#rivervale_lodge

"Oh yes. More than the girl thinks I know. " A sip of her own drink "She's an orphan who fell into the system much like Dagmar, but ran away. Nearly got pimped at age 12. .. fortunately, hate and anger can inspire a redcap and she dream danced and tore the would be pimp in half." A sip "There, confused and baffled, she wandered for a time until getting mentorship from the wrong sort of fae"

"Mm, she would have been ripe pickings for the wrong sort," Kerri nods. "Has she been giving you much trouble? I mean, since the oath has been lifted?"

"Oh, she tries to bully, all redcaps do... but she finds food asked for tastes better than food demanded, that sublte pleases and thank yous seem to cause subtle praise and approval that she, like anyone , wants"

Kerri grins. "Very much like both Dirk and Dagmar when they were struggling, yes."

"Oh Dagmar, that poor girl was so in need of structure. No, not just need, she wanted it too. structure that wouldn't betray her. She's come so far."

"Yes. She's even learned how to survive when structures that she thought she could count on let her down. She's developed deep strength."

"That's a victory for the village, that one is" She says "I don't know if Prissy will go as far, and not fair to compare really, but I think she can get better and I KNOW she deserves the chance" She says "How are things with Sylvi? "

"Oh, well..." A sip of coffee. "She's fine, as far as I have heard. You know we asked her to stay up at DarkGate when Gildas started his attacks here. She should be home later today, though. She said she'd be coming back for Imbolc."

"Well, I'm behind on the gossip but I'll bet she's been a big boost to Dark Gate. And I'm glad she'll be home. A nice cozy imbolc sounds... well , wonderful really. " A sly look "No surprise contests this year eh?"

"No." Kerri's tone is mock-firm. Then she grins. "I've had enough contests for a little bit, thank you. And the Chieftain...well...yes, a quiet Imbolc is what we need, this time."

"Oh poor Brekke" Sympathy "You didn't see her at the duel. I thought she was going to put Gildas' head on the END Of the staff and plant it as a warning for a moment. This whole event has been an affront to her. But of course you saw yourself. Anything I can do to help ease her load she she gets more of a break? Besides the paper work , of course"

"I think if you can figure out how to sort out the situation about the Browns, that will help enormously."

"Consider it done and assure her I am making it priority one, please. " She nods

"Thank you so much, Anne Marie. Well...I'd best be getting back. Please make sure you get some rest yourself...you've had a stressful few weeks."

"Oh goodness yes... and the boys , well, the mean well but house keeping was NOT their priority while I was gone. "A confession "Did you ever want to make tiny nooses of their discarded socks and leave them hanging in the closet as a warning? no? Just me then?"

Kerri laughs. "I can't say I ever imagined exactly that...but I've been tempted to simply go on sock-strike now and then. Pile them all up on his pillow until he deals with them." She rises. "Be well, AnneMarie." And she heads for the door.

And ANne Marie waves "And you"

And Kerri returns to the Lodge.

The Chieftain is no longer by the fire. By all reports, she's been up and had breakfast and coffee and is off on patrol.

She finds Tiffany, cleaning up! The thane remains a terrible cook, but she can handle a broom

Dag has stationed herself by the bridge, waiting for the return.

And, if they have returned - she is back home!

Turns out the kids are back, though dead tired. Clem herself brought them over

Connor no doubt on Dagmar's shoulders, snoozing

Dagmar carts Connor up to his room, tucking him in next to Brown Dog.

Tiffany looks over and says softly to Dagmar "How's the little wagger doing?"

"I think okay. Sleeping, so... can't be too bad?"

"You can kiss him on the nose in a hundred years and free him if you have to" She smiles

Browndog nuzzles the sleeping boy and licks Dagmar's hand

She rumples BrownDog's ears.

"I'm glad they're home and safe."

Tiffany nods "How'd the fight go?"

"Chief kicked his ass."

Tiffany nods "That big target between his shoulders. Good"

"Yeah. Probably best I didn't fight. I was pretty mad."

"Outrage at assholes, it's contagious" She says in a sympathetic tone "You want a Doctor Pepup?"

"I might turn into a Doctor Pepper. But yes."

"Ha" A ggrin "Folks keep plying you with carbinated fizz huh?"

"I won't complain."

And Tiffany gets her a cold one and brings it back

"Thanks."

"Yeah, consider it my way for apologizing for taking a shit on the lawn when I failed to support"

"That was a bad day."

"I... this Nocker tried to poison the horses. They weren't hurt, but then Snow was."

She nods "Snow falling around here is normally prettier"

"Yeah."

"...I killed the Nocker. Chimerically. And if I'd fought Gildas, I woulda killed him too."

"War makes dogs into wolves" She says "When I was in Afghanistan, my job was to make sure the tick tocks didn't wind down. I still punched a lot of clocks shaped like people. Too much red on these paws to judge you know?"

She nods.

"I don't like doing it, though."