#rivervale_lodge

"May I have seconds?"

Ives tries one, and dines, then nods "tastes fine to me, Hearth"

"By all means, Dagmar. Thank you, Ives!" Kerri looks pleased at the positive reviews. Then she goes to the door where Edelweiss is barking. "Something outside?" she asks the dog, then lets her outside.

She looks to see if somebody or something is approaching.

Gerd approaches, then grins "Eddie!" As her dog charges her for a hug

"Friend of yours?" Asks an silver haired grump of a she troll with Gerd . And behind her is another wilder fellow with a wide almost untrollish grin

She takes a second danish, drifting after Kerri to see the commotion. "Hey Gerd. And... extra folk?"

Kerri smiles broadly. "Welcome home, Gerd!" she calls out.

And lastly, hiding behind is a girl who has a hat with a wide brim to cover shadow over her ugly ugly face

"Hearth, I'm so sorry, my phone charge went out or I'd have called ahead"

"Not a problem at all. It's so good to see you!" She offers Gerd a hug.

"You brought a parade."

Then she looks beyond her to.... "Ashblythe, I believe? We were told you would be visiting, welcome!"

"Hello, ma'am" Says the ugly ugly girl with the texas twang

The balefire crackled within... snapping at the narrator of this tale, who frankly was pushing it with the repeat of the U word.. maybe that was good for story in Brightwynds, but here in Rivervale? it needed to tone it down

"Ashblythe, this is Hearth kerri. I told you about her"

Gerd nods to the ugly less than attractive childling

"Come on in, we're doing a bit of a taste test on some pastries I just made. Do you like pineapple?"

"Are all of you from Bright Winds?"

"Oh and this is Eir-frey and this is Happy" Gerd says

Ashblythe shakes her head "Thank you, no Hearth I don't."

"We're actually from the County of Spectral lights outside it" Eir Frey says

Kerri passes the platter around to everybody, welcoming each in turn.

"Kerri, are there peanut butter cookies left in the kitchen?"

"Oh, I think so! Could you get them, Dagmar?"

"Cool." She heads off to find some additional snacks!

Happy bites one, and nods "mm thanks"

"These are wonderful" Eir Frey nods "You should be very proud young lady" To Kerri

"Come and sit. I'm guessing Gerd has filled you in somewhat on the Lodge?"

A bemused look from the grump Hearth to Eir Frey. "Well, thank you!"

Dagmar returns with a plate. "There were pup-kin cookies, too." A pause. "Pumpkin, even." She offers them to Ashblythe first.

"Yup." Happy says.

Ashblythe takes a peanutbutter cookie, and savors it "Thank you, Hearth"

The cookies are set next to the danishes, and Dagmar backs out of the way.

"Been so long since I've been in a lodge" Eir Frey says looking about "oh my. Now, where can I help?"

"You're all very welcome. I have to get a few more things done before I start making dinner, and I need to set up space for you all. Dame Dagmar, would you be host in my stead?"

Deer in headlights, but a nod.

"Do I need to get them rooms?"

A quick wink just for Dagmar, reassuring. Then she says, "No, I'll take care of that."

"Excuse me, all, please. And eat up!" Kerri moves back into the kitchen.

"So..."

Ives blinks and rises "Nice to meet you all. I best patrol" and moves out. Perhaps it's too crowded. Perhaps he wants to help lighten the patrol load. Maybe Happy 's silent but wide grin is freaking him out

"Right..."

"Hey, Dagmar" Gerd says "I am so glad to see you."

Ashblythe stares at Dagmar with wonder

"You're Dame Dagmar Hammerstrike," the girl says "The Thunder that follows the storm, the car lancer"

"I may have told her a bit about you"

that from Gerd

Eirfrey looks about "You sure I can't help clean up a bit, young knight?"

"We're pretty clean right now?" She rubs the back of her neck. "Yeah, I'm Dagmar."