#rivervale_lodge

Siv looks at Oak, "Oak, you're biased"

Oak does not recant

"And we want the puppies to be healthy, yes?"

"Yes, Sir Franklyn" She says then stops "Puppies? Are we getting more than one?" Her eyes light up. If one puppy is wonderful two is twice wonderful

A soft chuff. "Sorry, Kassidy, no. As far as I know, only one. I meant 'puppies' in a general sense."

"Oh" She says "Ok. And yes, all puppies should be healthy"

"I'm sure they will be."

Siv ponders "You know, Oak is supposed to visit his kids again before they come here... maybe mother would let me go see them too, and maybe I could bring a squire along"

"REALLY?" Her eyes light up

Then they fall "Oh," The squre says "I'm not sure that's.. wise"

"Why not?" Siv says "I thought you'd love it?"

"It's an Ailil hold," Kassidy says "they may not..." she shrugs "Want me around"

Frank looks grave.

"Oh for the love..." Siv frowns then looks to her dad

"Kassidy, if Siv allows, I'm willing to go with you."

"Wouldn't that make it.. worse? Two of us?" Kassidy asks him

Siv says "My father' is a Liam like you, but a hero. If the Baron can't see that, his loss. And Baroness Nadeen was a FLEDGE here..." A brow lift "She should know better than to spurn a fine house like Liam"

THen Siv adds "if you like, da. "

He nods. "Offer stands, Kassidy. Up to you, though."

"I.. that would be nice, Sir" the squire sounds grateful

"Siv, about when is this going to be?"

"Well, I wasn't certain just when, but after Carnivale for sure"

Frank nods. "Need to know the dates as soon as possible please. I have work lined up."

"Fair point, Da. I'll call Nadeen and see what's best" His daughter decides

"Thank you."

"Yes,. thank you, Lady Captain" The Squire smiles

"You're both welcome. It's a phone call, not a quest" Siv smiles

Frank clears his throat with a rumble and wipes his hands clean.

"Sir Franklyn?" Squire Kassidy looks tempted to ask for something

"Yes?"

"Lady Captain Siv says you do the best Aslan voice for the Lion Witch and the Wardrobe ever..." She says this as if it was told to her with the utmost sincerity

"Mm. Well, I'm pleased she thinks so... although I had to remember more of the story than I had to read to her." a bemused glance at Siv "Didn't have the books onboard, you see. Never thought to have a child with us to raise. Used to coordinate with her mom before I'd 'read' to her. She might not, strictly speaking, have heard the stories as they were written, but I did the best I could."

"Well, uhmm... I have a copy if you want to read it outloud, or I could hear your version" The girl bouncces on her heels

Siv's eyes sparkle with warm amusement

"Be happy to. Grab your copy, and we'll see how Siv's memory holds out if she wants to join us. Meet on the couch?"

"Yes sir" Kassidy squees and shoots upstairs to get her copy

Siv chuckles "Well, you DO do the best Aslan"

"Thank you, Siv. Join us?"

"Of course" Siv says "I thought that was a perk of a childling squire. I can listen to the kids stuff without worrying other wilders will mock me" She winks

"I got the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" Kassidy comes down "Or Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Which ever you like, Sir"

Another chuckle. "Let's start with the first one there; I'll get into the Dawn Treader later."

"yay" She gushes then says "Uhm.. I mean thank you, Sir" And the squire gives him that book and follows him to the couch.

He settles in to read aloud with the two girls. Yes, they are girls to him.

Siv gets comfy too, and yes, her eyes light up like a little girl herself as her father reads a story to them both- no matter how old she thinks she is.

(end scene)