#anywhere

-----------

"It is a pleasure to speak with you, Baroness Dancingsnow. No trouble at all." The Eilunid Namer, Dame Artemis, promises smoothly. "Yes, you may invite such mortals as may be important to the ceremony. I do beleive in the value of those who know the Fledge best being present to see them ascend to full fledged Fae status. Assuming, of course, that they are monitored to avoid any... oh, ruckus, shenanigans, or fuss. Keep the pooka from telling them they must jump nude from a cake, and so forth. And of course, that they are properly returned and tucked back into their normal lives again once the ceremony has concluded."

"Protocals can and will be cast upon them if need be" She assures "But it does mean much to the star of the hour"

"Then by all means, see that it is done. Now, when will you be ready for me? Does the Lord of Silverwolf need to consult the stars and portants for a proper day and time? Or does this notice of "with all due haste" truly mean as it is written?"

Nadeen glides back and forth as she talks on the phone, "It would seem the world if not Da'an conspire to push our young fledge into action. A quest is thrust upon her."

A blueish-green one inspects Nadeen, but she is not Thistle. Time to move on!

Nadeen looks at the Never, amused "There maybe some extra chimera as well. Nevers adore the girl"

"Ohhhhh?" An intrigued lilt in her voice. "That is interesting, very interesting. Especially for a Nocker. Sidhe, and Pooka are more likely to draw their attention, I've seen. The former with raw charisma and the latter with pure force of personality. I am very much looking forward to meeting this fledge."

"And we are looking forward to having you. "(Presses send)

"Then I shall arrive tonight, and we can hold the Saining ceremony as soon as you and yours are ready."

"But, what of her brother-fledge? That one was certainly of much interest to the Countess. Young Arthur."

What to tell her, then a thought occurs. A dangerous thought

"Oh we have high hopes for Arthur, but with a Fior to follow on top of it...well, our potential heir need not be rushed. " Yes, put that out there. "Would be coming twice in a 3 week period be difficult to arrange?"

A pause. "The Countess will be pleased that you are considering the boy as heir. As you may know, we have high hopes for him - curious, scholarly, intrepid - in saining as a house member of Eilunid."

"Entirely possible... ah, I see. Would I be right in assuming you had hoped to have your curiosity for his nature satisfied at the same time?"

"Sometimes a secret revealed before it has come to fullness may lack satisfaction." She says. "I would be glad to name the boy, but the Countess states that local autonomy must be observed, and of course, her word is my command. As long as you deem him not ready, he will not be sained under your roof."

"At least, not by me." She adds.

She does notice the 'under your roof' "Well, we do guard our own rather possessively. Well, as the lad still needs a Fior, time will make it's demands of us all"

"It is true. Yet, in the hands of the weavers of magic and mystery, even time is but a plaything, is it not?"

"Forgive me, Dame Artemis, but am i to understand it is your desire to handle both on the same day? That it would be of assistance to you?"

"Oh, I didn't say that. My command is but to serve you." Smooth, slippery Eilunid.

"How silly of me to misread, I'm glad I asked for clarification. Even if i were to change my mind, I would have to ask young Thistle as well. I would not have her thinking she is but a shadow"

"It is easy to feel a shadow when surrounded by those who cast the brightest light. Still, in shadows lie depth, secrets, and mysteries that light does not always lay bare."

"Oh, Thistle is a bright girl in more than one ways, though yes, shadows should not be disregarded. "

"Though we may have our eye on Arthur, let it not be said that Thistle has avoided our gaze. It will be quite enlightening to see what her story tells us."

"Was there anything else, which you may wish for me to pass on to the Countess? Else, I shall start the preparations, and head to Silverwolf anon."

"Oh I assure you, Thistle is very much to be celebrated."

"Oh, should I think of anything else I shall alert you post haste and apologize for the scramble, thank you so much, Dame. I too look forward to the mystery to be revealed"

"It is a delicious mystery. Until we meet." The Dame ends the call.

Nadeen looks for her lord and lover

She finds him - not quite brooding, but thoughtful, sitting in his office. A bowl - this time, nice, solid silvery metal, in place on his worktable and filled with shards of glass that were once his favorite scrying mirror.

She kens to make sure he is not casting currently

He is not, he is just considering.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"My love, you should at least offer me silver." He says, though with a softening of his expression. He stands, and gestures to invite her to join him at his desk which has more than one chair.

She does, "I had a most interesting conversation with the Namer. She'll be on her way. she seemed, without being willing to put herself in debt, most interested in why we didn't also want to ake Arthur 's naming at the same time"

He nods slowly. "It is no secret that the Countess would very much welcome Silverwolf returning to an Eilunid banner. I suspect that has to do with it, perhaps even as much as the joy of solving the riddle of his name."

"I might have hinted that Athrur was heir, though i used the word potential" A blush "forgive, i wanted to buy us time"

"A clever bit of intrigue, though I hope that she does not hold us to that. His visions may not be the blessing they seem to be. What if they are granted from the dreaming, but he loses touch with reality, and reads them wrong? So much harm can come of false prophecies and misreading. He may yet be of a House we have no inkling of. Perhaps even the Tower of Balor. If he is touched by Fomorian blood, it might explain his impulsive nature - a mental flaw he may not be able to overcome. There is no end to possibilities, and his heritage is hidden from me."

"And you stress over this, my dragon. Your own pains and scars, you wold spare others. Is it possible your own protective instincts are at play? Wisely so in some ways, but Soothsay is a still heaing wound for you. No shame in that"

"I admit, I will be much more at ease once he has been sained. I mislike this mystery, even as I maintain that he is not ready for the next step. Mid-September cannot come too soon."

"Perhaps we should allow his saining early after all. " She says "He has done heroic things, and used his gifts for good. Further , I think thistle wants him to have it. And it is very likely to be a boon she requests. Not that we must grant it, but it all piles up, does it not?"

A deep frown. "Nadeen, we cannot. Even if I in good conscience DID feel him ready? Which I do not. I have already made a ruling on this. Were I to go back on my word at a fledge's whim, even to grant a boon, I would show weakness. If you were to grant this in my stead, it shows division, that we do not have a united front. No. Do not ask it of me, my lady. I do not wish to argue with you."

"what is the point of my ruling in the summer if if i can not dare disagree?'

not hostile, but curious "I know, we CO rule, but my voice was allowed to supersede in Winter and Summer. Now, i learn that is... not something meant to be taken off paper?"

He looks... uncomfortable. A dragon finding his nest of gold perhaps is a bit more hard and lumpy than desired. Aiden frowns, and hems.

Finally, "In the matter of Soothsay, Arthur is my student. I may have spoken in haste, and ire, when I should have consulted with you first. But I did so on the onset of disaster that he wrought through foolishness and impatience. I do not think he is ready then, and I do not believe it now."

A slow nod

"I admit I may have been.... harsh, when I said he may not be sained at all. But a proper Fior-Righ will set things right. He must prove himself, as have we all, and in doing so, gain the right to his Name. AND the Power that will give him with remembrance."