you? Your behavior threatens even the truth of your tears. Now... draw yourself up. " She then speaks "Are you willing to use your cleverness and fierceness on the hardd high roads? Or .. is it the soft road for you only?"

"I can walk any road, and I can show you. I can leave great stories. I just need a chance, take me with you and I will prove it" He says

"mmm" Dilara says "You barely know manners.."

"Please?" he says

"mmm yes, please is a good word." A nod "Go get your things. I will take you to meet my husband. he will decide for himself as well. I hope you can make a good impression."

"His belongings are at Tiffany and Vali's place, right, Sally Mae?"

"Yes, they are... " Sally Mae says.

"I'll go get them" Ikenna rushes off.

the door cloeses, and the Older Eshu laughs

"Ohhhh, you're good." Kerri gives the eshu an appreciative nod. "That's the most eager I've seen him to comply since he got here."

"Oh, I was not so different when I was a girl... I thought the world was a foe to be outwitted. It took me time to realize it's a wonder to be admired. he'll be happier if he can learn that. I was. I think my husband will take him. May we have him for at least a week? We'll keep you all posted, of course."

"A week sounds good. He was nervous before your arrival, afraid we were sending him away to a dire fate. I suggested we at least see if you get along. I don't think he suspected he might be the one needing to convince you to take him."

"If I had acted like he was some prize he would have tried to make me pay dearly... by treating him as a possible burden, he is determined to prove me wrong. Manipulative, perhaps, but I think he will be better for it." She says "Dont' worry, my husband will back my play. Mind you, when I get too clever, he gives me that 'trollbrow' thing" A sigh "Humility is learned as well as taught"

A laugh. "Husbands -- our handy touchstones."

"Oh I can't complain about mine, Bruce has been an angel this past week. I'm afraid I was beastly to him while sick" Anne Marie says

Dilara smiles, "No doubt he will forgive you. The best ones do, particularly when we spoil them now and then. "

"That can be its own fun," Kerri agrees.

"How...did you each know you'd found the right man?" Sally Mae says, then realizes she blurted. "Sorry, none of my bizness"

Kerri grins and glances at the other two women before saying, "Well, I wasn't completely sure at first, but I was certainly enjoying his company. Then suddenly we'd been enjoying each other's company for a few years, and...well, the urge to have a baby hit me hard, and I told him I'd like him to be the father. Think I terrified him at first...but then he threw himself into the 'family thing' completely. Haven't looked back since."

"Oh that's wonderful," Anne Marie says then joins in to tell Sally Mae, "For me it was.. a bit more sudden. Bruce had a reputation as this amazing surgeon even then... a boy , well, in his 20s was sentenced to an ungodly amount of jail time for drug possession. I was fighting hard to increase family vsiitis and more.. and then.. well, the young man had a medical complication... the stress. Dr. Lee came in to save him with an operation that was his only hope. One of the prison officials made a rather rude joke, with the family right there, that this had to be one that he wasn't worried about slipping up on. ..." A frown at the memory

"Oh my" Sally Mae says "What did Bruce.. uhm. Dr. Lee do?"

Kerri frowns.

"He informed the Official that if he said anything like taht again, it would be probable cause for an inquiry into the health treatment standards for the prison period and would certainly invite a costly investigation whether they passed or not. He informed the official that he was to leave the operating area while the family stayed NOW. Then he saved that young man with cool confidence... oh, the official blinked and did as he said." A smile "I.. was quite taken. But thought he'd barely pay me any attention. Then he calls me up, and says "I saw how hard you fought for that young man, if not for you, he would not have gotten the attention he needed. I would like a chance to know you better, perhaps over dinner?"" A grin "I said yes and.. oh, there was something of a whirl wind romance."

Kerri beams. "Ohhhh...I appreciate Dr. Lee so much more than I ever have, Anne Marie. That's wonderful."

Sally Mae beams "How gallant!"

"Indeed, and he is not kinaian nor kithain you say? An amazing man" Dilara agrees.

"Oh yes, nothing mere about my mortal" Proud, "But here I go on. How about you Dilara?"

"oh.. oh. my husband was an accident" Dilara says "I blew in his ear once and he started following me everywhere. Worse? I found I didn't enjoy things as much when he wasn't with me. Devious are the ways of Trolls" A smile at Kerri, "With respects, Hearth"

Sally Mae says "That's not how He tells it I bet."

"Slander, complete slander pay him no mind" Dilara insists but blushes lightly.

Kerri laughs. "Oh, yes, terribly devious in the ways of love, trolls. I'll confess it."

Dilara sighs "He proposed to me near the Taj Mahal on a moonlight night. Told me his heart was helpless on the scales of my judgment and that he hoped I would be merciful. Shameless devious man."

"Uncle said THAT?" Sally Mae says stunned.