#rivervale_lodge

"Not anymore,we got busted because of Biffy the wonderkinian here" Ruby says

"RUBY" Olgi fusses, then she bows "We're very sorry, Dame. It's just.. we got so bored on the farm and we asked for a quest... and we got one.. and we blew that one.. an now we blew this one.."

A frown. "His name is Adam, and you will address him with the respect due one who has protected this Barony with his blood and sweat."

Ruby winces, then turns "I'm sorry, Adam."

And she seems contrite

Olgi blinks "Wait, " She looks at Adam, "you the mortal who fought the lindnorm? Wow"

A shrug. "No big."

Kerri nods. "He is that mortal, yes."

Ruby says "Well on the farm they don't think it's no big now I'm rEALLY sorry I mouthed off"

"Well...now you have interrupted my work and ruined my spices." She nods to the container in Adam's hand.

"The only replacement is at Teaneck. I cannot go there on my own right now. You must go in my stead." She turns and starts to write on the letter.

"At least it's in the same state" Ruby mutters

"Mrs. Davidson, I should get going. Finish patrol before work."

"Absolutely, Adam. Thank you for your watchful eyes and quick action. You may set that down on the counter."

Olgi says "Uhm.. Adam, could I have..err.. your autograph?"

Ruby blinks "Olgi, don't embarrass us"

"He's a mortal hero... those are rare" Olgi says back quietly

She finishes writing the note and folds up the letter. "Deliver this ONLY to the first boggan you are able to speak to at Teaneck. He or she should be able to send you in the right direction to find a replacement."

Adam sets the shaker down as requested. "I think you should finish your quest before autographs."

Ruby takes the letter "Yes, Hearth Kerri"

Olgi says "yes, Hero Adam" Blushing

"M'not a hero." He corrects uncomfortably. "That's not even a title or anything. Thank you, Mrs. Davidson." He nods to the girls, and walks off towards the parking lot.

Kerri grins just a bit, then nods. "Go, then. I'm cooking. Oh...take sustenance." She nods at the cookie plate.

"You too, Adam."

She makes sure Adam takes a cookie with him when he goes.

"I'm.. not worthy of substance, Hearth" Olgi hangs her head.

Ruby takes two "She'll snap out of htis later and I'll give her this extra. Thank you, Hearth"

"Good. Go quickly."

And they race out!

"Towards adventure!" The clurichaun says

"And the undoing of our shame" Olgi chases after

Kerri finally lets herself smile after they vanish, and goes back to preparing stew...and it turns out there's plenty of seasoning left in the jar.

Young questors are adorable

They are cute. 🙂

And sure enough, Tiffany comes in "Hearthest with the Worthest? is.. there a reason I saw two kids charging for the Nesstea trod?"

"Hello, Tiffany. And yes...it's something of a prank in progress. They're two Farmhold kids who wanted to Quest, so they're being passed around like hot potatoes, sent to chase their own tails at every stop. So Teaneck gets them next."

"A prank? And there are no pooka involved? I'm gonna have to call the union" Offended

well, faux offended

"Had you been here, I'd have asked for your guidance. As it was...I had to punt."

"Bah, ,but to punish you... i'm going to use you for that thing you suck at, asking you for life advice. I know how no one has ever done that before"

A chuckle. "I'm just a hack. But I'll give it my best shot. Want anything to eat or drink?" She gestures for Tiffany to help herself while she resumes chopping vegetables and adding them to the stew.

Tiffany says "Actually, that's the ah... thing... see, I've been a lot of things... Commando, Rescue Dog... Miss Arf 2014.... and now I've got this rotten snotgoblin I love like a little sister.. and , well, the troll guy who shakes my boots is.. shall we say okay? But .. I cook like a Gunnery Sgt."

"Ahhhh....you're hoping for some cooking lessons?"

A blush "I know, it's... look, your husband is like this die haard neanderthal, but you tell me, is it... i mean, I' never saw myself as Betty Cocker ... am I wetting on Auntie B Anthony's ashes wanting to ... well, learn this? to make them a bit happy? " She lowers her voice "Vali cooks.. and people make comments"

Kerri looks a bit puzzled. "Are you asking....you're worried you're going to lose your bad-ass credit if you learn to cook?" A snicker. "Watch The Godfather if you want to see some badasses who respect one of their own who knows how to cook."

Her tail wags "ooo the Dog father.. yeah I guess.. and that cute guy on Beverage...the hacker, the hitter, the thief the candlestickmaker..." A relieved look, "I dont' want you to think I'm slamming you. " BIT worried there, "It's just... I thought I might come in and admit I don't know if I can get any good at this. But folks are like 'what, HE cooks? You poor thing' and ..sometimes I kind of want to repay the favor orally?"

"Well, here's what I'm thinking....let's get you started with some basics, and then see where you want to go from there. Right now, I'm working on a stew...care to help, and we can talk about what kinds of things you'd like to learn to cook?"

"Roger dogger that" She says

Kerri offers out a wooden spoon and gestures the pooka to the stew pot.

And soon learns how aboslutely terrible this poor woman is at cooking.