#rivervale_lodge

“Come pennons, I’ll get to help her armor up to joust!”

"Aye? Wonderful."

He nods, and looks excited.

"Are there any books on how to be a good squire?"

"I could try to write one, but... it wouldn't be very long yet."

"Not in this pile, but I shall bring you one. It is about a young man named Wart."

"He is about your age. I think you will like it."

"Mmm.. and there is one about a boy who takes care of a horse. Would you like that?"

"Wart!" He laughs. "That's a fun name. Oh, and I DO like to take care of the horses. It's a duty." Solemn nod. A glance to Siv. "If you're a knight on a boat, are you a Sir, or a Captain?"

"Hm."

"Sir Francis Drake was a knight on a boat..."

"I thought knights FOUGHT Drakes."

"Not all dragons are bad. Have you met Bronte yet?"

"I don't think so? Who's that?"

"A captain, you actually out rank me when I'm not on a ship" Siv says "And it's a SHIP, not a boat"

"Oh! She is a bookwyrm!"

"Mayhaps you can visit my library and meet her..."

Eyes wide. "I can, I can! Oh. I'll ask my Knight." Straightening proudly. "And maybe we can."

"Maybe? MayHAPS. Mayhaps. Mayhaps." He tries that one out.

"Mayhove" Siv says not helping

Grey lips quirk into a smile.

"Maywho, maywhat, maywhy!"

"May O Nays, is also a knightly term" Somber

"Not every night, only when we have ham sammies."

"Siv!" A raspy noise, her not-laugh/almost-laugh.

"Okay okay.." Apolgetic "Perhaps Mayhaps is more knightly"

"Are you staying for supper? There is a quicky - a quicheee - an egg thingy, in the sluagh cooler. I asked Miss Kerri to make it special with mushrooms, but Lily hasn't come by yet. She only eats a thimble ful though, there's plenty."

"I.. well, I suppose I could."

"Please do" Siv says

"Not for too long after - Earl was not doing well, so I do not wish to leave him long. Perhaps I shall return to Earth Runes with Siv?"

"Earl? He got hurt?" A concerned look. "I'll get him some snacks. That makes me feel better. A get well soon basket."

She nods to Zara

"I think he would appreciate that, yes."

And Connor is off again, putting together a snacksket, as he calls it, and finding crayons to draw a card, too.

"He's a sweet kid" Siv says

And he slips in one of Kerri's healing cookies, he promises he will help her later with more good childish vibrant glamour so she can make more.

"He really is. He seems happy here, which is good."

"Gerd adores him.. I think she sees something she can do right for the world in him. But yes, the whole lodge likes the little fellow. I'm glad you brought the books. It makes his day"

"He really may visit the library..."

"I bet Gerd would be happy to flicker flash over with him" A thought "What is it about that art that makes folks decide walking is beneath them?"

"right?"

"I mean.. I have a ship that transports across seas but I still want to SAIL"

"Indeed."

"I guess they just like showing off." A smile "I suppose if I ever turn able to turn into a kracken I'll want to show off too"

"Mmm.." A catlike look.

"Yes yes... I know, you show off by not showing off and just basking in quiet power where no one else knows how amazing you are, that way you get the awesome AND the secret both" A grin "You are your own secret others don't know fully and never will"

"A lady must be discrete."

"Tell That to your Shadow" Siv says looking down to the newly restored bit of darkness

SIGH.

Is it possible for an attached shadow to look pleased with itself?