#rivervale_lodge

For anyone coming to the lodge, there is Sally Mae...and Gerd.

"Thanks, Sally Mae. I know it's weird, but I think learning to cook has become a kind of therapy on top of everything" Gerd says

"Hardly weird at all. Gives you POWER over the food and yourself i imagine." Sally Mae says

Frank enters the kitchen carrying a couple of canvas grocery sacks.

"PUt it right there, Mountain, and thank you" Sally Mae directs to the counter

"Welcome. Cleaned the stuff off and switched to bag I know are safe." He sets them down.

"Gerd." A nod.

"Hi, Mountain" Gerd says

"All is well?"

"Well, word is out about the passage to TJ... Troubadours are apparently having a contest or auditions in Jessica's place. One came through here"

A grunt. "Olgar on it?"

"I think so..not sure. Dagmar escorted the Troubadour" Gerd says

"Hmph."

"Oh come on, Mountain. Don't you LIKE being able to visit Jessica quick if you need to? Without me flickerflashing?"

"Very much. Although I respect her independence. But the trod has to be guarded, secured."

"Well, it's guarded on her end. Redcaps" She says

He nods. "I'll speak with the Chieftess."

Sally Mae says "Uhm.. Mountain?"

"Yes?"

"Well, Uncle Emmit might be able to put up some wards on the door if you and the hearth and the Chief wanted"

"I'll ask them."

Sally mae nods "Remind him to take off the magic that causes nobles to itch"

An eyebrow. "I will."

Gerd eyes Sally Mae "Is this DeBuke humor or does he really do that?"

"Can't it be both?" Sally Mae says putting groceries where Kerri would like

"Is the Chieftess here?"

"Nope. She's on an extra long patrol tonight . I made sure she took a knapsack with food"

The TJ-trod door flares with glamour.

Frank is moving towards the flare instantly.

And Gerd goes out with him

Dagmar emerges, with a care package.

"Oh, hey."

Frank relaxes. "Hello Dagmar."

"Fenix sent food, Jessica says hi and that she's doing well."

Frank's beard moves. "Good to hear."

"Come in." He moves out of the way and leads them back towards the kitchen.

Gerd says "Hey, glad she's okay. Troubadour dropped off?"

"Oh yeah. There's, like, a whole contest coming up."

"The red stuff is for Tove, but the rest is for everyone."

"Red stuff for Tove, Got it" Gerd says

"And the boggans gave me this magic binky for CJ..."

"Magic Binky?" Sally Mae says

"Yeah, so... if Tove sings to it, when CJ is stressed, he can suck on it and hear her song, like, recorded?"

"That's.. that's darn clever" Sally Mae says "I wonder if it would help the maudes?"

"Apparently a guy at... uh.. Skyhook?... he makes them."

An eyebrow. "We could ask Jessica if she could get .... a dozen more?"

"A dozen?"

"They get lost. Trust me."

"Ohhh..."

Gerd laughs "Sometimes it's hard to remember Jessica and Siv were ever babies"