#rivervale_lodge

Frank hears Oak's barking, but this time it's IN the lodge

Maybe Snow has gotten into the pantry again

Walking up the path to the Lodge, he steps a little quicker at that. Which bark is it?

Oak's bark says intruder and 'identify yourself' to..someone in there

Frank moves fast, ready for combat.

And finds Oak barking at a closet

well, snurfling

Frank grabs his tire-tapper as he comes through the front door from the corner where it usually rests and goes straight to the closet, wrenching it open and ready to knock whatever's in there into next week.

The little sluagh with the death mask face paint looks up. The childling pouts "There is only one thing we say to the god of death, senior" A breath "I can show you a better target"

Frank takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, lowering his arm with what looks like a club in it. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he rumbles.

Frank may or may not recognize Ahpuch, possibly not but the boy answers "I am Ahpuch. I wish to lodge a complaint about your dog preventing a proper spying"

"Why are you spying here?"

"Because you have the cabellero who rightly serves la contessa coming here. " Ahpuch says "I must make sure you are trust worthy"

Ignoring that he is the one spying

Oak has, stopped barking, and wags. He found a kid!

Frank leans against the doorframe. "You're from Renaissance; Jessica sent you?"

"No. I am a little spy. I work for the little countess"

"Eleanora."

"Si, though I am not so much on direct orders, but rather anticipating her whims" Ahpuch admits "Nobles are ah, not practical peoples?"

"Some can be."

He nods "So... I see your have the guard dog. We have a dog . Azul"

Frank nods. "We've met."

"Si. That is good"

Frank steps away from the doorway. "Come in, if you like. We usually have some sluagh-ready food available."

He steps out of the closet "Oh gracious" he looks about "But I Think I should worm about in your nooks and cranies"

The massive grump clears his throat, like a volcano threat. "Perhaps another time, Ahpuch. I can try to arrange an introduction to our local sluagh; it might be better to explore then."

"Oh. Si, I do not iwsh to intrude on another sluagh's snooping grounds" He sighs

"Precisely. Come with me." He goes into the kitchen, rummages around, and comes up with a snack plate.

The boys eyes light up at the moldering left overs "Oh this is a fine repaste, senoir"

And yes, he follows

"You're welcome. Kerri is our Hearth, she takes care of the household and she tries to take everyone into consideration.

"of the great apple pies of the Hearth I have heard."

"Jessica was always fond of those."

'Si.. a pity you do not have someone sneaky to hand one over to, fresh and digusting as it is, to bring to Fenix here mmM?"

This is childling level of subtle

An eyebrow. "It is, indeed. But I will bear that in mind when I see Kerri."

The boy eats, but never stops craning his neck, looking about, examining with hsi eyes as far as his gaze will reach

Frank makes himself a sandwich as long as he's there. "You came here to learn more of Rivervale because Holger is coming here?"

"Si. he is silly, with his duty and the honor and the wanting to shield us all but he is... well.. he is important"

"I would not say he is silly; duty and honor and protection are the Dreams he is made of. But I agree that he is important."

"Anyway, he is.. important, muy important to the silly girls especially so.. I look in." A look at Frank "is he used as a whipping boy for when the noble children are bad?"

Frank shakes his shaggy head. "No. We do not have whipping boys here, and consider all our children noble, but not all are titled."

"I do not wish to be a noble, they are too much in the light of lime" the boys says a bit alarmed

"You can be noble, without a title. Nobility is found in your actions, and your heart."

"Sounds like a valve problem" The boy nods

The Mountain's beard moves.

"But they are noble, my friends so I endure" he sighs "And I know Holger is.. he has been used before, senor montana

"

"Mmm. We've talked, a little. Part of my job is to keep confidences."

A nod "Good job"