#rivervale_lodge

Kerri welcomed the firebrand, first with formality, and then with a more familiar grin and wink. "Well done. I knew we could count on you."

Eden smiles "Well, I wasn't worried a bit, of course. But it did help I had lots of escorts. Lydia brought me the poison you gave me" keeping her hydrated

"And you drank every dram of it?"

She nods , looking happy, she twirls a bit in her white outfit, the uniform of the firebrand.

A smile. "You look lovely, too."

"That's what Tikki says, but of course a girl's boyfriend ,well, who cares about that" She cares very much "Thank you, Chief."

"Very welcome. Now...we some refreshment for you," she indicates the platter of fresh pastries.

Ravenous , the Firebrand takes a seat "Thank you very much"

Kerri looks to Vali. "Mountain, anything I can do to help you secure the flame?"

"Well, we can replinish it now, or wait till Imbolc proper, but for now it is delivered and stored. Do you want to wait for the Storm so we three holders can infuse it together?"

"Yes, I want to at least wait for him, and ideally I'd prefer to do it on Imbolc proper, if possible." Yet she feels a bit impatient. It's almost as if the balefire itself is eager to meet its new spark.

Indeed, the baleflame seems to 'eye' the lantern like a dieter so very close to their 'Cheat Day' might eye a donut

"Imbolc proper it is" Vali says eying the flame with amusement

Patience! Kerri thinks in the balefire's direction.

"Did you have any close calls, Eden?"

"Yup, almost tripped over all the protectors you had laced along the way" She says from her meal "Dirk looked like he'd mug anyone who tried to mug me... or who didn't try for that matter"

"Well, I hope you didn't feel we were over-protecting you, but I did want to be careful."

"A message had to be sent, that's why I was reaedy to kick a scout master if I had to" Eden says

Kerri laughs with appreciation and makes sure Eden has her favorite drink. She then goes to the kitchen to discreetly text Dagmar: The fire's looking bright. Available to take a walk?

Vali stays near the fire , tending to it.

TXT: Can be there in five

TXT: Perfect.

Kerri returns from the kitchen. "Dagmar's on her way to escort an ember to Goldfinch. Mountain, we've got another lantern ready to serve that purpose?"

"We do" He says and pulls out the other lantern, a smaller one for the smaller ember

"Will Dagmar be wearing white?" Eden asks "I can loan her my robe... uhm, it would probably be a crop top on her"

"Oh...that's a good question." Kerri hadn't thought of that, and she frowns. I shouldn't feel like such a novice about this. She looks to Vali. "Is it wrong to have a non-firebrand carry it the last part of the way?"

"We can appoint her a firebrand so to speak. " He says "It takes the current firebrand's blessing"

Eden looks up "Ooo lnfluence at last"

"Well...let's sort it out when she's here."

"Eden, do you want to stay here overnight?"

Eden looks up "I kind of like the princess treatment, so rose petals on the bed?" Hopeful

"I'll see what I can do," Kerri says with a grin. "Perhaps a mint on the pillow."

Eden beams

Heavy footsteps outside. Familiar ones.

"Ah, there she is!" Kerri goes to welcome Dagmar at the door. "Come in!"

"Chieftain."

Kerri gestures Dagmar inside, trying to get a sense of the younger troll's mood.

"Eden need a guard for the last leg?" Curious.

Lydia comes in, glowing with enchanment "You made it. "

"We're still finalizing the details. Eden, if you've still got the oomph, I'd appreciate if you can bring the ember to Goldfinch, with Dagmar as escort. If not..." She pauses as Lydia comes in, getting a thoughtful look.

Eden says "All out of oomph.... I feel weak, woozy. If only... " She gasps "Lydia, what a crazy coincidence"

"You... told me to come here," Lydia reminds the pooka , then says to her "It's okay. I might get it next year."

Lydia looks at Dagmar and smiles

Kerri gives a chuckle, and nods to Eden. "Well done." Then she looks to the kinain. "Lydia, we need your help."

A quiet brow lift.

"We need you to protect Dagmar on the way to GOldfinch, you know hwo fragile she is" Eden tells Lydia

"I'm happy to help, Chief but if Dagmar wants to be firebrand she's a true kithain" Lydia says humby "And she's a hero"

The second eyebrow joins the first.

"Dagmar?" Kerri offers. "It's a fair offer, although you're older than the average firebrand."

Eden watches the eyebrows lift "How do those make her even taller?"