#anywhere

*****

Countess Thea's reports focus, as they should, mostly on Charm, spies, messengers, agents of all sorts bring her news of every city town and street to one degree or another in her domain. However, it wouldn't be an Eiluned hold if one didn't learn of other things going on elsewhere. How very curious, Autumnsbane's lands had quite the intrigue.. as a Daireann twit had his lust for revenge used by a Balor Countess. Naturally, Rivervale ended up involved. And things escalated. What's interesting is that the Balor Countess who used the Daireann Baron not only had her plan to put a Balor baron on Gildas' throne ruined, it was usurped. This smacks of a counter intrigue, and frankly is NOT the Chieftain's style.

What's more, said Countess of Balor, has grown quiet, politically speaking. Yet her agents are making inquries.

This is by now, month old news

She sets the reports aside with a sigh. Preparations have been made. And old flames do sometimes die.

"That boring?" Adelaide, heir and wilder inquires

"To me." She hands the reports over. "To you?"

"Anything that involves Tiffany and Vali, even indirectly , is something I want to keep up on. " A look at the notes "And I have been in some conact with Gerd. She enjoys interacting with me , not just because of friendship, but because the idea she might be being manipulated by me annoys one of her past lives" a smile "Seems agreeable to both of us," She studies then frowns "Must be more than this to it though. This is.. at best, a lame attempt at a tease. The Balor countess has withdrawn from politics but sent out agents? that's like discussing unusually heavy rain but refusing to theorize on the full causes. I know we want facts but, are our spies on the right pills?"

"Are you too close, Adelaide?"

"Your friends and such..... can you see clearly?"

A frown "I think so, there was a time when I let my DIStrust of commoners blind me. You helped me.. mitigate that. " She ponders "You think my friendship now does the same?"

"Don't all friendships?"

"Perhaps to some degree, but they are also a source of knowledge, and power. If one can take one's prefences into account, adapt and adjust for them, the benefits out weigh down side IF one is selective in who they call friend" A disdainful sniff "Social media 'followers' do not count as friends and shouldn't be confused as such"

"Yes."

"Which.. was not your point" She blushes a bit then nods "I will try to remember Gerd's biases and take them and my own into account." She ponders "Ah, Gerd tells me that Fort Davis texas is now the Barony of Bright Winds, and under Baroness Derrywydd Truthbranch aka Sparrow's rule"

"Should we send an agent there?"

"No. Officially, no."

A nod , though she looks a bit amused at something

The Countess is...... occupied.'

the amusement fades, and she tilts her head and kens

(Perhaps to be continued)