#anywhere

"Actually, she had already earned a Knighthood at the hands of another noble. She won her spurs by slipping in much needed medicine to a group of seelie Sidhe knights trapped by Unseelie Lords who had infected them in the first place. "

"Sounds like an interesting lady..."

"Ah, but they each have a deed to go along with title," She says "The Aesin slew a great festering wyrmkin that was poisoning the land it burrowed in. The Fiona rescued an imprisoned Harem and liberated them." Ahems "The eiluned discovered the true name of the Riddling Beast that was driving mortals mad and thus used it's own nature aggainst it."

"Aesin... are fierce warriors. But we have common mews in the mix. Would they handle that well?"

"My husband says that the commoners will have to abide by whoever we choose, but yes, that is a concern. He seems a noble man, very direct, but mostly when he first gazed upon me, the feeling I got mostly was... surprise. I think commoners with titles mystify him a little, but he is willing to work as my vassaal it seems."

She nods. "I am fine with commoner nobles. Are any common besides the sluagh?"

"Alas, no, few rise so high among non Sidhe."

She nods. "Mostly trolls, I'd suspect. A sluagh of any rank is surprising. She must be extraordinary. August knows the kith better than I do..."

"Oh?"

She gestures at her house-mate.

"Sir August?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say I do." He blinks. "Ah. That is, I do count one sluagh as my best friend but... as a kith?"

"Exactly. Sluagh are dreadfully shy, who else knows them so well?"

"Some do think they can't be trusted. And I do worry she'll have trouble getting the love of her people"

"Your Grace, may I ask a question?"

She nods. "How could she hold court?"

"Ask away, Sir August." And a look to Sparrow "I imagine her courts would be smaller in fuction, or perhaps she'd have someone repeat her whispers."

"Makes sense."

"Does she -want- to be a Countess?"

"She IS a countess, but I think what you mean is does she want to rule? they all do. Or , at least feel a duty to and that they can do it well. "

"There might be an advantage to having a good sorcerer in the mix, but Eiluned can be hard to read.... a Beaumayn, you know they are dedicated to fighting the Shadow."

"....even a sluagh, with that house. I think. August?"

"Yes, my husband laments not being able to his his gift on them. Eiluned I mean."

"With consideration of recent events... perhaps transparency is to be valued?"

"True, but House Eiluned has lost the Barony, they feel their late member's heroics have earned his House a chance the Count hood"

August nods. "Transparency is to be valued, no matter what the recent events are."

"Well, Eiluned granted the barony, it did not lose it."

"Well, I think some will see that, but others may feel that if the Baron HAD an Eiluned heir he would have gone that way."

"And appointing a Fiona my well be seen as a step too far and build resentment."

"Even if, I admit, it would do well for Coradel - the Lion is rarely fond of the Oak."

"I see..." She considers this, "Fiona is an ally of both Gwydion AND Beaumayn, so you understand I had seen that as one of the more promising applicants. I had forgotten you no doubt faced some of bias from the Silver Lion before you found an more agreable pride." A sigh "And the ones on staff and service to me, well, I'm very fond of. I have one who has been amazing at helping me with fashion selection and goes questing for the best hats."

"Wait... " her wings perk, like a lab's ears. "No....no? It couldn't..."

"Poor thing, her old hold had gone a bit bonkers it seemed, particularly bad holiday brownie incident... they never quite recovered... and she was not happy with it anyway. Others thought she was a bit of fluff, but by the Dreaming, she shops like a lioness" She says "She's my husband's lament. he doesn't see how much she saves me."

"Danah Olivia? Here?" She laughs. "Oh, if it is - she's a dear, dear soul."

"Yes! But she's fine with folks calling her Dio," A shocked look

"We fostered together. I was thought to be a Fiona, once."

"oh my word, " Pleased then eyes narrow, but too much, "you're not planning on stealing her away for Earth Runes court are you? I'm not kidding, this girl knows how to make me look really good."

"I think she'd be happier here - much more glamorous. But she is a sweetheart, and I'm glad she's found a place."

"well she'll want to visit you, of course."

"And she'd be so welcome! Oh, I must introduce her to Vince..."

A smile, "Well, if Vince likes pretty girls with soft hearts, they'll get along fine."

"Vince likes all kinds of ladies, I think. And he's a handsome cat, if I'm any judge."

"Good," A smile, then "I think I'd like you to meet at least a few of the candidates. Get a feel for them? You may not be Gwydion, but you seem socially adept" A thought 'now, if you like, you don't have to let them know you get to give input on their chances"

"All the better, I think. Let them see a Liam without power. How we treat those beneath us reveals the most of our character."

"Good, even if they know of 'Sparrow the hero', they will not realize she has this task."

"Well... sadly... the wings and the hair might make it hard to be too anonymous."

"Oh I'm sure"

"But they may or may not know the Sparrow is also Deryn the Baroness, either."

"A very wise point, Baroness Deryn" a smile, "And a sly one."

"Liam subterfuge. Slightly more refined than trollish."