#rivervale_lodge

"How did Jessica take it, Dad?" Siv says, taking a break from trying to wrap her head around the language crash course with her mom, much as she enjoys exploring it and seeing her mom light up.

"Tensely."

Sympathetic "I'm sorry dad. She was upset you told her? "

"She was upset it happened. She was glad I told her."

"Whew. Okay. That's reasonable." She nods "You didn't tell her I got a 'feeling' did you?"

"Yes. And that you'd call her next time it happened."

She winces "I don't mind calling her. I just wish you hadn't told her I came in on a bad feeling."

"Why?"

"I don't want her feeling like I'm nore in tune, or her being a counttess might be making it so she can't hear da'an's call or whatever this is. She's not as confident as she sometimes seems, dad. She and I both have our insecurities"

"She asked."

"of course she did" A sigh

"Of course she did." Puzzled.

"I love you da, and her. Let's just say...sometimes I fear I'm the only one in the family who knows how to be indirect or evade when it's called for"

"You realize that doesn't comfort me." he askes.

"'You asked'" She echoes and smiles and shrugs "Different strokes perhaps"

A grunt.

Whether Frank has thought of the Dawn Treader or not, well... that's HIS brain to think on

(He'll get there eventually.)

"I'll get you some coffee" She says

"No thank you. It's late."

"Decaff then?" She says. Hoping her mother isn't in earshot, else the Chieftain might clutch at her noble heart

An eyebrow. "Do we have any?" Disbelief.

"Yeah, Sally Mae keeps it in the way back... Sec" She goes to get it.

"I'm not allowed to use Jo Jo for it" She adds from the kitchen

"Cider is good too...." As she goes.

Shortly after, she returns, two cups to pick from, "Your call, Decaff, just or spiced cider"

He takes the cider. "Thank you."

Siv takes a drink from the Decaff for herself "You're welcome"

Frank appears to be thinking.

Siv savors the Decaff, seeming to enjoy it .

"Kestral brought us home?"

"Yup. She's a grand ship." A nod

A grunt. "Memphis. Damn."

"She's flown farther, dad. Didn't strain the Kestrel at all"

"Still not something we want to use every day. Well, we would, but....."

"But there are dangers to her and she's a good ship not to be risked casual, I feel the same way about the Narwhal"

"Hm." Agreement. Something still doesn't fit quite right.

"We can go out and look at her rigging sometime if you're worried"

"Siv, I can go down to the boathouse anytime and see her. I have, in fact. No, that's not it."

"Okay, what's chewing at you then?" Curious

He sighs. "The Rig. I have to go back and get her."

"Oh" A hasty drink

Grunt.

"It's ah, here, dad." She finally says

"What is?"

"The Rig" She says "Take a look out the window"

Frank frown and gets up, going to the window; he has to crane and peer to see down to the parking lot.

And there is the Dawn Treader.

Frank turns and stares at Siv.

Siv is enjoying coffee.