#rivervale_lodge

Kerri gives him a wink and a nod of thanks. Then she calls out to the group, "Who's ready for seconds?" as she offers a platter around again.

"Course it is, Tove made it."

From the kitchen, a burp is heard

Audrey nods "I normally hate broc but hey"

Connor blinks. “Who is throwing their burps, and teach me!”

Dirk peeks out "I got like 20 cans down but I.. oh..you COOKED it."

Kerri laughs! "Yes, Dirk, sorry...I thought you knew we were going to eat the cooked stuff first, and then work on the rest. Come join us...if you still have room?" Wait...was that a challenge?

Dirk snorts, and rolls up his sleeves "Pro here"

Room is made for Dirk at the table, but it's certainly not a matter of him needing to clean up many leftovers. The food has been good, and the appetites enthusiastic.

And when it seems that all the trays are nearly clear, Kerri brings out dessert: a mountain of apple-spam turnovers, their pastry glittering with sugar and spice.

"Who needs a man?" Tiffany says when the dessert comes in

"Sitting right here..." Vali says

"Sorry to provide competition, Vali," Kerri says with false sympathy.

"This is your revenge for the cinnoman rolls isn' it?" He muters but smiles

“Ooooooooooooooooooooo…” gasps Connor.

"Just a weeeee bit," Kerri mutters back.

Olgar chuckles"And still champeenn"

Kerri beams at her husband.

Gerd asks "Sylvi's not here?"

"Oh, no...she's back up at DarkGate right now," Kerri says, then a glance at Brekke before finishing, "She'll be back soon."

Gerd says"She's missingg out"

"Well, I'll certainly be able to make more," Kerri says with a bit of a wry look.

Connor attempts a Dirk-worthy burp

"Not bad litle guy" Dirk says

Kerri takes that cue to start clearing platters to the kitchen.

"Excellent work, Hearth," Brekke says.

"to the Hearth" Vali raises a glass

"Thank you, Chieftain!" she says.

Connor’s tail thumps! “To the Spam!”

"To the Hearth!" Brekke echoes, raising her mug.

"Hoobah!"

"Thank you all!" Kerri laughs modestly, and then she vanishes into the kitchen.

Brekke looks around the table. "I think we will not all be moving very quickly right away. So. Who has news?"

Connor’s hand shoots up.

“Someone filled the Hearth’s kitchen with spam!”

"Wasnn' me" Nolan smiks

A chuckle and a nod. "Thank you. And Jack, you say the garden's last summer harvest should be tomorrow?"

Connor looks a bit concerned at that.

"Well, maybe not LAST but..close" Jack says mulling it over

She nods. "There will still be the gourds to harvest after that. The pumpkins."

“Pumpkins!!”

He looks to Dagmar hopefully… “cookies?”

"Pupkin cookies, yes!"

Dirk says "Uhm.. Dagmar ain't gonna brag...but she helped me with this book thing"

Brekke raises her brows with interest. "Yes?"

Dagmar purples, just a touch. "Hardly did nuthin'"

"But now I am curious. Dirk, will you tell what happened?"

"Well, first I thought it was a ravager! My dreamer Drake? Does shirts.. got tapped hard...but .." He tells the story.. down playing Symon which the Gwydions might sense but giving Dagmar some due

Brekke listens carefully, nodding. Yes, she seems to detect where he leaves gaps in the story, but doesn't seem overly concerned. When it is done, she claps a hand on the table several time as applause. "Well done, Dame Dagmar and Peacekeeper Dirk."