#rivervale_lodge

"Snow!"

"Dagmar, did you know that there's a bush with berries on it, down by the lake? It has pickers on it so it's hard to get them. If only I knew someone with tiny fingers that could get them."

"Then we could all have 'em and maybe even Miss Kerri might make a pie, or a tart..."

"Really now? Well, we're almost done here, maybe we could take a basket down after..."

He does offer Snow her OWN apple.

Snow takes the apple offered instead... "Hello!" Crunch "Big basket you have there?"

"One apple, Snow."

"Yes. One apple at a time. My cheeks are only so big friend Dagmar" The monkey informs her big big friend

Then she sighs "only so big"

Spark looks at the little lunatic in white fur curiously

"I bet you could fit LOTS of LITTLE berries in your cheeks."

"if I show you where they are, you could help us pick enough for everyone once you are full?" He wheedles.

"Oh yes, friend connor? Truly you are a good squire to help Snow Quest for berries!"

the basket is, just for a mmoment, forgotten

A little grin. "Okay, berries it is. Squire, lead the way."

"Huzzah!"

And he does!

Thus did the squire slay..err distract, the greedy fruit glutton of legend... truly, a quest worthy of legend. In later years, the old grump Jack Flap would say "Truly, he was the Berry Best of us... Get it the berry? FIne fine... what do you kids know from funny?"

(End Scene)

Later, Siv talks to her mother "Heimdell on a Crutch Mom, when you hinted I should come along I didn't realize it was to prevent Defenestration" but she grins as she says it "Odd shade of greeen she went? Sickly Spruce?"

Brekke has an odd expression, somewhere between guilty and pleased, as she sits enjoying her coffee. "Wobbly Willow, perhaps." A deep breath. "Not my finest moment...but gratifying."

"Thank you, by the way. Your presence was important."

"Oh I may have the Narwhal but I'll always love the Kestrel" then a frown "Besides, Calanthe is living proof that sidhe may never fail at etiquette but they can still manage to be rude. " Siv ponders "Are we going to find someone who can willowhisper the watch?"

"Dagmar has it. I think she intends to have Symon examine it first. I can whisper it afterwards...but I do not know how much that would help."

"Symon knows tech better than most here" A nod "Good call by Dagmar. WHO by the way is..." A look left and right "Did someone give her another inch of muscle and like a gallon of mature reserve while I was gone? She's always been impressive, but she was polished lasst night. Nadeen looked proud"

Brekke absolutely grins at that and nods. "Yes, she is thriving as a knight, and I believe taking Connor as her squire has done much good for both of them." Another sip of coffee. "About the cell phone...I knew I did not like the gift, but it was your question about the GPS that helped me understand why I did not like it."

"Well, you and dad had a GPS On me for while, which is sfine, it was part of my suggestion and you never abused it, but tech today is nuts. It can have microphones on you don't know about ando ther things. I think my time as a spy has made me a touoch paranoid."

She nods. "Yes, we used it, but it is not something I think of. Paranoid or not, I am glad you have the wisdom to see the possibilities for harm."

"Thanks" A pause "but I get the feeling both Dags and Nadeen saw things I missed. Mind you, Nadeen was also cooing over a puppy. How would you say she's doing as Liason to Silver Wolf?"

Brekke presses her lips together for a moment. "She seems...to have established relations."

A brow "Aye. I gathered that. Mom, you're Chieftian and I realize there are things you may wish to withold before you talk to others, or maybe withhold period, but you know unless you think I should not know, I'm here right? I want to be helpful about here. I want to offer what I've learned as a Spy and Fiona to you and the good of the lodge. You look troubled. What is it if you would?"

She turns to look at Siv a long moment, thinking, then shakes her head. "I do not know how much is correct concern and how much is my biases. I have learned to value individual unseelie, but to have a strong tie to a barony ruled by an unseelie House...." Another head shake. "I am not comfortable with this. But...I must be."

"I'm not sure you must be, but i maybe missing something" she admits "I do know you feel pressured, and you want to do right by Connor and your folk. But if I might ask, is there anyway Aiden can take Connor away? Or his sister in law? I thought it was agreed he'd handed over authority of the little fellow to Rivervale. Seems now like it's more complicated than that. Did we get wed to an Ailil hold so to speak?"

"Baron Aiden has ceded authority, yes, and I thought that was the end of it. But Connor wishes to be involved with him, and while Aidenn does not seem to wish this, Calanthe is..." a pause "...she is scheming. I do not know her game. I do not trust it." A sip. "But yes...for as long as Connor thinks he can regain his father's love, Connor will be wounded, and we will be tied to SilverWolf. And...the gifts exchanged are not only between them and Connor. Nadeen has given and accepted. It makes me uneasy."

"She seems to think the problem is Calanthe and not Aiden. Frankly I don't know what to think. How the hell Aiden can ignore his son who is just the sweetest kid blows my mind, but what Calanthe did was pretty obvious manipualtion to anyone who isn't a childling 'oh and now you can 'be with people'" A snort then "however, there are things we should do so he can have communication with folks. he misses foam, the litltle selkie who had to move to get closer to the sea? And he's friends with Lily who may or may not be out. I bet there are other ways besides that watch to do it with or without magic."

Brekke nods. "I would be more comfortable with fae means. I think I understand them better. Perhaps Olgar knows of options to speak across the Dreaming."

"the big lug does seem to know more than he lets on. I think he's figured out that if he told half of what he could do, folks would increase his work load" An amused look "he has so much to teach me"

An amused hmph. "He has carried so much of the workload over the years, I do not begrudge him the urge to avoid volunteering for more."

"I think part of it is he hoards his free time for his wife and Sylvi. I'm tempted to tell him his attention to love for prioritizing his duty is a VERY Seelie thing but I imagine he'd get pouty" Fondly then a thought "oh, speaking of Lily and the Thomases. Have ye spoken to them yet about the offer to move to Earth Runes area?

"

"Mm!" The look of a woman who has forgotten an appointment. "Baron Aidenn's visit distracted me. I must speak with them. I mentioned the possibility to Adam, but he seemed uncertain of whether to uproot them. Then again...he seems uncertain of much. That is fair; he is yet a boy. I will speak with his parents."

"Oh Adam's a headache" Siv says "Worse, I KNOW he deserves this chance. He's a good guy he's just not always able to see past him self. He's bled for rivervale, that's enough for me even if sometimes I want to bounce him around a bit some days"

A sigh. "Adam does not wish to bring harm, and has often helped...but he can be difficult, and I do not know how to help him. If he has found those who can...then good."

"Did you have much chance to interact with him at EarthRunes?

"A little." A smile "I actually let he and Zane in on a massage class. "

A blink. Another blink. "Ah." A pause. "Was that wise?"

"it's a fiona hold, mom, they do things differently. Trust me, one day some lady will be glad Adam learned how to give a great back rub, ditto for Zane. Also the ladies being massaged are not to be messed with. Leonora could Adam down like a goddess in pursuit of a once man turned into a stag if he crossed a line. " Siv gets her mother a drink to ease her headaches "Adam is distant from me at times. I noticed he didn't show at my Housing party. Odd. I was a bit envious and resentful of his just getting wished into the house. It didn't occur to me until then it might be painful for him to see me getting what he wants even if I did earn it. You want me to invite the thomases over?"

"Hm. Do you think that is why he did not attend? I imagine it is possible." Then a nod. "If they are available, yes. Otherwise, I will go to them."

"It's possible, but I don't want to put words in his mouth or thoughts in his head. " She rises to the phone

"..i can get them" lily whispers