#rivervale_lodge

Clem's eyes flicker with green energies, and there is the smell of opening flowerbuds as she rubs at the mangled silver hand. Brekke can feel a surge of spring magic, and stares as half stump of an index finger grows to it's former silver glory. "Give it a flex, if you would, Brekke"

Brekke focuses, trying to move the digit. It should feel natural, but it's more like natural-once-removed...and she remembers learning how to move the silver hand when it was first hers.

It flexes, well, jumps a bit more than the slow flex sshe was going for, but it is responding

"Mmph." She tries again, frowning. "I will need practice...but this is a clear improvement. Thank you, Chieftain."

"mm" Clem says eyeing it.

"Your'e welcome, still tempted to do a massive surge attempt but... that could end up with six or 7 fingers on the same hand if I mess it up. Truth is, I'm better with flesh"

"Ah. I would prefer not to be monstrous, yes. Should I add heather balms to it?"

Lucjan & Lauge, the ten year old twin trolls storm in! "We have to take up the slack." "Well, I'll take up more slack than you do!" "Will not." "Will so..sides, she might need more things carried"

"I don't think so, Chief, spring seems to be more .." She turns to see the boys

A bemused look at the boys. For a moment, they seem so much like Lut and Tig at just a bit older than that.

"Boys, what are you up to?"

They turn, then gasp "Chief!" they ssay togehter, then begin to babble "You got your hand back..." "Most of your hand back... " "Who took it?" "Are you okay? "How'd you get back here so fast?" "Do you need us to lift anything still?"

They are SO eager to serve

A blink, and then a realization. "Ah. It has happened already," she mutters briefly, and then she raises her partially restored silver hand. "Chieftain Clem is doing a fine job. However, you may refresh my coffee if you wish, and provide Chieftain Clem with whatever food or drink she prefers."

"Mountain Dew if it's no trouble, there" Clem says

"I'll get the Dew" Lauge insists and races towards the kitchen.

"I'll refresh the coffee!" Lucjan says as seriously as if he were saying 'and my axe' and proceeds to do so.

Clem whispers to the Chief, "They're adorable"

"They are earnest," Brekke replies, nodding.

"That too" She says "Thank you, Lauge" She says hoping she guessed the right one as she's handed a cold mountain dew.

And Brekke's coffee is refreshed

"My thanks, Lucjan." Brekke accepts the mug with a dignified nod.

A dignified nod back "You're welcome, Chief" Then "How DID you get back so fast?"

"It is complicated. What have you heard of the incident?"

"Or did you see it for yourselves?"

"We saw you without your hand" Lauge says "Out on the farkskirts of the barony"

Eyebrow. "The farkskirts."

"You didn't have any silver at all, and there was dried blooood" Lucjan says, "We called to you, and you just looked sad, then told us we should to back to the lodge and not be in that area for a bit"

"Yeah, the borders," The boy says "The Farkskirts"

"Mm. Was there anyone else there?"

They shake their heads nope.

"I see." A pause. "Boys, have you practiced your sparring today?"

"Not today Chieftain," LucJan says

"But we arm wrestled," Lauge says

Then both boys sigh and say at the same time "We tied"

Brekke nods understanding. "A tie is an honorable outcome. But so is victory when the fight is fair. Go and practice."

"Honor and victory!" One says as they start to rush out

"Victory and honor!" Says the other

and they've gone to spar

"How do you tell them apart? I was just guessing" Clem admits

"Either I have been very lucky, or they have been kind in not correcting me."

"you realize that I am three kinds of curious on why the saw two of you or so it seems? Flicker flash ain't one of your abilities that I know of"

"It is not." A sigh. "They were not supposed to see that, and the fact that they did is concerning me." A speculative look at Clem. "Perhaps you can help in this. But it is not to be repeated. Siv has helped create a deception to protect Dirk's reputation against others of his kith who were planning to challenge him."

Clem frowns, "Redcaps.. I try not to be tolerant to any kith but... I do not think I will ever understand redcaps... How can I help?"

"Reinforce the deception. If asked, say that you were helping me, and that my hand will take further time to heal."

Clem nods "Some truth to that as is."

"Ah, and if asked, say that I lost a fight to a redcap." She sighs. "I am not sure how many more will hear about this. We were hoping it would be the redcaps alone and reduced to unfounded rumor. If I need to defend Dirk from others who seek to see him banished for this, it will become further complicated."

"Farmhold has an edge , if you don't mind me saying, in that we're isolated save by trod. Less worry about the Joneses getting nickers in a twist. Not that that may remain long" An annoyed look at something

She notes the look. "A problem?"

"Several.. Personal and hold wise. Hold wise, we've got a new trod, don't know where it goes, Mountain suggested we let Earl and Zara scope it out..see where it goes. And they will. She does love a good adventure. Somehow I know she's come back with a new book or tea cup. What troubles me about it is what it means for us... if it opens clear and easy to some noble hold or near one, that's one more thing to be paranoid about."