#rivervale_lodge

A few minutes after they have gone into the boathouse...well, nobody has stormed back to the stables. No, it seems quiet...oh! There, the great doors have opened, and the Kestrel swoops out of dry dock and takes to the sky! Funny, it seems to be swooping a bit more than usual.

And then he straightens up, and adjusts his collar.

A hint of a surprised YELP from the ship - a joyful sound, it surely is.

"Jackflap, friend to squires, grower of green things, ..also I'm a kid" Jack says and sticks out a hand "Are you here to destroy truth, justice, and the Gwydion way?"

Siv lets loose a wooo!

...quite the steep ascent, as well....

The wilder pooka takes his hand, her own soft brown fingers set upon it. "You may kiss my hand?" She offers, "I promise, they are washed, with every dish and dainty scarf m'lady has."

Nadeen beams at the slight touch "I shall hug her often then. We distant slavs must take care of each other" then she looks as if she wants to say more

"Only promise not to steal my heart, for a heart is a deer, and flighty, it will run and escape all but the fiercest hunter." BLUEBell says to Jack.

"If you wished to bring her back to visit, Mischka would welcome her, I am sure." Naming the mother of the litter. "And she has not -washed out- of training, quite, so may well still learn with the pack. If you wished. I know it is a ways to travel."

Jackflap says "Well.. right now I'm a childling and sane, but I'm afraid when I become a wilder I can't promise anything. Sorry" he says earnestly after kissing her hand with a test "your hand smells like dish soap"

Nadeen smiles "I see, a cunning way to get me to visit for her sake. Milord, I was already hoping to do just that so I thank you"

"Lavender, I love it so, though it dries my hands. And you will have to fight a mighty warrior for it, not the Lavender, nor the soap, that you may have. Oh, we do not have a Lavender. She would be lovely, I am sure." The pooka says in her soft sing-song tone.

"I can get you lavender!" The boy says excitedly

Aiden bows his head, acknowledging guilt to Nadeen at her accusation. And he comments over at the others, "Do not listen to her, child, she will break your heart, thought you love her for it." But he seems to be joking. Bluebell clasps her hands to her heart, and mouths, wide eyed, "Who, MOI?"

Jackflap says "Be a moment. I have to make sure it's ready but I at least have seeds" And off he goes

And he says quietly to Nadeen, after the boy leaves, "Is he another of the Shacklebreaker's foundlings? She has quite a reputation - she, and her lodge, these days."

Two other foundlings, Dagmar and Connor, are across the paddock. If Dagmar's done her job, the childling has plenty of distraction - seated on Star's bare back, the troll ready to steady him.

"In a sense" Nadeen says "The boy was in a tight situation, Aiden. He's come far. He and Connor are good friends now"

"Mm." He clears his through, and looks a bit strained. "I am. Ah. Glad of it." Quiet for a few moments, watching Connor on the mare, Star's back. "To take in what others could not... or would not... and make some good come of it. It is admirable." Speaking, of course, of Jack.

Nadeen strokes the puppy but says softy to the Baron, "Yes. I can take no credit for it. The Chieftain Hearth and Mountain seem to have a knack for finding gems discarded or gifted alike. "A lowering of her voice "My lord while Calanthe is away, we should talk."

He shifts his gaze away from the horse and rider, and over to Nadeen. "Pray tell, what news that shan't reach my sister's ears? A surprise - she's already had one today, and I doubt she feels ready for another."

"A warning, my lord" She whispers moves with him using the puppy as an excuse to gain 'tips' going away from where Calanthe has been. Paranoia is best. "You cannot be unaware that she seeks Connor's affections when she in truth has none for him? "

And Jackflap returns with a small basket of lavender, and a bar of Hand made lavender soap! "tadaa!"

Gerd comes down to Dagmar and Connor

"Hey Gerd." Subdued.

He strokes the pup's head - she is dozing after the long trip in a warm basket, but will wake soon and want to find snacks and run and sniff about - maybe even chase Oak's tail.

"Dragons will always find ways to twist things to their advantage. Perhaps there is affection there, seeded by usefulness. Nadeen, she is my chancellor, and has my trust." He comments, softly. And then smiles as Bluebell coos over the present.

"Bless you, now I may whittle a key out of servitude drear, and once bars are greased and escape made, the lavender scent shall be of mine OWN soap." And a kiss placed on Jack's head, right between the horn nubs.

Jack blushes. the horns haven't broken through yet, but they're closer to it now

Gerd says "Dag, you okay? "

the Varich purses her lips "She knows that Connor is, by blood, a possible claimant to your hold. Do you trust her so much to be free of ambition?" Softly said

"Yeah, I'm okay. You see how good Connor's seat is?"

A sprig of the lavender tucked behind one of her rabbit-like ears, and Jacks - then she twirls over, reaching out daringly to tuck a flower behind Aiden's ear, and Nadeen's own, with a delighted giggle. "Oh, but the Dragon flies to high, no flowers for her, alas, alack."

Burrying her nose in the basket, Bluebell sing-songs, "In dreams of lavender fields, dancing in the summer sun, is where I always find her..."

Gerd looks it over "mm good balance.. good back. straight. Ears at the right perk." A nod approvingly

Jack says "Wow, you really like Lavender"

Nadeen is not deaf to the pooka's phrases Oh for a translation I could be sure of

A sigh. "What Ailil is free of ambition? To plot is to breathe. She may be but an echo of what I've lost - a poor one, but I wouldst listen, none the less." And as Bluebell sings, a pang of sorrow seems to hit and Aiden turns away, expression pained, to carefully cover with that disinterested mask he wears so well.

To Jack, Bluebell confides, sweetly oblivious, "Oh, I do. I truly do."

And Nadeen moves to Aiden a hand on him, and says quietly "I can admire ambition, but I fear hers will do much harm to you as well as those of the lodge. And her overtures, a tracking device she can access and spy through ? One couched with Honeyed words? It is hard enough to build trust between High winter and High Summer without her games risking what you hope for. " then "I am sorry. Here I speak politics when the old injury is upon you. Your loss, the loss of her who was dear."

Gerd continues "Well, Squire... does this mean one day you will be able to 'get along little doggie'?"

Connor laughs. "A long, little doggie? That's a Dachshund!"

A little mouth-twitch.

Gerd grins "Can't argue with that"

"It is a trifle... a bauble. But it may be a useful one. Surely it can be reprogrammed." He seems unsurprised, yet... weary. "Find a technical-minded soul, or a nocker, perhaps." And he sighs. "Must all gifts of a dragon come poison-tainted?" This perhaps, rhetorical,not seeking a true answer. "A lord of high winter... on the coldest days, we would hold a festival, where all would search for the fairest wildflowers to be found, on trod, in the dream, filched from a summer garden - just for the prize of a smile..."

"Perhaps I - we- have overstayed our welcome." He straightens, and looks around for signs of the Kestrel returning.

A sigh "Not all gifts from a dragon, lord" She pets the puppy "not all indeed, but Dame Calanthe's ambitions, while natural to you, offend the Chieftain for she plays with her wards's hearts in them. " A sigh "I am sorry, Aiden. You try so hard. and I think you grow to impress. I .. hope we have impressed you as well...and not for the worse. the Colt is a wonder, and who knows what will arise if Oak serves as well as I hope. I did not mean to bury your triumphs in dire warnings but I am..." A sigh "I am concerned for thee. You are in so many ways an amazing man who I am proud to know. So perhaps it is not just Pyshka who is protective. I overstep, perhaps. But only out of that concern. Thank you for coming here. I.. enjoyed showing off for you, and I think Dagmar was very proud of the horses here"

He clears his throat softly. Dusty, out by the paddock. All that hay. "Dagmar. She has much to be proud of in how she's raising that colt. Admirable. Rivervale is... admirable, in it's way." He steps over towards the stables once more. "Come, let me show you Veritas - Dagmar as well, if she cares. He may not hunt from my hand, but I am skilled enough that he will fly and return. Calla shan't be in a mood to let him stretch when she gets back, I fear."

"Lead on," she says and follows, her haands full of Pyshka

And the Firedrake will fly, feathers gleaming as if aflame! Bluebell does not care for this, and stays back while the bird of prey soars, but the others may well enjoy the sight.

Kerri's treats don't go untasted - except by Calanthe, who has an upset stomach, how terrible. Connor is quite enthused and glad to help serve, though he is eager for everyone to go so he can hopefully ask about his new 'Shiny Thingy'

And when the Silver Wolf delegation heads out, it's with Bluebell singing softly as they go, a cheerful tune of her own making.

"Oh, come on down to Jersey town, where things aren't as they seem,
Fish can walk and mountains talk and warriors whip the cream,
A funny old land, things quite out of hand! The horses think that they can fly,
And I heard it so true, dogs on legs two, and know they are as smart as I."

(End Scene)