#rivervale_lodge

Kerri comes in after a pretty fun shopping frenzy , a business was closing and everything had to go. She and Marsha wayburton tore into them like panthers on gazelle.

The beauty of being a troll...she can carry a LOT. Oh, the new flannel sheets! Oh, the fresh 'flour-sack' dishcloths! SO MANY BAKING DISHES!

Kourtney moves "Oh here, let me help"

Kerri looks victorious as she hands over some of the bags. "Take a look at this!"

"This is quite the hall , Hearth. You have to fight for it?"

"I had Marsha as a shield-sister. They never stood a chance."

She unpacks one soft new towel after another.

A grin as she helps her out putting them away "Oh, fancy , this one is embroderied. "

"Yup! And it's nicely done, no odd-lot stuff here."

"Wish we had a haul like this near Ottumwa. " she gasps, "Extra big towels that can even cover a whole troll. So rare"

"Oh!" She blinks and looks at her, and then at the towels, and then at her. "Well...here!" She hands over about two-thirds of the towels.

"These are lovely, but they're extras for us. I'm more than happy to let you take a bunch back to the Farm."

"Oh, but.." A blush "Well, now I feel awkward"

"Well, it's not exactly as if the Farm has never done anything for us before."

"Oh it's .. well, it's that THIS day is the day" She admits

"It...is?" Kerri's been preoccupied with the conquest, and now she tries to remember which The Day it is.

She straightens tall and declares with dignity " I am Kourtney DeBuke, chosen to become the next Hearth of the Lodge I call home. And in keeping with ancient troll lodge traditions, I have come to challenge you, Hearth Kerri, to a cook off, so that in defeat, I may learn. Today I am.. a culinary ronin"

Another blink. "Say what now?"

"Just what I said, you're the last one. I've challenged, mostly losing, all over Concordia. I was saving the best for last which is you. It's a custom, a culinary ronin must wander many paths, challenging chefs, cooks, and bakers ... hoping to learn from defeat. "

She shakes her head, processing. "So...you're saying that, today, with minimum warning and inadequate prep time, you're challenging me to a kitchen duel?" She narrows her eyes...and rolls up her sleeves. "Bring it. Give me the rules."

"Can I watch?" Gerd's voice is on the other side of the door of the kitchen, delighted

"You get to tell the tale, Gerd, so you better watch!"

"Rules are actually mostly made by you, to make up for your inconvenience. Whatever recipes we use, we share at the end. Normally a third party is picked to judge the food. But each of us can ybring our best dish, or a category by you can be picked. If I lose, and I will, you can have me for 3 days of work at assitant cook or cleaning"

"Hmmmm...." She taps a finger against her lips. Then a grin. "Have you ever done a siege cooking competition?"

Gerd has actually gotten a note pad

She blushes embarrassed "I must admit my ignorance"

Kerri claps her hands together with glee. "Think Iron Chef. We're given a selection of ingredients that might be found in the pantry near the end of a siege when the food's beginning to run low, but no recipe. We each come up with whatever we can."

"Which means neither of us can know what those ingredients will be ahead of time."

"Oh, I've seen that" She nods then smiles grimly "Lean Christmas Cooking, we call it"

"Exactly. So...that means that somebody has to go shopping for us."

"I sense a 'Gerd fetch' thing here" Gerd says

"I trust that you...and your grandfather...can be counted on to purchase the right kind of hard-times ingredients." She hands over an amount of cash. "That needs to cover identical quantities for both of us."

"Thanks, Gerd" Kourtney says

Gerd takes it "I'm on it, and you're welcome"

"Thank you so much. Now, Kourtney, let's get this kitchen organized so we have access to the same tools. I think I have doubles of everything...." She starts sorting through the drawers and cabinets.

"Yes, Hearth" the ronin says . Gerd goes off. and Kourtney and Kerri prep. the battle will be GLORIOUS!