#baronyofthesilverwolf

"How kind of you to play my messenger, then, Dame" Nadeen says to her "But I wouldn't wish to trouble you. I t hink per chance, with gifts given here, I will go seek him out. It was nice meeting you all again. "

A small pout, somehow she feels she didn't get the better end of this, but not in any way she can put a finger on. "Very well. It does seem that there is much to take care of here. Bluebell, did I notice dust on the windowsills? For shame, when we have a noble guest. See that all of the sills - and windows, are washed anew. Perhaps Gwendolyn can help you with the higher windows you cannot reach." Standing, she bows to Nadeen.

"Baroness, a pleasure as always."

"Oh, the place looks lovely" Nadeen says then nods graciously to the Ailil "As always" And then she heads out.

Gwen hides a frown. She's not crazy how Calanthe treats Bluebell a times, but instead she moves to aid the pooka

After Calanthe retreats to her own suite, Bluebell indeed produces a dusting cloth - then another, and another, in many colors, from a sleeve or out of nowhere? And to reach the higher ends, if Gwen holds still and holds out a hand JUST SO, the delicate, light pooka will even BALANCE on one Troll hand, tip-toed, to dust the tops of the curtainrods. The Pooka exerts herself thusly until Gwen gives at least a smile, and works for a full laugh if she can get one.

"If this doesn't work out, we can hit the circus" Gwen finally smiles

"And from up here, we can pick all of the most sour grapes, before they can turn into whine." A smile back to Gwen!

Gwen lowers her voice "Why does the Baron put up with Dame Calanthe? I mean, yes, she's good with hawks but she's just.. mean"

"Da'an and the dreaming have granted that it is for the Sidhe to rule, and for the small folk to serve. Is she not but playing the part fate grants her?" Bluebell returns her question with another. "Rather, perhaps it is the master of hoof and hound that shies away from proper rulership, why, no wonder we are all a-skitter and a-flutter and not knowing our place?"

"Can't someone rule without being a jerk? " A brow knit

Bluebell's mouth makes a little "O" of surprise! "Mayhaps she never read that chapter? Though, I wouldst advise against a recommendation. Instead, one may see... if there are two ends of a spectrum, I'd rather take the lady on one end along with our lord far to the other, than any random mixture in the middle. He keeps his garden well, watered with memories and sighs, and she is a flower within it, for all that she may not choose to bloom."

"I don't quite understand, but okay." Gwen ponders "And yeah, noted. Don't mouth off to her or Ill get turned into a frog or something"

“I like frogs.” She smiles and finishes her dusting.

"Still wouldn't hop nearly as well as you"

“I should hope you haven’t a need for quite as much practice.”

“Oh, they forget to eat the pastries! We should clean that plate.”

"Oh wweellll... if you think so"

“I do. A clean plate is a happy plate.” She recites perkily.

And she sits down to help clean that plate

...

Elsewhere, Nadeen finds Aiden in a state of high excitement. He is pacing outside his stables, one of his horses out in the paddock, and the mare bobs her head up and down, pacing along side him on the other side of the fence as he talks to her- or himself it seems, with her to listen.

Nadeen scootches closer

“...and of course it may just be rumors, heresay, or just plain being mistaken, but honestly, can I take that chance? Imagine, Flickerfoals in MY stables...” he is practically as starry eyed as a Julius looked earlier.

"It would be glorious" Nadeen says

He startles, glancing over, his head tossed back almost in perfect harmony with the mare who tosses her mane and whickers to the Baroness.

“Oh, Nadeen.” A smile, and he rubs a hand through his hair. “Apologies, I just got the most amazing news...”

"Oh no, the apology should be mine, Aiden." She says and moves to him "I'm here without warning"

"What news?"

He pauses a moment to look around, then draws nearer. “There is a rare breed of horses known as the Akhal-teke, which have an astonishing coat that gleams as though made of molten gold. They are rare, but not unknown... maybe you have heard of them?”

"Oh yes" She says with delight "They glimmer like the sun. Said to be intelligent too"

“There are herds of wild horses in Turkmenistan for a back breeding program- I personally helped finance one of the latest projects, of reintroducing them to their original homes in the Karakum desert. Rumors have been told for, oh, generations of mystical golden horses that still lived there, but could never be tracked down or caught. Even drone footage failed to track them, but I thought if they DID exist, then the reintroduced herds May lure them out...”

"Oh my, new news then of progress?"

A flash of a grin. “Some are hoping to find original lines of akhel tekes, but I’m looking deeper- I think that these may actually be a Fae strain, and the rumors of them vanishing into the very sand- a protective fuddle could explain fooling a person, but not a drone... I think they might have abilities that border on the higher ends of Wayfare. Ergo the name....”

He colors a little. “It’s a silly name. Or rather, foolish of me to think of naming something that may not even exist...”

She shakes her head "No, bold, hopeful, imaginative. If WE do not dare to dream, what's the point?"

“There have been VERY promising sightings! An Eshu I’ve worked with said she saw a stallion vanish before her very eyes, one she is sure is not of our original hard but must have been drawn in by the mares in heat. But when she followed, his tracks vanished. The winds blew away the traces within minutes, but she saw it clear as day- hoofprints, then Nothing!”

"Eshu can be prone to exageration, but if anyone could find one , they could "

She smiles "You have a nice smile, by the way"

A trifle bashful, it seems. “Lady, you needn’t flatter, it’s not as though we are on court protocol here.” But he doesn’t look displeased. “There is so much to organize- airfare will be difficult with the lockdowns, but there are ways and Ways...” stopping, and frowning slightly.

“I should not go.”

A sigh "Perhaps not. Duty is duty. " Then a thought "Perhaps? Perhaps I could help you?"

“So many things are changing, so swiftly. A new trod, new fledge, rumors of fruition on my endeavors, Mishka’s litter nearly grown, arrangements not yet begun for the new foal to arrive... not to mention Calanthe’s interest in the boy...” he looks up, a bit lost, but then gives a decisive nod.

“I must consult my Seer. He will know what should be done.”

"Your seer? " She bends down to pet her own dog

He nods, and seems to calm a bit. “Yes, one of my most trusted advisors. He reads portents like I might read a book.” A smile as he kneels and ruffles Pyshka’s ears. “Or this lady’s delight to be with her mistress.”

"Oh Pyshka feels I would be lost without her" Pleased , then "Well, I do ... If it helps. Maybe Dagmar and I can help somehow? Find the horses.. we do not rule and have more free time"

He gives this some thought. “I am certain your chieftain would find in the invitation, a dozen ways my forked tongue is seducing you both to certain doom in the desert wastes.” But, he still looks thoughtful.

"I am the one inviting, not the Chieftain" she says "And her boon will mean when I tell her it was my suggestion she'll have to at least consider it might be so"

“I wonder.” Standing, he moves over to stroke the neck of the mare he had been sounding ideas off. “Have you met the Baroness Coradel?”

“Fiona, of Eartheunes.” He adds.

"Briefly, she's..very Fiona"

A small frown as he nods. “I have heard as much, but also that she has a passion for horses. Dragons and lions are not common bedfellows- Ah, no entendre intended- but I had thought to ask her thoughts of these rumors. I hear the library at her holding is impressive, and may hold helpful hints about what we seek.”

" I regret to inform you, her library is under watch by a sluagh" A sigh