#rivervale_lodge

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Before leaving the Lodge, Sylvi texts ZANE: TXT: Hey, check on Adam. Piper just broke up with him.

Zane's Text: Oh shit. You got her?

TXT: Actually, you might want to go with Burger and fries for her comfort food.. but I took the last of Orange Sherbet once and she held a grudge for DAYS

TXT: Thanks for looking after my cousin . I'm gonna help Adam but.. she needs a friend bad here.

TXT: True that. Any details yet?

dots roll for a few seconds TXT: Nothing I can share. And you shouldn't tell me what Adam says. He's probably going to be pissy, and then I WILL want to take sides.

TXT: Guys bleed too. Just saying. Adam's got a lot of good sides too. But I understand. They both need to know we won't blab . But give me some advice later on how to help her later if you feel I need it?

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Brekke has slept a great deal for two days. But today she makes her way down to the stables to check on the horses.

Stormwake greets his rider with affection, almost as if he senses she has been at war. Without HIM, but he forgives that.

Star also wickers a greeting, though her attention is on a small figure in the stables. He is working with a shovel, but soon he must take a break and then there are bound to be apples.

A half-grin. "You would not have done well within the building or on the boat," she explains, stroking the steed's nose. Her movements indicate her side still troubles her.

He takes the petting and accepts. He is there, should she need to lean without seeming to be leaning. Pride. he gets that

She follows Star's glance, spotting him. "Connor. Thank you for helping."

He peers out, and spies the chief. Ears flick back and forth, and he just nods and returns to work. "Thank you - it's my duty."

"Hey Chief!"

Dagmar raises a hand in greeting from where she sits, fussing with a bit of tack.

"Dame Dagmar," she nods. "All is well here?"

"Not if you ask Star. She does not currently have an apple."

A chuckle. "I will get some," Brekke says, turning to go back to the Lodge.

"Oh, we got some here. But she can wait."

"How are you?" She ventures, concern trying to mask as casual.

"Mm." A nod as she stays, stroking Stormwake's nose again. A long pause at the question. "Better. I will be fine. You are well? You were hurt, were you not?"

"I wyrded, so my armor took the brunt of it."

Connor is back in the stables hard at work, and lets them talk uninterrupted.

Stormwake clearly hopes for a ride soon with his warrioress

"The brunt. Not all. How bad?"

"Mostly, just went through a lot of glamour." Brow furrow. "The bullet just left a bruise, and sleeping at the hold knocked that off."

But as the steed realizes she is hurt, he decides it will wait and settles for attentive strokes

"Good...good." After a moment, "Dame Dagmar, Connor seems to be learning about horse care well, is he not?"

"He is!"

"He's very good with them. Very careful and gentle."

Stormake confirms this. The boy is tolerable

She nods. "Connor was also helpful with removing my armor as I was injured, I am told."

"Mine also."

"Mm." Another nod. "He has skills and knowledge...but needs to learn more discipline and self-control sometimes, do you agree, Dame Dagmar?"

Brekke is quite aware that Connor can hear all this, even if he might be quiet about it.

"Well.. I mean, he's still a kid. He's not bad."

A sudden scrape of the shovel, he realizes he had paused in listening and now a bustle.

Scoop scoop, plop, scoop.

"You have faith in him and his ability to learn and to serve, do you not?"

"That? Yes."

"What do you think of your ability to guide?"