#rivervale_lodge

A skeptical look. "You never guided? Never suggested a possible direction for her dreaming?"

"No? I don't know."

"To write it down, sometimes?" Casting about, uncertain.

"She'll get someone better."

"I do not want to hear you say that again." Firm.

Her expression is troubled.

"Yes, ma'am."

Another silence. The horses plod along.

"I miss her."

The comment seems to pull Brekke out of a reverie. "Hm." A nod. Then she reins Stormwake to halt again. "We must go back. We must read those letters now."

She swallows, and nods. "They're in my room."

She nods and turns back towards the Lodge. The horses may be surprised that they're already heading home. That was a short ride!

"When we get back, I will tend the horses while you get the letters. We will read them in private, on the Kestrel."

"Yes, ma'am."

Star nickers a bit, but not truly a complaint, perhaps sensing her rider's unease.

Brekke urges Stormwake into a trot. Not urgent, but quicker than the lazy walk they've had so far.

Dagmar urges Star to keep pace, even if she is not eager.

When they approach the paddock, Star's ears flick up and she picks up the pace. They can hear Connor's voice, stern. "Snow, no. I made you your OWN."

Back at the stable, Brekke dismounts and takes Star's reins. "Go," she tells Dagmar. Her expression is all business.

Connor trots right over and reaches for the reins. "Full brush down and masala for both horsemeats, check."

Dagmar takes off at a brisk jog to retrieve the letters.

"FRUIT" can be heard

"Thank you, Squire," Brekke says seriously. "I will care for Stormwake, at least until Dame Dagmar returns."

The horses are not very sweaty since the ride was so short, but still need the basic post-ride care.

His ears flick up, and he gives a concerned glance after Dagmar, but nods. "They'll be shiny as a new penny."

Fetching supplies for both the Chief and himself, and setting up Horse Popsicles where both Star and Stormwake can lick at them while being groomed.

Brekke notes this and nods approval briefly, but she doesn't say anything.

It doesn't take Dagmar long - she's back soon enough with a fat stack of envelopes, held together by a gumband.

Brekke is mostly done with Stormwake, and her eyes widen when she sees how many letters are there. "Squire, finish for me here." A brief pat on Stormwake's neck. "Dame, with me." She strides off towards the boathouse.

A quick wave for Connor, but she's quick on the Chief's heels.

He waves back, watching as they go until both trolls are out of sight.

In some cases, manila envelopes large enough to hold scripts

Brekke leads the way up onto the Kestrel's deck. "This will take some time. I think we have privacy, for now. However, if you wish, we can use the captain's quarters. None will eavesdrop on us there."

A famiilar Owl, Solstice, observes them from a beam

it often clears the area near the ship of rats

She hugs the stack to her chest. The envelops are not pristine - they've been handled, for all that they haven't been opened.

"I'm sorry."

Brekke shakes her head. "That is not helping. Where do you choose, the deck or the private quarters?"

"The..." She considers, and shame wins. "The quarters."

A nod and she leads the way to the door to the quarters. A series of quick knocks, and then she opens the door.

The room is slightly bigger than one might expect, and there are two comfortable, troll-sized chairs along with the rest of the sleeping-quarters furniture. Brekke directs her to one of the chairs and takes the other for herself.

Dagmar sinks into the indicated chair. She sets the stack down in front of her.

Brekke regards the stack, then looks at her. "This..." she indicates the letters "...has been a burden to carry."

"I thought she'd stop sending them."

A frown. "You hoped she would stop."

She pulls off the tie, and sorta through to the first letter. The envelope has deep creases from being folded and unfolded multiple times.

"Yeah, I guess." Ping.

Brow. "You guess?"

"I wanted her to stop writing." Ping.

"That is still not truthful."