#rivervale_lodge

She looks upward, considering as she takes a deep breath. "I think..." she says slowly "...there are things that may be safer for you not to know. Yet there are things that would be wiser for you to know. And it is hard, sometimes, to know which is which."

"Are you telling me I have the back aches, grumbly nostalgia, AND fear of graying or balding hair that comes with grumphood and you guys still think I'm too young to know stuff?" A chuckle "If I knew this was coming I'd have tried to stay a wilder longer"

"It is not your youth, Vali," she says. "It is simply hard to know."

The crunch of footsteps on gravel approaching from the parking lot.

"Ah, well, I suppose I must be getting more mature because my ego is only mildly bumped by this. I won't pester then, but one day I'd like to hear it if you change your mind. I know Grandpa war days were not his proudest moments"

She turns back to look out the window. "No. They were not," she agrees, then goes to get Frank a cider.

Vali says "You want me to skeedadle so you two can talk privately?"

Frank enters, and drops his duffle next to Brekke's bag. He sees her, and his beard moves.

"If you would not mind, Mountain," Brekke says, and then offers Frank the cider, her eyes smiling.

He goes to her and takes the glass. "Thank you."

"No problem, I think I'll start my own patrol" He says with a smile and heads out with a wave

She nods thanks to Vali as he goes, then touches Frank's hand. "You are well?"

"Yes." he rumbles "You?"

"Mm." A glance to the door to Fenix. Troubled with the prospect of confronting this woman. But glad to see Jessica.

He touches her fingertips. "Shall we go?"

"Yes." She briefly laces her fingers with his, and then finishes her coffee and sets the mug aside. "But Frank..." a nod towards the direction that Vali went "...it may be wise to tell him more. So he knows where not to step in the future. He is Mountain."

"Mm. More fuel for his novels?" dryly.

"It may not seem to be fuel if he understands the stakes. The reason you wish not to be seen."

"I dislike the requirement; it should be enough that we do not wish to be the subjects of his stories."

"It is not a requirement. He has already canceled the project. But...he is Mountain. I think perhaps he should know your story, Frank, even if we forbid him to record it."

"Hmmphm. Now?"

A glance to the door, and she shakes her head. "Please think on it...but it can wait until after we return."

He nods agreement.

She moves to the Balefire and reaches a hand to it for a quiet moment.

The balefire rises to greet her, then bobs in a troll like nod

A grin to the Balefire. Then she goes to get her pack and waits for Frank by the door.

He's already there, and hands Brekke her bag.

She accepts it, and together they head through the door to Fenix.

(End Scene)