#anywhere

The tea is delicious, if thea does say so herself

"How have you searched for him?"

"Some soothsay, but that is vague, stronger now that I'm sained. Mostly I keep track of rumors of Dream Dances regarding nobles. We do tend to be more celebrated as a kith"

"You have Soothsay?"

"I am but a beginner, your excellency, but I can work an omen. "

She nods. "How do you keep track of rumors?"

"With frustration chiefly" a chuckle, "But among Caer Faliken's elite, one soon who talks the most, and who sees the most, and how to coax them into trading places. Bogggans, of course, are happy to share gossip, but it can be a lot of smoke with very little fire at times." A sip "Sluagh well, well, Varich and they have old quarrels. So my rumors come from fellow nobles, some boggans, and one or two agents."

"A significant handicap." Without censure.

"True, my position as a Liaison has been of use in that regard, but, at times it does feel like finding a needle in a haystack in a windstorm that has not settled"

"What do you know of your father?"

"A great lord of House Varich, a count of immense power, so much is lost, but I remember him walking the halls of amber and frost, and the black tiled towers.. there were glome guardians and the fire spirit bound to the bale danced so beautifully. Father .... he had eyes like mine, I think"

The Countess watches her a moment.

"I recall words being SAID to Dagmar by him... and to me ... but.. the details are lost.. The Return will seem as chaos, but there is a pattern to all things. It is not a fall, but a passage, you will go through frost, you will go through fire, and you will see many gates. and..something about which oen to take"

She nods slowly. "You have researched these words, of course."

"I have, but father had poetical tendencies at times, probably wooed mother but very frustrating for those of us trying to remember through the mists. If you have a theory from such a small snippet I would welcome it"

"I do not, as of yet." She sips. "You have assistance in this matter"

"Sir Frank is competent, but it is not his area of expertise." She sips

"Sir Vali has assist me somewhat. He either has no vision of my father's return or chooses not to reveal what he does see"

"And, of course...." she trail off.

"Are you offering to do the same, your excellency? " Unsure

"You have a certain amount of my sympathy." She acknowledges.

"There was a time I would have disdained sympathy as pity, but I am reminded of a line from a movie I saw, a young Gascon, full of himself is offered a sword by his father's old friend a captain of the musketeers. The young bravo says something like 'I do not ask for charity' and the captain retorts 'then you're very likely to get it, are you you young man?' I liked that exchange. The sword was a form of power, whatever the captains' reason, he offered power. Pride is a strength, but not if you let it keep you from bettering your situation. Power is a virtue by which all other virtues are made possible"

"Machiavelli."

"An interesting man, I know that the Prince was not his true view point but rather given to please the lords of the time, but there was insight in many of his writing. I am but a layman at some history, but despite the fact they were not slavic, I think father might have liked some of the De Medicis" Wryly "For myself? I have some admiration for Katherine the Great. If she did not at least have sidhe blood in her , she should have"

"Mmm...." she might be amused.

"As for your sympathy, I will accept it, of course. And any benefits it might entail, but I admit I am cautious of if there are expecations in return?"

"Caution is an underappreciated trait."

"True. So... with that in mind, what charity would you offer?"

"I have Arts that might help."

"It is said you are potent even by your house's standards. What would you need from me for this?"

"Blood of his blood would be powerful."

"And place me in your power," She says thoughtful, "The Chieftain does not like you. Her daughter seems to think you're wicked, but Siv is given to drama."

"Well, what is a modest woman to say to that?" She brushes invisible dust from her skirt.

a soft laugh does escape the Varich at that, "Pardon, I was blunt I know. I blame trollish influence. Might I have your word, not an oath, that you would not use this against me or the Chieftain? "

"No." Amused.

"I thank you for your honesty, I thought i might pressing charity there" She admits with a sigh, but there is a note of shared amusement to it.

"I know my own nature too well. But, I will say there are safeguards on me from exterior forces. You should be safe."

"No risk, no reward," She says to herself, "Very well. One drop. I fancy my blood worth it in quality rather than quantity"

"And, of course, my gratitude. I do not wish to seem some wretch that is not aware there is an honor in having a sorceress of your status use her blood in a working"

Akanthea nods. "Not today, however. I wish you to sleep on the proposal."

Ack, Flee the Dread Sovereign

"Perhaps for the best, let me know if you wish to assign a price to this. That would affect my choice I think"

"I think there -should- be a cost. I will think on it."

"Then I suppose we both will sleep on the proposal," She gives a slight smile, "You seem a most interesting woman, your excellency. I would not for the life of me want you as an enemy."

"Poised, graceful, cunning.... and preceptive."

A delicate blush, perhaps calculated, perhaps sincere, possibly both "most gracious. I should take my leave so we may both think over today's meeting, and, I am sure you have many demands on your time. I also have some smaller duties to attend to. Pray forgive?"

"Of course. Thank you for a most pleasant visit."

"The same, your excellency. I enjoyed it as well." And having set her cup down, she gives a curtsy, and withdraws. She does hold herself well, the thanes and servants part for her even before their training kicks in fully. She has bearing.

There is someone available to escort her home.

Indeed, while she is not rude, that escort is..well, assumed with almost casual certainty. Like a sun accepting that she will have globes of a less grandeur about her.