The bath was finished and things had calmed down in the Abbey, so Kegger decided to feed the babies.
The chickens didn't seem to mind Elmo, but they took an instant dislike to the baby dragon. Kegger was a practical soul, however, and let nature take its course while she waited outside until the squawking and thumping sounds died down. Then she gathered up the loose feathers into the burlap sack in the corner, checked for any abandoned eggs, and counted her chickens.
"I'm missing four chickens." she pretended to be surprised, "I wonder where they could have got to?"
Then she carried the two sleeping infants to the storeroom adjoining the kitchen where she made them a nest of straw and old rags in a large wooden crate. Saying "I'll check on you two in a few hours" she trundled off to stoke the hearth before going to bed.
Sparkl met her at the hearth and announced that Illillitl was her bestest friend in the whole wide world and that he was going to name his special wine after her: [color:"pink"]Sparkling wine[/color]. She also reported that Mari and the others were racing north from the Pilgrim's Bridge and probably would have made it to the Evil One's Cave by now. She said, "I'm going to look for them near the caves now. I may be gone a while, 'cause I'm gonna try to help them get the elf-lady free. But I am expecting my cousin, Twinkl, to be born very soon. This will be her home fire, too. Please tell her I'll be back as soon as I can, Mrs. Kegger." Then Sparkl was gone.
Kegger wandered off to bed, while the hearth burned merrily and occasionally sputtered and spewed sparks with a loud "Pop!" or "Crack!" or "Snap!"
