#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I suppose we could have our Mountain look at it" He says

That last He being Storm Colton

"Assuming a beneficial enchantment," Aiden ponders, "There are options."

He steps over to Gwen, and offers in a quiet remark, "We elder Fae are bound by our codes to offer you mentorship and fosterage. I would not send you away if you did not wish to return to Jefferson. My hold is open, and there are trollish lodges as well that we could petition for you, should you wish."

"You needn't decide immediately, in any case. We will deal first with these would-be robbers."

Gwen looks at Aiden "i'm..kind of sucking in a fight. Do you even want me?" She whipsers

He leans in and says, sotto voce, "You are a troll. Seek within yourself and you will see the meaning of duty. A liege lord has the same to his vassals, and as you happened upon my land, you would be numbered amongst my people. Should you wish to be. But it shall be your choice,"

Aloud, he says, "I would appreciate to hear what your mountain sees in those shoes. Perhaps Miss Gwen may have an interest, or someone has a lady that may benefit."

"They don't seem to work for me for some reason" the fourteen year old says "I mean, I touch them, nothing. At least Danicia feels something"

She looks thoughtful again. Distracted... yes, Gwen is wondering

Danica offers the use of a police wagon to transport the folk to Dark Gate...

"Or make them walk, but if those pups don't leave off, that one won't have much shoe left." Commenting on the poor pooka.

"You wish to come with us, Baron? Or need you return to your own hold? We can send a courier as soon as our Chief has ruled fully. " The Storm says

Ivan has wrestled a boot clean off, and is now playing tug with his sister...

GRrrrr

"Now that I know what spooked her truly, I have a mare to check on. And these hounds earned well their meat today." Fondly. "Danica may accompany you to bring back a report. And we have yet a trod to examine fully."

"Yes," The Storm looks at Danicia "Please, and thank you for your assistance. Sir Ivory, a pleasure to see you again." Courtesies are observed.

Pups gathered up - Ivan refuses to relinquish the boot and is allowed to keep his prize! And back to the old gas station to check that trod for activity...

The Darkgate wish thier best, but when Gwen is offered a chance to go with them, she.. waves them off, for now "I want to see this through"

And so she returns with Ivory and Aiden, both to her fascinating individuals.

And the trod is checked out.

"It's locked, that's good. I mean, unless we want traffic flowing through"

"But which end holds the key?" He contemplates.

"A good question, but at times either end can be closed if one has the knack, or that treasure. Otherwise it goes on a schdule" The LIam says "But when? If I could willowhshiper a trod I might find out"

A brow raised, “Perhaps we can. I’ve honed my focus to be able to speak with ease to elusive creatures of mingled fae and mortal nature.” Fort WHUFFS, is someone talking of him? “I don’t imagine that extends completely to encompass to such inscrutable fae elements- but, an attempt could be made...” A stretch perhaps.

"If I lend you some glamour, the stretch could be made" He says "THough it as purely fae as glamour itself I think"

"Rather to make the attempt than risk an unattended doorway that opens at will."

"A fair point. " The Liam says and he prepares to feed the Baron glamour to help him work the willowhisper and ask the questions of the trod

He examines the mailbox and the key once more, and with the key in one hand and the other hand lightly resting atop the mailbox, he paces around it three times clockwise, and then three times widdershins. Stopping again before it, he softly intones,

"Ennyn Silverwolf n Earthrunes. Pedo Mellon a Minno. Im Aiden hain teithant i thiw hin." Tracing something before him in the air with a finger, slowly and delicately as though writing in swirling, twisting letters in an arc that follows the placement of where the trod doorway stands when visible.

It works.. but weakly... perhaps the Liam is just not very lucky?

One question only....

A wince - so many questions he'd had in mind. Who created you? What link do you have to this girl, if any? Who possessed last your key? But he settles on whispering only, "Without a key to trigger your door, by what rhyme or reason would you open or close for?"

"I do not work weekends, and tuesday I' am sealed. Wednesday you cannot get over my hump, Thor's day hastens me not a spark. Only one day that others dread, will I open at both ends."

Aiden looks a little wry, but pats the mailbox as he might a well-behaved hound. "It will open on Mondays alone without a key, or someone to force the lock from either end. That is useful -only one day to post a constant guard."

"Handy" A nod "Perhaps ask the rovers to visit?" Ivory suggest

A nod. "The 'Knights' of the Way." He adds. Still frowning thoughtfully, then he brightens a little. "Sir Sergei resides in Jefferson City, does he not? I have been meaning to discuss with him a potential new line for my horses. This may be useful."

"It might indeed be" Sir Ivory says "Though The Baroness herself is more the horse afficienado. He does however care for kennels as well as hawks. "

"I wonder if the baroness is fond of mysterious magical shoes." An aside, almost. "Good to know. Would you return to the Manor? It was quite a day, and scarcely afternoon. Or must you report to your liege with haste?"

"I thought Gwen and I might now go..." He says "SInce the matter of the raiders is settled"

Gwen says "Ah, I would like another day to think it over, please, Sir Ivory"

"You are welcome to it, and a third - that much at least is your right." He adds, "I think Marigold was glad of the company, she does like to cook and I seldom do justice to what she'd provide."

Didn't she mutter something about needing to hire an mathmetician to scale down recipes to bachelor TV dinner portions?

"I think, Baron, she thinks I make you more likely to eat with us" Gwen says "You should you know? Your people worry" Troll bluntness

"Mari sees me, I fear, as the boy she helped raise, and not the Baron who can well find a sandwich if needed." Dryly, but not upset. He is fond of this woman. "She'll threaten to leave for a hold that she can cook banquets for, but I do not think she'd abandon me wholly. Then who would make me eat?" A small smile - a joke!

"Come - I'll get the dogs their promised liver, then lunch." A bellow of barks lets up - they KNOW that word!

Gwen laughs at the dogs "Yes, my lord"

Ivory does not sigh outloud, but merely nods and follows.

Off the go! Bluebell will prance out later with a puppy to track and a promise of a gift for poor Davey, and maybe can even convince him to take it. And returns with skirts filled with wildflowers and a tale about the wolf, hawk and deer she hunted, so fiercely.