#rivervale_lodge

And Gerd gathers them

"Thank you." Frank rumbles.

"Not a problem," Gerd says, and hopscotching seeds into a jar , managed to get it done quickly

"A little showy." he observes mildly, and not without humor.

"Work Witchy not hard, says I" a smile though

"Mm."

She does look over the jar "mmm yes, we'll take a look at these later"

Frank nods. "Vali might want to see them."

"I'll hand them over to him" She nods

Squire Kassedy comes in "Hello, Sir Frank, Gerd. I had an adventure"

"Congratulations." he says seriously.

"Thank you, I need to shower and I think I want to rest...being a squire is fun, but lots of work" She bobs her head "Lady Captain Siv says she won't be in for dinner tonight so told me to go without her":

Frank grunts, and nods. Acknowledged.

Kassedy focuses her face, and grunts back, trying troll ("Farfenugen Fritter bug disco")

"did I get that right?" she asks hopefully

His beard moves. "I don't think I've ever heard it put quite that way."

"Oh dear" she sighs

Gerd smirks "In your defense, your knight, while a good woman, isn't the best at troll ese"

"Mm." She does just fine.

"Nope. I don't know what that means" The Squire admits "oh well, off to a shower"

And off she goes.

Gerd smiles "I like her. Siv IS working her hard but no complaints"

"Liam don't, as a rule."

"Vegard respected that" She nods "So do I. Though I hung around mroe Beaumayn for a time. Boy most of them are depressing"

"They bear a heavy burden."

"I know, but it's why Uncle Vali overcompensates with humor" She nods

"Pretty sure he did that before he was Beaumayn." dryly.

"I'm told he was a sweet and earnest childling, who never gave any lip. I have noticed he has never told me stories about that in front of a Gwydion"

"He may have been sweet and earnest, but at the moment he's not a fool."

A smile then "Speak of the devil"

Vali comes out of the lodge, car keys in his hand

"Sorry guys, need to see to a friend," he moves past them in a hurry

"Need help?" Gerd asks

"I got it" he nods

And moves with suprising haste and seriousness

Gerd watches her uncle go "Oookaaaay."

Frank grunts Seen it before.

"mmph" (Still not typical) "When?"

Frank's massive shoulders shrug. "Seems like any number of wilders race around like that on a weekly basis. Vali's still young-er."

And he looks side-long at Gerd. "Mind, I wouldn't say that in front of anyone. You have a unique perspective."

"Oh, grumphhood has changed him, he keeps his jokes more internal now"

"Should explode when he's 50, then."

SNERK

"Fortunately by more, I mean he's dialed them down 10%"

THey hear the call for dinner, "ooh.. let's go"

and the two head to dinner in the lodge

(End Scene)