#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Well, if duty calls, I shouldn't wish to detain you." Delicately taking a bite out of a cookie.

"I do not doubt" Nadeen smiles. Briefly wishing the cookie were a magic one to turn Calanthe into an eshu, setting her to travel, then wearing off and leaving her far , far away

"Books? " A surprised look "Oh neat. "

"Yes," Nadeen explains "The adventures of Silverhand if you like fantasy fiction, and another book that's something of a primer.. though I have no doubts you're learning all you need"

Calanthe observes, watching to see what may be in that mystery box. Books, eh? "Silverhand - is that a reference to your, ah, 'Chieftain'?" She asks. "So kind of you. Though we must be sure not to spoil them, after all, is not service well provided it's own reward?"

"oh the Silverhand chonicles are fiction," Nadeen says "Just a fantasy trilogy set in a fantasy world. Though to us I suppose they're really more like alternative history. " Nadeen doesn't mention Vali used Brekke as inspiration. Nor does she make a fuss about the book that talks of troll lodges or the like that is part of the 'primer'. To Calanthe's other comment, Nadeen says "We all serve, true, Dame Calanthe but they are our subjects and fellow kithain, and what we have by virtue of being sidhe, they may strive for with merit. Besides, for Gwen, it's a welcome to our world gift" A nod to Gwen "And I do hope you like it, Gwen. A welcome to you from behalf of myself, and the trolls at Rivervale"

"How is my dear nephew doing? I trust that Knight of his isn't working him too hard? Such a sweet dear, Connor is."

"Well, we mustn't spoil him, Dame Calanthe" Nadeen smiles back

Gwen says "thank you very much for the books, your ah..." She guesses for a lady baron it's "Ladyship"

"You're welcome" Nadeen says and has some lemonade

Julius arrives back, and bows in the entryway to the study. "My apologies, Lady Dancingsnow. Baron Aiden is currently on a long-distance call with one of his business associates and it wasn't something I felt I could interrupt."

Calanthe takes interest in that, as nice segue from having to respond to Nadeen's return barb. "Who was he speaking to?" Julius clears his throat and offers, "I believe one of his horse traders, the ones in the middle east."

"Of course not, Julius, and you were right not to" Nadeen says "One of the boxes is for you"

He blinks in surprise. "For me, Lady?"

Calanthe purses her lips slightly - trying to decide between wanting to know more about this business call, and see what the other gifts may be.

"Yes, Julius- Consider it a thank you for tolerating the moments of Noble ire I am sure to expereince at least once while you know me" Nadeen says

The Ailil knight finally settles into her chair, looking somewhat irritated, but she covers this well with a sip of her tea. She can find out about the call later. She always does.

"Surely not," he smiles, and Julius accepts the package with a bow, and opens it. Meanwhile, whispering in the hallway just outside of the room,

"No, you shouldn't all go rushing in with hands out!" Gently scolding. "But petals drop seldom from the cherry blossoms, and I must look to catch them in the air..." Plaintive.

Pharoah Sanders's collection "I admit, " Nadeen says "I'm not familiar with his work, but you liked Coltran and I thought this might be of similar vein?"

His eyes widen and he shoots her a quick grin. "The king of 'If you're in the Song, Keep Playing' himself! Thank you, Lady." He bows again. "Um, it sounds like Bluebell would like to bid you welcome as well, Lady? I don't presume to judge who you may have tags for in your box of delights, but I could see who can be rounded up." He offers. "In due cause - or would that be, due Claus?"

"Oh is THAT who he is? " She says "Honestly what I don't know about Jazz could fill libraries but I'm glad you like him and.. ouch, that pun. "A tisk "Yes yes.. please Bluebell come in and save me"

Gwen watches the event

Bluebell escapes from Marigold's well-meaning chiding, and slides in to slip into a deep curtsy. "The mountains could not come to mohamed," She says apologetically, "For they guard our borders from raiders without slender, strong and spry goat's legs to climb o'er." The pooka explains, and casts a hidden glance through lowered lashes over at Julius... who is watching the pooka, clearly smitten.

Calanthe rolls her eyes at this bit of silliness.

"Oh, well, they can open them later" Nadeen says speaking of the thanes "But Bluebell, here is yours" She offers

"Snow through the sun's rays becomes water to a parched blossom..." Accepting the package, and sneaking a peek - she carefully opens the paper along the folds so that it can be saved and reused later.

It appears to be a pillow or cushion of some sort? Only there's a remote?

Her head tilts to one side, and she lightly taps the button on the remote.

It changes colors

softly, and gently

"It reminded me a bit of you, light in the gloom" Nadeen says

"I know a nocker who says they can rig it with music and othero ptions but.. I hestitated to take them up on it"

She watches it for a moment, the lights reflected off her large and liquidy chocolate eyes, and then hugs it to her chest. "Velvety soft as my own ears, comforting and uplifting - Lady, for shame, which Pooka did you leave cruelly bereft of fur, but that they should comfort me?" Bowing her head again to the Baroness with a smile.

Julius sighs softly - one can imagine that he'd like one of them as his pillow indeed.

Nadeen says "No pookas were harmed in the making of this product. It's on the label " a chuckle

She is no boggan, but Julius is clearly smitten and she makes a note of it

"I shall hold it close and think of you every night." She says, in a softly teasing tone, retreating.

Calanthe hides her boredom behind a cookie that she is idly crumbling to dust.

Nadeen chuckles "You're welcome." A look about "Marigold?"

Marigold looks up from where she was quietly refilling the iced tea and setting out a new plate of delicate pastries. Somehow she had snuck past while gifts were being opened! "Oh, yes, Baroness?" A smooth curtsy without dropping as much as a crumb.

"I would like to give you your gift as well, not for anything you've done, I know boggans can be testy about that, but simply for your kind nature"

Her cheeks color and a hand pats her chest. "Oh, the joy of your visit is gift enough for this old lady, young miss. You're too sweet. But I sense that you also will not take no for an answer, so, well, I'll graciously accept." Beaming at the Baroness, even as Calanthe frowns a touch as the steward thanks her so casually.

A small music box? "Place it in the sunlight at a window ledge somewhere, please"

Marigold admires it for a moment even silent, then moves over - oh, a small frown, and a cloth produced from somewhere wipes off the sill, and she sets it in the sun shining in.

And sweet music plays, a voice sings softly a tune she may not understand, but then a chimerical marigold forms up from the box, blooming sweetly, and spinning lightly in circles.... the sun light about it is not so much reflected in rays but as in drops of light that seems to hang in the air about it like suspended glowing rain drops as the music plays.

"It's a Ukranian song called Marigolds... if you look carefully you can see the words on the leaves and petals"

"In engish I mean" She blushes "it's a sad sort of song but it's also sweet and I thought you might enjoy it playing in the kitchen.. if it's..too melancholy I can find something else"

Marigold is speechless, and even Calanthe has leaned forward to watch and listen in interest.

And as it winds to completion, she carefully picks up the music box and cradles it. The edge of her apron taps lightly at the corners of her eyes.

"No, miss, I think this song suits me very well. It's lovely. Too much, really. Oh, you sweet girl."

Nadeen blushes lightly "All part of my nefarious plan, I assure you"

She sniffs, and straightens her apron, carefully tucking the gift away. "You think you have sweet old Marigold fooled, do you." The boggan smiles. "I've seen my share of sidhe tricks, and you'll need to get up earlier in the morning to pull one over on me." She says, enigmatically.

"If you're not to stay for supper, I'll have a basket set up for you when you go, and will not accept any answer other than, 'Yes, ma'am.' " She instructs Nadeen.

"No doubt," Nadeen smiles and then promptly adds "Yes, Ma'am"

Gwen snerks at this just a bit

A nod of approval and Marigold heads off, adding before she goes, "Now everyone be sure to thank the Baroness, that's good lads and lasses." Grins on more than a few faces as she vanishes.

"Well, as amusing as this all has been, I'm sure that these folk have work - or studies - they are neglecting." A glance to Gwen in particular. Was she supposed to be somewhere right now? Not that she remembers... "I'll be sure to tell my Lord that you stopped in to play with his smallfolk."

Gwen squirms a bit. Did Calanthe catch her snerking?

But she does say "Thank you again, Baroness"