#rivervale_lodge

A knock at the door from Fenix, and a boy steps out. he is a fine young fellow in polished Wyvern Scale armor! A brand new shield at his side, and a stout blade at his side.

Upon his Tabard, the sign of Fenixhold!

"Hola?" he asks

Frank looks up, stands up. A LOT of up....

"Great honor to you and your hold, senior, I am Holger of Fenix, in service to Countesses Jessica and Eleanor, and I hope to become a great guardian. I humbly ask Rivervale to teach me so I do not dishonor myself or my amigas who rely upon me. "

And the boy bows low

The expression on the grumps face is somehow familiar, even hidden behind his beard. "Welcome, Vulgar. We have word of your visit. Come in. I am Frank King, Mountain of Rivervale."

Holger bows again "Gracious, King Mountain" A pause "Oh, that is not right is it?"

"Better than Mountain King. I am too tall to be a dwarf." Deadpan.

"Si, " He agrees , his own tiny clean shaven chin twitches just a second but he banishes unnruly humor away. "I mean, Si, Mountain. " And he comes into the hold proper and looks about then delight does escape "the furniture here, it is right sized"

Holger's bag mews softly.

"It is, for us. This is a troll Lodge."

An eyebrow.

He blushes "Pardon. I may have a stowaway, you see, I have a cat. He is.. well, he is not very smart but.. " A blush . he opens the bag to look in

Not Holger's cat, no - a tabby! Ramona!

"Oh no!" he says "I must go back." He closes the bag quickly

"moop!" As she is closed in.

A head peeps out from the Kitchen. "I smell a cat!" Connor eyes the new boy. "And..." He hops over, and sniffs at Holger. "Cinnamon??"

A sigh . "this is a friend's cat. And I must take her back or she will be missed. Forgive me, Mountain. I know I have shamed myself by not noticing a cat. But please do not blame my.. oh, hello" He says to Connor

"Trouble, your vote is not needed" He tells the kitten

Taking a deep breath and blushing purple with embarrasment, he flees into the door way back to Fenix

"Oh. Was it something I said?" Connor blinks.

"Holger...." Frank starts, but the boy is gone. He sighs.

"Hello Connor."

That boy is ALSO gone. kids these days...

A few moments later the door opens again, a very embarrased lad takes a breath

Then steps in again "Pardon I.. it was not my cat. I could not risk losing her"

He checks his bag at the door oen more time, and seeing no creature, moves on down the steps

He sits and waits. He will beg pardon when the Mountain returns

And return he does shortly, coming in from another room. "Holger. Good, you're back."

"Sorry, Mountain" He hangs his head "She escaped my notice. But I could not let her risk geting lost her so i had to go all the way back. I understand if you wish to tell the Countess I have failed "

"Tell the....? I don't believe you failed, Holger. You showed great compassion and care. That's laudible. Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Si, I mean, yes, please" he says cautiously

Frank nods and disappears through the door he emerged from, returning shortly wiht a couple cocoas.

"Gracious, Mountainn" he says "They call you mountain because it is a task, a troll task.. and title yes?"

"Yes." Frank goes on to casually explain the Lodge triad as much as Holger needs.

".... So I'm one of a trio who work together. Most of the time we agree. Sometimes we don't. We respect each others areas of expertise."

He scratches his chin "I had heard Senorita Constance try to explain, and Senoir Coy DeBuke said it was better than royalty, but I have only ever worked under a baron " A frown, "And a countess." the frown fades subtly "I will remember the lodge way to do this while i am here" A sip

THe cocoa isn't Mexican but it isn't bad!

"I think one of the reasons you're here is to experience how trolls organize and take responsibility."

"This is good" he says and drinks more than a sip

"Will that help me be a better guardian and protector?" He says "I want to help my friends. When I was under the Baron, I did not act against the badness, now I know I mustt or I am guilty too"

"What Baron was this?" Sip.

"Summerstyrke.. he was... unfair. I thought because he was a seelie baron who talked abou honor, because he could tell lies, he was right, but he was too harsh. He was... no bueno to any Unseelies. He broke up families, or made them swear"

"And any Seelie who helped the Unseelie, they were punished too. " the boy looks ashamed "I should have done more to stop him"

Frank nods gravely. "That is a heavy burden to bear."

A nod "So when the Countessa Jessica grew to rule. I wanted to help, her and the little Contess Ellie. I will not allow the innocent to be forced to swear , or nice girls like Salma to be used as whipping girls, or Ahpuch either even if he is not so nice sometimes. I will fight the ngihtmares and help hold onto peace. So you see, Mountain, I must become very good. People , they count on me."

"Spoken like a true troll." The Mountain nods and sips his cocoa; peer-to-peer.

"What is your role at Fenix and in Renaissance now?"