#rivervale_lodge

And sure enough...there it is... the next Cavalier Magazine with the ... yes! There's a picture of white Stallion on the cover and a note 'Meet Clover, he plays chess!'

"Make sure your hands are dry" Siv warns almost sounding like one of the elders

She rubs her hands on her jeans, so they're mostly dry....

And she's back to the kitchen with the magazine, ready tot ell Siv ALL ABOUT it.

"Oh, he dresses up for the knight piece... I get it..."

and yes, she is impressed and let s Dagmar , for once, do most of the exited talking

(End Scene)

Dagmar is near the balefire reading her beloved newest edition of her magazine, well, it's the lodge's too but she's the horse lover and oh it's in her name Dagmar AND ...

And she was sponsored!

By who? Well, that's a mystery yet...

Horse Chess, a sidhe lord has horses that act as living 'Knight Pieces' for a yard sized chess game.

but apparently the horses like it...

Pity they haven't enough horses here...

And there's there's a story of Virgil, the therapy horse!

Oh what a goofy sweet guy he is, not as 'good' a bloodline as some, but autistic kids open up

Dagmar doesn't give much of a fig about bloodlines. She does like a feel-good story though!

Then there are pictures of fae steeds adapting to odd weather, like these two baffled by but adapting to, some late season snow in Minnesotta areas

"Okay, those are gorgeous" One doesn't peek OVER a troll's shoulder easily, but Dagmar wasn't standing when Nadeen did

"They are! They remind me.. they... remember the big carved sleigh? What were their names, a matched pair..."

Nadeen closes her eyes "Northwind and Farbreeze... or was it Triumph and Victory?"

At the names Triumph and Victory, for a moment, Dagmar imagines two DARK hued horses...

no.. the lighter ones were definitely Northwind and Farbreeze

"Triumph and Victory were sable. Northwind and Farbreeze were silver."

Nadeen smiles "They were.. yes.. I remember now... I'd ask you if you remembered which one was your favorite but I suspect you'd start to twitch if I made you pick favorites"

"Oh jeez.... yeah." She scootches over to make room on the couch.

She sits down and looks over, wrinkling her nose at the therapy horse 'okay that one is just goofy looking"

"But he's sweet... listen, he is steady enough for non-verbal kids to ride him, and gentle enough that they won't freak out or fall..."

"maybe, but he'd make a terrible warhorse... and look terrible in parades." Is Nadeen getting a kick out of teasing her lightly

"Sure. But horses are for more than war and parades."

"Well, I suppose some pull plows..." A smirk

"Or help children Nadeen!"

Nadeen chuckles and can't be even playfully mean anymore,she kisses Dagmar on the cheek, "Yes, or help children, you big blue softie"

Mollified. "Well, okay."

"Oh," she says "Look, I didn't think Nockers worked with animals..."

"Oh, that's pretty..."

"Yes, and the horse's blinders let off a light the horse can direct so they can do night travel... mmm horses that could see in the dark would be very useful"

"Very useful... and less scaredy cat, I think."

"For all Star and Storm are valiant, they get spooked at the funniest things..."

"Oh?" She raises a brow "like?"

"Like... the bridge over the creak? Star doesn't like the noise of her hooves on it."

"Then there was the time a plastic bag blew into the paddock..."

"Oh my word, war horses spooked by a plastic bag?" She sighs "I suppose it's good they diddn't eat it"

Connor clatters through the doorway, something cupped in his hands, but then squeaks in delight on spying the sidhe by Dagmar's side. "Deenie! You haven't been here for YEARS AND YEARS!"

"Hello, Connor" Nadeen says

He beams at Nadeen, clutching something to his chest. A bow, and he grins to Dagmar as well. "Are you here to visit Dagmar the Just? It's Just about her birthday you know. Birthdays are important, that's why I'm busy getting presents ready." Something twitches in his hands, and he jumps a bit, adjusting his grip.

A mildly concerned eyebrow.

"Be careful, little critters are delicate...."

"Oh..." He looks a little guilty as he peeks between his fingers, and then, sploot! A bullfrog slips free and makes a hopping run for it. "Oh no! My Knee deep! Come back!"