#anywhere

Another eyebrow lift. "You are interested in the Art?"

"I know, my soothsay is not as strong as it should be, but my chicanery 'common' art or not, is progressing nicely. One never knows if one has a knack for something until one tries. Do you think I would not be suited?"

"It is early yet; Naming is normally not taught until later, and it is almost never found in a Chrysalid. Not to say no, but for your perspective."

"But then, after all, you are my heir...." Murmured to herself.

"I will not press for I am better raised than that" A nod of respect "but yes, I am interested. " A look over the materials "If it please... I have never asked your opinions on your barons."

It's clear Akanthea is keeping Naming in mind for Adelaide, but she sets the topic aside for now. "Well enough. Some ambition to be managed, of course, and one or two have unfortunate tendencies but I've put up with worse from much closer quarters. If there were a real issue with any of them, they would not be where they are."

Once you go Skunk, all other women are junk

"I had suspected" She says "But I'm still curious about their strong points and weaknesses as you view them. " One day, though she does not say it out loud, SHE might have to manage them.

A lesson that will proceed at the Countess' pace.

She runs her fingers through the newspaper clippings as she waits

"That's a few years of work, there." The Countess observes mildly. "Before we discuss the barons, let's go back to that other question. -How- do you know of this troll enclave and the Namer there?"

Trying to look more mature than she is, she proclaims "I took initiative, and curiosity lead to discovery. The many trods we spoke of? I slipped in on one and... oh my it was well guarded enough but the right veil, the right cloak... and I found myself there. Most extraordinary place, I am sure I have seen but a half of it. However what I did feel was wards of great power, some meant to snare the covetous. Why there are at least 9 true blood trolls there, at least, and half again as many troll kinian, most fully enchanted."

"Hm. But, how did you know to go looking? I have spent .... time.... at Firnost, and with trolls." A touch acidic. "How did you go looking for this place?"

"If I may? I think new trods have sprung up since you last stepped foot in Firnost. Some old ones have closed. " A thought "you might wish to send an agent to make a listing of the changes, or so I would suggest. I visited Firnost without much intent beyond building up my resolve in the face of commoner holds onto to stumble upon the groove of some wheel ...I suspect now wheelbarrow. I followed it, and ended up in a cornfield ...and discovered the Farm . Remembering the Baron's original plan and Sir Vali's mention..and Gerd's own slips, I surmised and yes, surely it was the DeBuke farmhhold."

She nods slowly, thinking. "It -has- been some time. Hm. And you... stumbled on it?"

"Well, perhaps stumble is nto the right word. I saw something of interest and made spontaneous my research" Trying yet more vocabulary.

An eyebrow.

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound ,she lifts her chin and stands by her declaration. Show no chagrin, mentors can smell chagrin like wolves can smell fear.

"How go your lessons in mundane studies?"

"I'm doing very well in English" An unspoken obviously, "I nearly got a hundred on the big spelling test missing only one word. 'insouciance' which, ironically, is a word i didn't really care much about" a touch of dry humor there, "History is mostly well, though I find I care for the motivations of the time more than learning the dates." A frown "I am not doing so well at physical education and athletic moments. I would say I am better than average at the least at almost all other classes."

"Add combat skills and arts to your regime here." She says calmly.

A startled look, then "Are my... is my development in mystic arts substandard in some way?"

"I will consult with your tutors." She allows. "But weapons and arts are best wielded together. If you lag behind in physical education and athletics, you need support."

"I ..yes but, I confess, I have never seen you wield a sword, so your insistence startles me. I had thought our house placed magic far above steel"

A faint smile, mysterious. "You have not seen such, true. Ponder on -why-?"

"Because" She ponders "People will always wish to attack you where they think you are weakest, so it is best to offer them an apparent weakness... one that is not as vulnerable as they thought" Less and less a guess as she says it

She nods slowly. "True. As far as it goes. The first thing you said was about my not wielding a blade. Refer to that."

"I said I have never seen you wield a sword, so your insistence startles me. I thought our House placed magic far above steel'" She ponders it for extra meaning

"So if one wishes to appear weak where they are strong and vice versa... and you have never seen me with a blade...." She encourages.

"Then you must be quite good?" surprised indeed

A slight shrug, dismissing. "What your tutors agree.... we will meet."

A frown at something, two somethings. The more disturbing one is she has clearly missed what her tutor hoped she would find. The other?

"Sparring attempts make me hot and sweaty" a pout

"That is not a state that should bring you pause."

"Who.. who will be my tutor in ..the melee?" Wrinkled nose

A twist of her lips. "Sir Rostislav?"

"I do not think one can appeal to Varich for mercy easily" She says "Not even the baron"

"Perhaps a more tractable teacher?" hopeful?