#rivervale_lodge

"I will look into it," she assures. "And while it may not be formal competition, there are wilders who are avid basketball players on the Farm."

Brow furrow.

"Could the horses go over the bridge?"

"Fae steeds could" Sally Mae answers that one

"So I could take care of them pretty easy between classes?"

The DeBuke kinian frowns slightly

Confused. "Dagmar...I can certainly care for the horses. You have made it such that I have not needed to, but I certainly can do so."

Connor peers down the stairs, then ducks back out of sight for a moment before trip tromping down, jumping a few steps.

But, he ducks into the kitchen for a snack, not interrupting.

A nod to Connor as he passes.

"You're the Chief..."

"And this means....what?"

"You have lots of stuff to do."

"And it's sorta my fault we have three horses, anyways, and taking care of them is how I help."

Sally Mae shoots the Chieftain a troubled look

"Your...fault?" A baffled look. "Dagmar, do you have any idea how pleased I am with our stables?" The word pleased might as well have been the word proud, but that is a word Brekke uses seldom. "The horses, all of them, bring me joy. Beyond that, they have added to the Lodge's reputation, and inspire our visitors. This is not something for which you need to compensate."

"But they're also expensive."

"Not as expensive as they would be if they were mortal steeds. Money spent on veterinary care is saved with the use of healing cantrip. Much of our feed come from the Farm."

Sally Mae says "if anything, the Farm is glad to have something to contribute in thanks for past help"

Nervous hangnail chewing.

"But you still have a lot to do. And you just said I've been doing a good job."

"You have been doing an excellent job, far beyond what I might have expected of a young woman who had never cared for a horse before in her life. But that does not mean you need to do it all."

"Connor helps."

"He does. That is true. I hope you will allow me to help with my own stables as well?" A gentle humor...is she grinning?

"Well, I mean, sure..."

"Stormwake does perk up when you take him for a ride, Chief. So close to Pennons he's probably raring"

"Star's not quite back yet, but she's getting there."

"She is," Brekke agrees. "You still wish to compete at Pennons, Dame Dagmar? We should make a point of practicing."

"Chief" At that Sally mae looks a bit alarmed

A blink? "Yes?"

An eager nod. "I really want to, yes."

"I'd like to practice against a person, too... the quintain's okay, but it's not perfect..."

Brekke nods. "We will make time for that, this weekend." She finishes her coffee.

"Well, I think practice is important... in fact, it's a must" Sally Mae says "But we need to get a bit more free time for Dame Dagmar in my opinion" She straightens "Her mother's been worried. And I've noticed myself. She works two sets of stables, a lot of it mucking, and she never complains when she's getting overwhelmed. Then there's the remote schooling, which I think home schooling would be better. Dagmar's BRIGHT but she doesn't like learning that way. But I think she's heading for brain fry with all this loaded down. I was going to tell the Hearth but with all this coming up, I guess I'm saying she needs some assistance with chores"

"Okay. Yes."

Dagmar purples.

"I can DO it."

Brekke looks nonplussed at receiving a dressing-down from the kinain, but she does listen.

"...nobody likes computer school, neither..."

A slow nod. "I see. Dame, I do not think I was considering the number of obligations you have acquired. You are capable of it, certainly. You also deserve free time. You take pleasure in your duties, I understand this. I do not wish there to be so many duties that they no longer hold pleasure."

"Please, I want to do Pennons!"

"Star wants to, too!

"I didn't mean you shouldn't to Pennons, Dame Dagmar I meant that... well maybe Gerd should be asked to shovel some horse shit. Or Siv"

"Yes, I think more hands can do more work."

"But it's only fair I do most of it, since I'm riding them."

"It is fair that I do more of it, then, as you are certainly doing more than half right now. And I think Jack would be only too happy to shovel manure when he understands that it will become compost for the gardens."

At that, Sally mae laughs softly "Pardon, but I hadn't even considered. Yes, Jackflap will lovei t. Oh and Connor's friend will spend more time with him at the stable too"

"I... guess?"

"I still must find out from Vali whether the school teams will consider homeschool credits...but I think it may work. I will go and speak with him now." She readies herself to head out again.

"I mean, if I can still do sports, Farm school might be okay..."