#rivervale_lodge

Kerri makes her way back over towards Brekke and Frank, and she greets Jessica with a hug. Then she says quietly, "Vali's taking the news of the countess's absence well...but I think he's worried."

"Mm." Brekke nods and replies, "It is concerning."

Lucia's parents (I forget their names) hob knob wih other boggans, but her dad moves to Frank.

Once Brekke notices this, she steps back to give room for Frank to greet guests again.

Frank turns to Mr. Lucia'sFather. "Thank you for coming." he offers a hand.

Sylvi says to Siv, "They've got you on crowd control?"

"You've always been a good customer" he shakes the hand with a chuckle "And you all look after Lucia. We're proud how she helps here. You sure this new kid.."A glance to vali "He gonna be able to take on a grown man's job?" Light teasing at the younger grump's expense

Siv says "More like I do. Dad's not a social person, he needs to be approached like Santa at a mall, one a time, weed out out the criers" a smile "What's the point of all that Fiona training if i don't mingle for him?"

"He's a grown man, himself." Frank says with a lift of his beard "He's more than suited for the job."

Sylvi grins. "Santa-at-the-mall is a perfect comparison."

Brekke nods agreement with Frank.

"Ah, well, I suppose he will be fine. Hand picked. We do golf sometime " And the restauranter inclines his head "I best go talk to Myrtle Anne. She's got a deal on spices, but well done , Mountain. We celebrate you. I brought wine"

And he withdraws

"Thank you." Frank says as he goes.

Lucia herself is telling Sylvi and Siv "it's an ITALIAN Wine, of course, because god knows we refused to recognize California or French wines exist"

Frank glances over at Vali, gauging.

"Or New York wines, I'm guessing?"

Sylvi is grinning at Lucia's annoyance at her father's sensibilities.

Vali is mingling too, with wilders annd grumps, not so many jokes thouggh

Lucia snerks "You mean New york grape juice?" Exaggerated accent

Brekke murmurs to Frank, "He will want to find out what has happened when this is over. Perhaps we should begin soon? If...if you are ready?" A brief touch of his hand.

Frank sees Vali isn't quite ready yet, and waits.

Brekke nods at Frank's tacit decision to wait...and she greets other visitors as well.

And just then, a last knock at the door

Kerri goes to answer it.

Nadeen is talking to Clem, while a third figure, a nocker in Eiluned voile and knnight spurs hangs a bit further back.

And then they stop talking when the door is opened.

Nadeen seems more mature, by a few years , but it is unmistakably her. Pyska by her side.

A bright smile from the Hearth. "You're here! Wonderful. Come in!" And a curious look at the nocker...?

She goes to offer Nadeen a hug, but hesitates at her more regal bearing.

"Oh now, " the Baroness moves the rest of the way to exchange that hug "You need not worry, Hearth. I've not gone so full of myself to think I'm above of a Hearth Hug, which is a great honor" A soft squeeze "Even if hugging trolls always makes me wonder where the sun has gone"

Clem smiles "DeBukes send their regards. Mountain Frank ready to jump out a window yet?"

A bit of a laugh at Nadeen. "I'm very glad to hear it. Your new role suits you. Dagmar's there...and I think she'll be relieved to see you."

As she releases Nadeen, Kerri turns to Clem, who also gets a hug. "He's doing remarkably well, actually. Although I think he was about to swallow his teeth if the Professor asked if he was going to join the Rovers."

Packages await taking in but Lut helps with those

CLem chuckles "Oh my , well, it will pass" Clem says

Then Kerri looks to the Eiluned. "I don't believe we've met."

The knight waits his turn "Dudley Shadekrank, knight of Eiluned. I'm here to..well, drop off something on behalf of the Count Hemlock"

"Well, make an announcement"

Nadeen gets a shy smile from Dagmar, though she clearly has a post and duties!

Kerri gives a surprised blink. "I see. Yes, please, come in. I'll bring you to the Chieftain."

Nadeen moves in and... well, when in rome.. so to speak. She helps Dagmar a bit though she still has to socialize

More alarming to Frank might be the amount of GIFTS he didn't ask for

He is politely .... not -ignoring- them but he says thank you and the pile gets a little bigger....

Brekke is still somewhere near Frank, and so when Kerri introduces Sir Shadekrank to her, Frank can certainly hear as well. "He comes bearing an announcement from Count Hemlock," she reports. She's clearly curious about this announcement herself.

Sylvi goes over to Nadeen, smiling. "Hey! You look great."

Frank attends.

Nadeen smiles "thank you, Sylvi. "a smile "Thanks for the suggestion of the Winter rose lipstick, Aiden adores it"

And folks quiet down as the announcement is mentioned

"Oh, excellent! How is...?" Sylvi starts, but then the noise quiets down and she turns to look at what's going on.