#rivervale_lodge

(Huzzah!)

"Good."

"That said, I would not go into the kitchen right now, it's a mad house" Siv smirks

"I've learned to stay out of the kitchens." she agrees.

"Aunt Kerri DID teach me some cooking of late"

"I swear, I am so far behind Dagmar and Gerd.. I am never going to be a hearth"

"Do you want to be a Hearth?" some surprise.

"Oh no, no... no" Siv shakes her head "Sis, I'm a bad fit for just about any position of the big three"

Vali returns having heard "Are you now? mmm"

Siv blushes "I'm a good warrior, but no Storm level. I sure am no Hearth as for a Mountain... "

"You know the lore well, it's why I made you pillar, and you know some magics... your dad has been teaching you all your life. You've picked up more than you realize. Who knows?" Vali says "Maybe you're in line"

"Take that back before you jinx us" Siv protests

A heavy tread approaching outside the front door, one that gets Signe's attention. The door opens, and Brekke enters from patrol.

Signe bounds to her person's side

Vali just smirks

She looks up and notes who's in the room. "Jessica," she says, pleased. The 'Fire felt as if you might have arrived."

Frank enters behind Brekke "Jess?"

"Hi guys." and she goes to them, getting a hug from Frank (at least).

Siv says "Hey mom, da. "

She bends down to pet Signe, then looks back to Frank. "Did I not say she must be here?" she says with a slight grin. And yes, she gets a hug from her mother as well.

Then Brekke goes to Siv to make sure she gets a hug as well.

"And hello, Mountain," she nods to Vali.

Siv chuckles as Jessica gets hugged and is surprised when SHE gets one. She returns it , of course

"Chieftain" Vali says

She looks around the group in the room. "This...the family together...this is good. I am glad you could come, Jessica."

She looks a little bemused "I come for Thanksgiving every year. Fourth of July too. I remember seeing you there."

A brow at this comment, which to Brekke counts as 'sass.' "That does not change the fact that I am glad of it each time you can be here."

"It's good to be here." Jess says, behaving.

A nod...and that hint of a grin returns.

Turning to Siv, "You said that your partners will not be able to attend?"

"Piper is having Thanksgiving elsewhere with family, and Jonas and I decided she'd like at least one of us to make it there" Siv says, putting a brave face on it, but there's a touch of sadness there

Brekke rests a hand on Siv's shoulder. "I am sure they miss you, and you them. But I am glad you are here. This is selfish of me, perhaps," she admits.

at that, Siv shakes her head "If it is, you're not alone. This is my home. Sides... we don't get together as a family near enough" A nod to Jessica "Busy lot we all are"

Brekke nods. "Jessica, Renaissance thrives?"

"We're at war with the mainland Nunnehi and I don't have the full support of the local Nunnehi but... we're making progress."

"Mm. Yes." Her expression grows serious. "Have many fallen?"

"Ours? Six. Theirs? Perhaps twice as many; it's harder to tell. We recently captured one, healed his injuries, and returned him to his people."

A deep sigh at the death toll, and she shakes her head. "Waste. Has that goodwill gesture yielded results?"

"Not yet." she doesn't seem overly disappointed by this.

Siv bites her lip but says nothing

"Well....perhaps we will be able to discuss possible options while you are here. I do not doubt the wisdom of your advisors," she quickly reassures.

Vali says "Obviously, any books and lore in the Mountain trove that may help are still open to you, Jessica. That's not changed"

"Thank you, both."

Brekke notes Siv's expression, and gives her a look that invites her to contribute her thoughts.

Siv shakes her head softly

A brief nod in reply, and she looks back to Jessica. "Well, tell me, how are your people? Your heir?"

"Good! Ellie charms everyone she meets and she has gathered a strong circle around her. She'll be a great leader."

"I like to think we have a good team there. Anything good I have done in Renaissance, I have not done alone. The people there are to get the credit. I was on patrol recently, and one of the kithain in the area came up to me to tell me he thought he'd seen a sleeping Fae about to Dream Dance. He showed me where, I followed and caught up to her, we spoke and sure enough he was right. Her name is Larisa, she's a pooka now."

A nod of approval. "That is good. Your land and people nurture the dreams, and new ones can wake." She in turn tells of the recently hatched redcap, for she wasn't present when it was told the first time.

"Vali mentioned him. If you ever want to broaden his horizons, Demos and Phobos have a young redcap in their charge as well. Send Dirk and this new redcap down, they can spend some time with the brothers."