#baronyofthesilverwolf

To say Nadeen is impressed is to put it lightly "How incredibly tasteful"

(As House Varich claims the first post in this Virgin Room)

"I warned you that he's not likely to be here." Calanthe remarks, as staff line up to greet her and take her gloves, her boots, and bow to the baroness. "Can I offer you refreshment? A tour of the mews?"

"A tour would be lovely actually. I do regret I wasn't here before, thank you, Chancellior. "

"Please, call me Calanthe, Baroness. I do appreciate your assistance. I find the ins and outs of commoner-held holds... intriguing, but foreign." A small shake of her head. "I don't see how they managed to hold what they did for so long." She adds, "Not that they didn't succeed, and thrive. Silverwolf would be glad to call Rivervale an ally someday, I am sure, rather than, mm, neutral territories."

"It is easy to forget that the Chieftain is Count Hemlock's right hand" She says "I think the Autumnsbane would discourage too much closeness. You know how the House of the High Summer can be." She sighs

A sigh. "Why a gwydion lodge, of all places." She shakes her head, as they walk down the hallway that has rows of portraits, each gleaming of a different dreamer's work, all of the same subject. A woman who looks similar to Calanthe, and Nadeen may have seen in the locket Connor eagerly shares to anyone who will look.

"The Baron prefers a simpler abode. Fine furnishings but without the austerity of a castle. The Manor House, we call it, though he has others, this is the main building."

Indeed, everything is quality, falling just short of ostentatious. Though of course, subjective.

"A manor is nothing to sneer at. Some focus on the miltant, clearly he focuses on the elegant" And she's not lying. That does seem to be the man's priority "I notice, excuse, a theme of subject in the art"

"He never did move on after my sister died. It's been ten years, but he won't even speak of remarrying." A frown. "I find it morbid, to be honest."

"He's rather bury himself in horse... stalls... than the courts. It's hardly AILIL."

"I confess to surprise, your house has a reputation as masters of the political, and marriages are a potent way to build alliances or power bases. I studied the subject though decided it was too soon"

And she nods, agreement.

"However, there is an advantage to him playing against type." She ponders then says "I am sure you have advised him as best you can, but well I know as an advisor myself one can only offer a path, not make them step on it"

"It's part of why I haven't sought an alliance for myself. Without me here, this place would fall to pieces." Clearly, she believes it.

A sort snort nearby from a boggan - but when Calanthe turns, she is bowing and clearing her throat. "Lady, Baroness. The lord is at the southern kennels and expected back tomorrow. Unless you'd like us to send an urgent missive? He is not far, but he is preoccupied. It's the Carcharoth litter again."

Annoyed. "If those mastiffs are giving him so much trouble, he should just-" She stops, and smiles to the Baroness. "As I said, he spends so much time with his dogs. What say you, Baroness?"

"I do not want to presume, but if it aids a softening of your work I can wait here a night, or I can seek him out at the kennels. I do not wish to be a burden" She looks about, nods at the boggan "An urgent missive seems a bit misleading"

The boggan's expression may agree, but she is carefully silent, waiting for an order, a schooled response.

"Can you ride? It is down a trail - he keeps his fae hounds away from the roads, of course. We do have an english side-saddle if that suits you."

"I ride quite well, thank you, not as well as some, and a side saddle will be fine" Nadeen says

A bow of her head, apologetic without quite saying the words. "I expected no less, it is simply the gown. The finest tailors may falter at a train drawn through the kennels." And she calls for two horses to be saddled.

"Yes, It would be a shame to marr it. I take it balls and galas are rare here so dresses less worn?"

A sigh. "It's true. We're already so far north, and while rich in many things, a trod of our own is not one of them. We have neighbors, of course, and I've started inquiries, but it is a process. And the Baron has grown into such a hermit..." She mounts Aquilla, and Nadeen is presented with a horse of pure black. The steward introduces the horse as a mouthful she may not remember, "Tauremornalómë... but she'll answer to Lommi."

"Might I inquire what your sister was like, Chanceillor, I see her image everywhere but what was her personaltiy?" She strokes the horse, "Tauremornalómë...lovely. "

"He does insist of those silly names." She clicks her tongue to Aquilla, and brushes her flank with the crop just lightly to have her turn. "I prefer Latin over that invented silliness." A bit down the road. "Dahlia... she was sweet. Most everyone loved her, she had a way of speaking even to the simplest servant... oh, she looked a fool for it, but they loved her. Mortal, you know, touched with the blood but not blessed with a soul. Perhaps that helped her relate to the lower kiths."

"Kinain can have the most amazing gifts" She agrees and mounts and readies to follow "Dahlia... lovely name. Yes. Good servants are a treasure"

Nadeen's horse lifts her head as she strokes it, and a bit of a lift in it's steps. A soft gait, shy of a canter - one that kicks up less soil to dust her dress.

"Speaking of gentle" A nod "Easy gait"

"He does what he does well." A nod. "Noble horses enhance the noble rider."

"And I hope vice versa" A smile "I like to think I make any steed look better" humor

It is a pleasant ride, the two nobles. They pass a thane on patrol who stops to bow to the lady, but continue on their way. Coming up to the kennels, which are well lit against the darkening evening.

And the Varich says "Your thanes seem most dutifiul"

Where some kennels may be little more than an outbuilding attached to a series of chain link cages topped with tarps, this is obviously a much different affair. They are still enclosed, but with wood and wire fences, fully roofed and adjoining to a series of buildings, and with a large grassy field scattered with training toys. And it does not smell in the way an animal shelter might.

"Yes, they are. We had an attempted robbery not too long ago, and we'd rather not deal with that messiness again. Mortals get desperate, and trained hounds can sell for thousands."

"Horses as well, but those are harder to fence - at least, on mortal markets."

"Yes, we have our own fae hounds protecting the horses, and we keep an eye on the hounds" Nadeen nods and looks about "This is not what I expected. Much more natural in seeming, or at least 'less artificial?'"

"Who goes there?" Calls a voice, and Calanthe leads them inward. "Fae hounds do not flourish in poor settings. It costs more, this layout, but the outcome has been profitable."

Nadeen works on her hair. Touching things up.

A cavalcade of barking, and a sidhe approaches, looking... somewhat less than regal. Oh, he's still handsome, eye-bleedingly so, with those dark curls and expressive eyes, and perfect alabaster skin. But the effect is a bit marred by his work clothing, and one arm wrapped up in padding that is ripped and torn - is that a touch of red showing through? "Calla? What is..." And he stops, looking at Nadeen in surprise. "... Ladies. I fear I was not expecting a visit."

The Baroness , having adjusted her hair, smooths her dressing then gives an elegant curtsy, "Pray, forgive . I did not mean disruption to your hold and it's hard working servants who have been nothing but kind. I am Baroness Nadeeen Dancingsnow ap Varich, Envoy from Rivervale. "

He rubs his eyes, the approaches. "My lady Baroness. Forgive my appearance. I was working with the latest line of Ovcharkas. " He tries to make sense of this. "ap Varich, of Rivervale? Ah. You sent the letter, when Dame Hammerstrike could not attend Midsummer."

"Is the Dame with you?" A look shot to Calanthe asks for explanation.

"Yes, Count Hemlock had his own event, and as he is the liege over the county," An elegant shrug, "But I do hope your midsummer went well here. It was no doubt grand. " A shake of her head "And no, Dame Dagmar is not with me. Dame Calanthe visited us during a time of the most wretched weather... to see your son"

He straightens up, brushing off his shirt. A fruitless endeavor.

"Is that so?"

At the mention of Ovcharkas She did look intrigued

His relaxed look, somewhat surprised at the appearance of guests has mostly fled, and he has a cooler, stiffer expression. "Ah. So you are not here to see the bear dogs, I take it."

"Just as well, this litter is not nearly ready to be shown."

"If I had known of them before this, I assure you, an Ovcharkas would be of great interest. We Varich are of those lands too"