#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I will protect Gwen with my life" Ivory assures, "And am a skilled swordsman myself. But thank you, Baron, and Dame alike, for looking after my charge"

Gwen is already following the Baron

"She has, through fate, coincidence, or choice, Chrysalised within my desmenses." He remarks. "I shall not simply hand the child over to a stranger, even one she knows."

His horse snorts from along the trail, the fae steed has kept his head, and the Baron retrieves the reins.

"Baron, please, the Dream Dance may have ended here, but it hardly started. Clearly she passed through a trod or other working, and she wouldn't be able to do that if she hadn't already begun her dream dance." He walks along "She is so far from home"

Gwen looks at both, and nibbles her bottom lip. She wishes she knew what the hell half these terms were. She's only fourteen, what isi t about these elves that make her want to stare at them like they were the sexiest seniors at the far end of a cafeteria?

And why is this talk of being protected irking her?

"Come. We can speak more freely inside." Though his voice is still mild, something about his tone has his thane speaking up now, quietly.

"He has requested thrice now, on his own lands - I'd advise you do not ask him to request again." Thane Linnea has taken up pace behind the small grouping, where Calanthe walks in front.

"My apologies," He says , though he had been following

"I did not mean to insult, and I would not be so crass as to refuse hospitality. Forgive my clumsy tongue"

They walk through the night, rather pleasant now that the stink of the motorcycles (and their riders) has faded, and, assuming no further interruption, reach the house. "As liege of these lands, I offer hospitality to you. Three days are customary, though as a new fledge, you would be welcome here until such time that you have been safely seen into fosterage. Silverwolf manor welcomes you, Child of the Dreaming. And, Sir Ivory."

"Thank you, ah, your highness?" Gwen says not knowing titles and shit. heck, she only barely caught onto the game of thrones craze

"Thank you, Baron" Ivory says as well

A laugh from Calanthe - oh, even mocking, her voice is like sweet silver bells -

"Lord Aiden will suffice, or Baron." The Baron replies.

And a scolding voice from within. "Aye Lord and Baron and all that, and you'd keep the poor gal out on the porch, and her still shining like a beacon! In, in wit' all of ye." Marigold has appeared and is by Gwen's side, brushing her off lightly and urging her inside.

Aiden looks half affronted, half amused, and allows them to be herded like stray chicks.

Linnea takes the horse back to the stables and to continue her patrols...

And indeed Gwen does shine.. chimera have grown stronger around her, brighter. The balefire might even flare a little

And she is herded.

Settled in a chamber, Calanthe seems to have lost interest now that there is no obvious threat or gain at hand. She toys with a glass of wine, and the Baron has taken a cup of strong, black tea for himself. Ivory is free to sample from a spread of refreshments, and Gwen, for the moment, is being given a short tour.

Aiden sips his tea. "There is not, to our knowledge, a trod between here and Jefferson City." A brow raised to the Liam. "How do you believe that she - your erstwhile dreamer- has come hence?"

Gwen wanders about in amazement

"I truly am not certain, Lord of Silverwolf" He admits "It maybe there is a trod that neither of us know of, or perhaps she has a treasure on her person that acted as a flicker flash and was imprecise? I myself had to beseach a friend to whisk me close as possible when I recieved word of where she was by a scrying attempt upon her. But however it came about, she has crossed many states in a seeming instant"

"The spear seemed the subject of much interest by those chasing her. Are these known to you?" Describing the thugs.

"No , lord. I thought them locals though. Some of the accents were very Northern. My own is a bit Southern"

"Mmhm. " Pondering for a moment on the nature of the chimera he had seen fading and blooming around her - any particular theme?

A strange mishmash of Nordic angles (to be expected with a troll) and Native American mythos... also, for some reason images from Imagine Dragons Music videos

He certainly does not comprehend the latter, but contemplates the first few. A small gesture to a steward, and they go to fetch Gwen back in, quite possibly now holding a big mug of cocoa, sweet milky coffee or tea, or hot mulled cider, whichever suits her taste. A sniff from Marigold, "Now don't you badger the dear, she's had a night. You drink that up, the sweet will do you a world of good."

Where one might almost see that as a scolding, the older boggan has a way about it that is half speaking to herself and as such, is just a lady nattering on, and not something to take offense at. And she seems skilled at that line.

"Thank you, Marigold. I.. it still feels so ..dream like, all of this" Gwen says

"Join us, please." He gestures to the comfortable chairs. "I would speak to you of how you arrived here."

Gwen nods "Yes, lord I.." She wobbles a bit but then sits "Sorry I'm. .not used to being taller than almost anyone. "

A soft 'hmmph!' as Marigold leaves them to talk, and Aiden says before she's quite out of earshot, "Just a few questions while it is fresh, as time does fade away potential answers for all of us. Marigold will have a comfortable room ready for you when you tire." Looking at the spear. "May I examine your weapon?"

She hands it over. It's a spear, but the feather and decoration and design speaks of Native American culture, or perhaps hollywood's take on it? The spear point seems razor sharp yet strong, of some black metal.

He accepts it, carefully looking it over - an hint of respect as he tests the tip and finds it razor honed. And, kens the weapon, checking for cantrips, or if it is in itself a treasure.

"I'm not sure how I got here.." She admits "I was in Missouri. Then... I saw someone stepping into an alley way. They dropped something. I figured I'd help out.. and picked it up. It was an old lady so I was like 'I can take her if she tries to mug me' and... then suddenly I was .. it was like a hundred voices"

A treasure indeed, to mortal eyes, it is a stick.

Not even that big a stick

But there is glamoru in it, what sort, too hard to tell yet

"Do you have what was dropped? It was not this, was it?" He offers it over for Ivory to look at as well.

Ivory looks over it, and shows himself to be educated "Interesting pattern. This is more north Eastern tribes than Southern"

"She dropped a key chain... " She reaches into a pocket "I got that too " She pulls it out "Whoa"

"It did not look like this" She says as it glistens

The Liam glances over at it, and his rose eyes flicker with interest

He notes the interest and also leans forward, curiosity evident. "Did you get a good look at this woman - after you took up her token? Could you describe her at all? Even the least remembrance may be helpful."

"At first she looked like an old woman, pretty good shape... then..she became a light far ahead of me" A sigh "I dont' remember what she looked like"

Over to the knight, he asks, "What thoughts have you that you may share? I wonder, if it is happenstance that dropped the fledge here, or if fate saw a reason for this visit." Also kenning the key, trying to see if there is a recognizable cantrip on it that he may determine. He offers her a silken handkerchief - clean, folded, and black silk, of course. "If you may, wrap the key in this before you place it away.. If that is linked to your travel, it may help avoid inadvertently triggering it and being dropped somewhere new and potentially dangerous.

"It's a trod key" The Liam says "I think. Some who are skilled at both fae realm and passage portal can open a trod early when they will. I suspect this lady dropped a treasure. But who drops a treasure willingly?" He ponders

"Thank you,Baron. Ah," She does so "What's a trod?"

"A path.. " And the Liam explains

Aiden's eyes widen - he recognizes what that is, even if he hasn't seen one before. "Such a thing to drop before a fledgeling." Murmured. And then eyes narrow a touch, as he thinks. "Jefferson City... that is the Barony of Earth Runes? I am not acquainted with them."

He turns to look to Calanthe who is examining her nails in apparent disinterest, though she watches the key from under lowered lashes. She replies to his unspoken question. "Sir Sergei and I have made each other's acquaintance. A fine gentleman. I have meant to visit his court. In sooth, a doorway? How convenient."

"You know Sir Sergei? " The Liam seems surprised

Gwen says "So I'm a troll... and I'm made of stone."

"Not all trolls have that" Ivory says "But yes"