#scarsdale

Agnes says "Well, since Zara has outted me" She set down some soothing tea for all "Hannah, I sure would be obliged. I'll trade you some of my best non pork recipes"

"I'm sorry, Hearth..."

Hanah takes a sip and then touches her daughter's cheek "He seems like a horrible horrible man. You're such a brave girl , trying to protect us all. Being your friend for a few hours was fun, but I love being your mother even more" She hugs Zara

Zara pinks faintly, but smiles at the hug.

"Now, how am I to deny passing on a good gnosh? Frankly Zara has told me of some of your own creations , Morel mushrooms, and somehow you get your rhubarb pie to decay evenly! I worry I'll get a patch that's still too fresh and she'll bite into it..." Mama turns to Agnes and talks with her "if we could trade a few back and forth" //"WHy no trouble at all"

"Well, those two are peas in a pod. Is it a mother thing? Miriam isn't like that..."

Agnes rubs at her hands as she talks with Hannah, and the motion is not lost on Clem who bites her lip with concern, then seems to snap out of it and answer "I reckkon so. Auntie Agnes has been everyone's mother or played the part at one point or another"

The two older women go off, leaving the girls with Emmit

"...Clem?"

"Why were you worried just now?"

"I... " She looks at Emmit//but Emmit is rising up "I'm going to switch wards, maybe try the eye. Be back later. " and heads off.

Only Vashti left, Clem loosk torn, but Vashti offers "I could go taunt the spider in your barn door frame by fluttering OH so close?"

Zara wraps her arms around her torso, frowning.

Clem smiles at that, "No, Vashti. I reckon if you wanted to snoop around here you already would have.. fine" A Look to Zara, serious again "You're not supposed to age in a freehold, but lately Aunt Agnes arhtitis has been acting up, normally that's a winter thing. She gets weaker every month. I don't know what to do... I could cure sick off one of the horsemen and I can't..." Frustrated "I worry she's ...closer to the end than she lets on"

"Oh..."

"Like the Uncles, aye... I know.. I... Aye."

"I know it's just part of the cycle that it's natural and right, but, even if she only retires so she can take it easier, Emmit becomes chief, and then I become mountain and Zara, I'm going to be a good mountain. An okay one. But it's not my strong point. And if she dies, it's worse as I won't even have her to lean on. I mean, I like to think I'm all strong but I worry i'm just not..strong enough to do it alone"

Vashti is glancing to where Emmit went, then to the kitchen area where the two master cooks are chattering, then out the window where numerous DeBukes work

"Well.. you won't. Not alone."

"If the DeBukes are anything, they're a family - nu?"

"I guess it's just... they look up to me, they need me to take care of them, feels like betraying them to ask them to take care of me" CLem says. Perhaps the troll means this to be serious and understood.

Vashti stares at her like she's crazy, then looks to Zara "Is it the fact they can face down reality and deny it that makes you like the blue ones?"

She nods. "Except, of course, that isn't how family works."

"I mean, how would you feel if Earl told you to stop caring for him?"

"you mean before or after I kicked him in the butt for talking nonsense?"

An eloquent eyebrow and she waits.

"They're allowed to CARE, I just don't want them having to do any heavy lifting for my behalf" Clem says

Vashti glances at Clem's arms, "Puny creatures might strain themselves"

"Ah. So you can CARE about Earl, but... the next time he's kidnapped, you should just wait it out. Send your thoughts & prayers. Maybe a facebook frame?"

Clem's eyebrow arcs "You sure She's the pooka? Because you seem to think you're funny, miss schwartz"

Vashti does let a giggle out

"Well, who is telling the lies, Miss DeBuke? If only to herself."

"Not about feelings - feelings are true, but.. are they based in truth? Or based in fear?"

Clem's eyes threaten to darken then a deep breath, "Let's say, you're not completely wrong. I'll consider..options in case the worst happens." She says "BUt I will send out thoughts and prayers too, just to spite you"

"Is it not lovely how mature we all are?" Vashti observes

"Do you think Agnes would be content to be put out in pasture when she retires?"

"I don't know I... probably not entirely. No."

"The last major transition you had was due to death - sudden, tragic, violent. You could have instead a mentor - so you are not alone, and she doesn't feel useless. Nothing kills faster than being obsolete."

"That's true, except for one problem" she says

"only one? "Vashti opines

"Aye?"

"She's a Hearth. If she steps down, Emmit becomes Chief as is proper, and she trains me in Hearthing when I'm in Mountain. We're a bit more startified here, remember? ALso, you think she hasn't tried to teach me how to cook?"

"You did fine."

"I almost burned the water" She reminds

"And I'm not next in line to BE HEarth"

"You understand how a Hearth works, and you can work with a good staff."

"No, you will be Mountain or Storm. And?"

"And I'm not the Hearth or even in the Hearth's lodge so that training won't help me or hte lodge and she won't offer it."

"I don't understand..."

"It would be like if a warrior was retiring and suddenly you wanted to give him something to do so he was going to give you battle axe lessons? But you're a schoalar, so he's not evne going to think to offer?" Clem tries to explain