#rivervale_lodge

The door opens. It's ..Gerd "Adam?"

"Hey. Is, uh, is the Mountain around? Mr. King?"

"Not sure," She says "I was in the kitchen but Edelwiess told me..well, she barked.. come in ... You're a Crash of the Storm, or is it clash? "

"Crash."

And yes, his arm-ring is on.

""Mountain..." She says "Sorry to bother you, Sir Frank, but I think Adam needs your help"

While she waits for Frank to respond from his studies, she looks at Adam, "Sit down, maybe he'll be here in a moment. Need a drink?"

Frank looks up. "Hmm?" He stands and comes to the door. "Yes, Adam?"

"Uh, Mr. King....do you have, like.... a history book? About the Fae? I mean, one I can use. Borrow? To read?"

Frank lifts an eyebrow. "I do. What sort of history are you looking for?"

"Nothing too hard, but... something.... like.... like an overview?"

"Hmmm....." Frank rumbles, and goes to his bookshelves (which have expanded over the years).

He pursues the titles.

"History?" Gerd gets Frank a coffee

"Yeah, Fae history." Adam answers.

She gets Adam his favorite drink "Well, you came to the right guy The Mountain has all the lore"

"Hmphm. How about this?" Frank brings Adam a book. Gerd would recognize it as... well.... for childlings.

Gerd does not mock. Got to s tart somewhere

Adam flips through it; the work is around a 5th grade level, if Fae trucked with such nonsense. He nods. "This looks good, for now. Can I borrow it?"

Frank nods. "Certainly. Take care of it, please."

"I will." Adam assures him, standing.

"Hey, Adam, whatever you're working on, need help or something?" Gerd asks

"No, thanks." He pulls his nose out of the book, probably an uncommon sight as he rarely has his nose IN a book. "Just, uh, you know. Boning up on stuff."

"No problem" Gerd says

"Thanks, Mr. King. Uh, Mountain. Thanks."

"My pleasure, Adam."

"Mountain?" Gerd says "I was going to travel today . Want me to drop off a letter to one of your daughters? or both?"

"Can you wait while I write?"

"Sure!" She says

Frank nods to her, then asks. "Adam, is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, Mountain. Thanks again. Uh. I'll.... just head out. Cool. Thanks." And he turns to go.

"Hey Adam," Gerd says "Congrats again on your Crash of Storm recognition. "

"Thanks. And, you too on the Hearth thing." And he departs.

Gerd turns to Frank "What do you think that's about? "

Frank glances out the window, watching the boy walk away.

"Not sure. Could be he's just filling in gaps he feels he has. Maybe what he saw on Beltaine motivated him to learn more about us?"

"Maybe" Gerd nods "Beltaine was great, well, one hitch, but it turned out great. Saw Zane earlier. He's wearing that token proud and loud. "

His beard moves. "I'm glad."

"I'll keep up with him, and Symon. Touch base occasionally."

He looks out the window again. "Might mention the idea to Brekke."

"Yeah, Adam could use some direction now and then... " She pauses "Oh crud By the rules of Karma, the Hearth is going to put me to task now and then too huh?"

"It would not surprise me."

"I prefer cosmic laws when they do not increase my work load" She says honestly but with an odd sense of resignation. "Let me know when those letters are ready"

Frank grunts, and goes to his desk to write; quick messages, but handwritten, personal. Within half an hour, they are sealed and ready to go.

Gerd takes them "Got em. Later, Mountain"

"Thank you, Gerd."

And Frank pulls on a coat and shoes, heading out on patrol.

And Gerd slips through a door