#rivervale_lodge

Brekke is sitting by the balefire, savoring a cup of Jo Jo's best.

A familiar footstep on gravel, coming up the walk.

She grins slightly, rises, and prepares a cider for him.

Frank pushes the door open carefully and steps inside to set his travel duffle down and toe off his boots.

"Frank," she greets him, and brings the cider to him.

His beard moves, and his eyes warm. "Brekke." he takes the cider, his fingers touching hers.

She returns the warm look, letting the touch linger a moment. "I feel we keep missing each other."

He looks into her eyes. "We should rectify that."

"Sometimes more easily said than done," she says, glancing at his travel duffel.

His expression clouds.

She notes this, and frowns. "I said something wrong?"

"I will be present when I am with you." he promises.

"No. You speak the truth."

Her expression eases. "It may be truth, but I do not mean to upset you with it."

"And it is often that I am not present, also."

"We have our duties."

"Mm. I will be present when I am with you. Will you sit with me and tell me of your day?"

"I will," she says, turning to lead the way to her seat by the Fire.

She settles in. There is a seat across from her, but she knows he's just as likely to settle at her feet.

Which he does.

With a soft grunt.

A slight grin as she rests a hand atop one of his horns. "The day has gone well," she says. "There is not much to tell. Patrol. The Skywolves are expecting new pups in their pack."

A soft chuckle. "I should try to patrol near their territory after they've had a chance to settle in."

"I think they would appreciate that."

"What of you? A good run?"

"I don't want to crowd new mothers." he points out "Yes. Good run. A little weather, but nothing I couldn't handle."

"You are a wise man," she says with a hint of amusement about new mothers.

A chuckle. "I do not know about that, but I do have memories."

A thoughtful pause. "Was I difficult then?"

"No." he assures her in a rumble "Not that I recall."

An amused rumble in return. "As I said...you are a wise man."

He chuckles again.

"Siv is well?"

"Yes. And...ah. A thing I should not have forgotten to mention. She quested in the Dreaming to help Jo Jo recover. I was not here when she returned, but my understanding from the Hearth is that she had help to complete the quest, and that help returned to the Lodge with her. It was Adam."

Frank doesn't move, then turns to look at her "Adam Thomas?"

She nods. "I am told he is oathed to a Gwydion knight in a hold near Chicago."

"Adam -Thomas-?"

She nods again. "So I am told."

"Hm. I confess... my memories of our last encounter with him are more foggy than usual. But... he is safe and well?"

"How did his parents receive him?"

"You may need to speak to the Hearth on this. And I do not think he visited his parents."

"I did not mean to interrogate you. I will ask Kerri when I see her."

"I do not mind you asking. I merely do not have the answers."

He nods, settling back into his seat.

"She did tell me that she offered him haven, but he would not stay."

"No?" Frank ponders "Well. If he is Oathed to service... I suppose he might have had to return?"

"Yes, I believe that is true." She pauses. "I hope I will have a chance to speak with him."

"Mm. Speaking of... well, speaking...."

"Olgar approached me about joining the Rovers. I said I would speak with you on i it."

An almost audible blink. And a pause. "I think perhaps I have entered bedlam. I thought I heard you say that Olgar invited you to join the Rovers."