#rivervale_lodge

"They'd been doing fosters for years, you're the first they adopted."

"Well, I am exceptional" A smile

A frown. 'Yes?"

"But yes, I've..grown fond. Isn't that odd?"

"You are." Forehead-kiss.

A light blush

"I mean, you can't swear oaths of love - but that doesn't mean you are made of ice. It's good, it gives you strength and peace."

"Is there any chance the... ones who helped.... might be using the same process to traffick them?"

'Well, don't tell the other Varich that. I can't afford to be seen as weak"

"I won't breathe a word of it."

"Might have...." Jessica can certainly hear that frown. A pause.

"Thank you" A whisper and .. just a bit of a twinkle in the eye

The Chieftain turns away from the phone. "Ladies... I need some privacy. Briefly."

"Yes Chief." She takes Nadeen's hand, to go to the kitchen.

"Of course, Chieftain" And Nadeen heads to the kitchen

"My thanks." And she waits for them to go.

Into the phone. "You think...he is doing this?"

"I don't know. But the question was raised and I thought I should ask."

A long pause.

"I will have to speak to others about this." Jessica knows the "others" will start with her father.

(Kitchen ) Nadeen has gotten a glass.

"What are you getting?"

"Well, we... I was thinking of using this to listen for termites" Lie.

"I understand. Let me know?"

She sighs "Nevermind" And puts the glass back

"Yes."

"Jessica...."

"Yes?"

A pause.

Whatever she was about to say, it comes out as: "....I will speak with you soon. Be safe."

That earns a kiss.

Brekke hangs up as the conversation ends. She stares at the phone a long moment.

A kiss, "Bribing me into good behavior , eh? I'll take it" Nadeen says

Then she turns on her heel and heads for the door. Another patrol. Perhaps the door slams just a bit too loudly.

Then Nadeen hears the door and frowns "I hope the Baroness is okay"

"Yeah, some things are complicated..."

Nadeen looks thoughtful

"Trolls... I mean, we feel stuff, but don't always say it?"

"Unless it's Siv."

"oh yeah, Siv's off"

"Siv's herself."

"Dad and I have a system. Tove likes to talk, though."

"Your mom isn't that chatty until compared to you and your dad" A smile , then a sigh "If I had your mom's voice on top of sidhe beauty, I'd rival the Sparrow herself."

"You have no rivals."

"Ffft," A soft shake of her head. "you are biased"

"Shamelessly." wolf-grin.

Oh, that grin demands a kiss

"See?"

"I see a lot" A stroke of Varich fingers on troll cheek, "Mostly in your eyes"

Purple. But her amber eyes are as warm as summer honey.