#rivervale_lodge

Frank slept harder than he thought. Guess he needed it. And was stressed. While it may not have been his fault how it went down with Rachel, it's not in a Liam to chastise a victim for being weak willed

He wakes, somewhat restored. Gerd, he remembers, wanted to brag. Not like her.

After he cleans up, he goes to find her.

She finds her in the kitchen, talking to Kourtney DeBuke

"SO anyway, " Kourtney is saying "I have this last challenge.... AND while i'm here... the SIlverwolf is sending folks to the farm to look about. "

Frank nods in greeting but doesn't interupt; he gets a glass of cider.

"Mou... Sir" Kourtney switches gears

Gerd smiles "Takes some getting used to still for more than one of us, Kourtney. But Uncle Vali is working hard at it." A look to Frank "Would you like some food? Got a great cook here" Pointing to Kourtney

"Be honored." Frank accepts, and takes a seat.

Kourtney smiles "Any thing you're in the mood for?" She asks

"I put myself in your hands."

"I learned this one in Tijuana" She gets to cooking "Chicken Street Tacos with Corn-Jicama Salsa"

"oh, Gerd , tell him about the thing you did while I cook" Kourtney insists

Gerd blushes "It wasn't that big a deal"

"While the meal is an unexpected bonus, thank you Kourtney, I came here to see you, Gerd. And hear of this thing you did."

"WELLL..." Gerd says, clearly happy to h ave the chance even if she doesn't want to be obnoxious about it "When school allows, I've been traveling. Sometimes with wudlig, other times by myself. Makes Uncle Vali jumpy, but I'm a wilder and one with a magic shield no less. So, I took a few risks... ended up going to Omaha nebraska..." A big grin "I found another lodge"

"In Omaha?"

She nods "Apparently there were some Danes in the area's history. The trolls there lean that way, though still rather Concordian. They were surprised I found them but welcoming , it's the Høj folke lodge? I'm sure i did not pronounce that right. Well, I got to know them, played nice, helped out for my three days. I dont pry into other's lives, but i noticed something wrong with the walls... there were chimerical parasites, slowly feeding off the place. "

Frank frowns. "And you told them of this." he states.

"Of course, they were surprised, which confused me, as well, we're a pretty observant kith. Turns out someone planted those little bale nibblers... can you believe it? Reaving by proxy, as if Reaving wasn't bad enough. They were up in arms. And who can blame them?"

"Do they know who did it?"

"They didn't. I flickerflashed the parsites out, took effort, they were locked in and joined them on the hunt. Turned out, a guest they had, wasn't a sluagh, but a thallian. Now I hate Thallian. " She doesn't hide that fact "So it was really odd to hunt them instead of the other way around. We found their lair, and had to split up. It was a literal maze. There was this crazy ritual going on I stumbled onto... a fledge boggan, tied like a sacrificial lamb and being pumped with corrupted glamour... I think they were trying to turn him into a thallian too. " She explains. "Before they could really get it half way done, I charged with the hornshield, smashing one thallian into another.. I had boosted my speed. It broke the rituial and suddenly I was in the fight of my life all on my own because others had gone different ways. I nearly died, but I gave better than I got, and held on long enough for the other trolls to find us and finish them off"

She seems excited. She rarely gets to be the hero, and theree's wwilder pride no doubt, but she also protected someone doing it, and that is a joy to the soul

the troll soul anyway

Frank's beard moves. "Well done, Gerd. That will be a fine brag to add of an evening. You have told the Mountain of it?"

A grin "Not yet. The Høj folke Lodge gave me a token of their respect and gratitude." She pulls out something

It's a broach, gold filigree

"Gerd, I think we should celebrate this, formally, here at the Lodge."

"I will mention it to Brekke but you should tell her the tale yourself."

"I.. formally?" She looks stunned "I wanted to share the broach but I... I didn't mean to make a fuss"

Kourtney looks over, the meal done, and brings Frank a plate "Gerd, you just confessed to helping save a bale, AND another kithain, after fighting off thallian too. That's worthy of praise."

Gerd blushes "For Dagmar or Siv, that's a Tuesday"

Kourtney rolls her eyes at that

"It's not a contest. You're not held in comparison to anyone, Gerd. -Anyone-." firmly.

A purple blush "I know that. It's just.. sometimes I think the only thing I contribute to anyone is taxi service and gothic fashion tips"

Kourtney shakes her head at that. "That's just wrong headed thinking. You look after Connor like a sister would. Whether that boy knows it or not, that's been an anchor for him. And you join in on fights along side others, even the greatest warriors need someone to watch their flank in a big battle. Ain't that right, Mister King?"

Frank nods.

"Well, thank you" Gerd simply says to them both. "how's the meal, Frank?" A smile

His empty plate answers. "It was delicious, thank you Kourtney."

She smiles "Thank you. I'll need to do better though when I face my last challenge"

Frank's expression grows pensive "You have an insight on that?"

A bite of her lip "Thanks to your daughter, that is, Jessiica, our Hearth had a lot more time, but it's been a month, and the blanket's medicine has faded . " A sigh "I don't think she'll last till Beltaine"

Frank nods. "Please carry my best wishes with you when you return to the FarmHold. I know Brekke and I will grieve with your family."

"Thank you, sir." She nods , and Kourtney almost loses her trollish stoicness "One by one the elders are passing... but we remind ourselves they'll be back"

He looks at Gerd, nods. "They will."

Gerd nods "Living proof right here. Mind you, I rushed things" A weak smile "But be it 10 years or a hundred, you'll see them again"

Kourtney nods "Pardon me.." She rubs "Got something in my eye. I'll.. I'll be right back" And she darts to the bathrooms

Gerd sighs "She's one of my best friends, but this is...a lot on her"

"It is a lot for us all, but especially for her, yes."