#rivervale_lodge

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Early on the morning of July 5, Brekke is up at her usual early hour, preparing to patrol after her first mug of coffee.

Jessica is already there, with coffee. "Oh. Hi." She pours a mug for Brekke.

"I'm heading back soon."

And there is a fresh return hamper of foods from RV to TJ.

"Ah, my thanks," she says as she receives her coffee and takes a sip. "I understand. You have been away from your duty. It calls you. But I am so very glad you could be here."

"I'm glad.... very glad.... I could be here, mom."

"Good. Now...before you go...tell me how you are. Not your people or your lands....you."

"I'm well."

"I mean... "

"I don't .... Everything is good, or getting better."

Brekke gives her a look. "Oh?" Clearly, she doesn't quite buy that, with all the waffling.

"Mom, I'm fine."

"Mm." A pause. "I will not insist you tell me more, if you do not wish to."

Depending on how one defines 'Fine' that might have been true on the gwydion dar, or it might have not

"There isn't anything more to tell. I'm fine. Better than.... I don't know how to answer otherwise."

"Well, you have told me some of what has happened for your lands and people," which, yes, she did the prior day, "but you have not told me anything about your life otherwise. What have you been doing?"

"I work. For my people, for the land. It's complicated. And I earn some money when I can. And there was this time...." she tells of getting a redcap to give up televisions to Father V for a raffle.

That makes her mother grin. "That is good."

And then a story about Beltaine and the Nunnehi coming to celebrate.

A slow nod. "You have made progress there. That is impressive. A very good sign."

"Thank you. I agree."

"Mom....."

"There was a redcap here at Rivervale. He asked that I say nothing to you. So................?"

A blink. "A redcap? Well, there are Dirk and Prissy....one of them?"

"Yes."

"So.... he asked that I should say nothing to you."

A slow nod. "Sooo...I should speak with him, although I do not know about what."

"I couldn't say. My question is, should I say nothing, or something?"

She shakes her head. "You have already said enough, I think, without violating a trust."

A long pause, and Jess nods.

"Thanks for the holiday. You and Kerri and dad and Olgar and all. I'll be back."

"I hope it will be soon, but...I understand duty." A nod. "I wonder, though...Jessica, when last have you quested?"

A figurre moves from main floor to stairs

Brekke looks over to see who it is.

"Quested?"

"I'm trying to bring peace to......" she pauses "Was that the wrong thing?"

Brekke MIGHT notice whoever it was went to Siv's bathroom

"Of course it was not. You are doing the right thing. But sometimes, if you feel overburdened by your duty, consider a quest, please, daughter."

Jess nods. "I will."

"Good." She rests a hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Very good."

Siv comes down shortly in casual clothes, her hair wet, she took a very quick shower "Sis? You still here? "

An inhale. "Yes!"

"Good!" Siv goes over giving her sister a hug, then nher mom "Okay. Just needed to do that before anyone scampered off. You two want more time alone to talk ? I don't mind if you do. "

"Mom?"

True by the way!

Brekke returns the hug from Siv with a slight chuckle. "Oh, I would not argue with Jessica lingering longer, but I think she is eager to return to her home."

"Well, if she wants to stick around she's welcome by me as well." Siv seems in a ggood mood, not just a positive one, but with a mature sense of satisfaction, and she looks at Jessica "As you well know. I'm always trying to get you folks to get some together time and if it helps for me to hang back a bit, I do not mind"

"That is very generous of you, Siv," Brekke says, though perhaps a bit bemused by her younger daughter's candidness.

"Um. Thank you, Siv."