#baronyofthesilverwolf

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"SILVERWOLLLLLF" Gwen almost howls

as the return trip has even stoic trolls feeling amped. She loved Pennons even if she got the snot beat out of her for 10 minutes

Calanthe is in a good mood - the 'shared' win had her in a bit of a tiff, but the money she won on Doomwind made up for that. Oh, it's not like she needs the money, but it's the principal of the thing. And even if she turns up her nose at the common element, wins by Marigold and Bluebell are still wins for Silverwolf, and Aiden was victorious as well, with his horses!

Briar is very well pleased - THEY won their bet on the backalley brawl, after all. She counts herself in that win, of course, as it was her idea. At least, that's how she remembers it, and tells it, once she has a chance to get some of the stable and kennel hands she can trust to enjoy the tale without blabbing too much. Of course, it will get around sooner or later, but that's the problem with Boggans.

Aiden is pleased, of course, by the wins, but also quiet, brooding. The steward recognizes that look, and sets him up with a glass of wine in his study with a quiet congratulations - allowing him polite escape from the bustle of return.

Bluebell is immediately swung up into Julius's arms, and spun around! She batters at his back ineffectually with her small fists, "You brute!" She cries, but through a blush and a smile, and finally submits to granting him a kiss, though anything MORE is relegated to off screen.

Marigold gazes at Gwen in shock, her bushy eyebrows up high. "My conversation tart? Entered, and it took a PRIZE?" Her cheeks flush with surprise and pleasure. "Oh, you sneaky, backhanded... " Her complaints are buried as she gives Gwen a hug tight enough to even make a stone troll squeak!

Gwen probably does give Briar more of her share of some winnings than is the redcap's due. But to Briar's credit, she did make the cookie possible by talking to a fellow redcap somehow and more. She positively GLOWS as she sees Julius whirliing Bluebell around. Her skin maybe stone but her heart is as mushy as any teenage girl's.

And then there is Marigold who..

"Squeak" Goes Gwen as she's hugged tight by the boggan, "I mean.. yes I know I'm terrible and should have told people... but I was afraid you'd say no. Isn't it an Ailil saying 'better to beg forgiveness than ask permission'?" mischievous eyes behind her innocent attempt at an expression

She laughs, and gives Gwen a playful slap on the wrist as she releases. "You have been paying attention. As long we win, and we did! Oh, but that is surprising. I would have thought that such a modern holding would favor fancier dishes, or ones with a touch of glamour or pizzazz! My baking is all old fashioned. Not that it isn't GOOD, stick-to-your-ribs fare!"

"It's GREAT" She protests, and shows the ribbon "Oh the ribbon, it has magic"

"Mm?" She accepts it with a raised brow, unsure about new and unknown magics in HER kitchen...

"It can turn into a table cloth"

"Ohh?" She gives it a tentative shake, and her hands are filled with red cloth. "Oh, my! It's not our normal hold color, but a splash of red never did any harm. Now, if it were in Gwydion green and gold, then there might be a fuss!"

"No one gave you any guff, did they?" Concerned for a moment.

"Guff?"

"Sass, insolence, nonsense. No one gave you any trouble? A dragon in a nest of falcons - we have our strengths, but they have numbers. Oh, and discrimination is live any well, much as we may wish to be better than our mortal counterparts."

"Oh, there were a few glares and double takes, but honestly I've gotten more shit in the mortal world" She covers her mouth "Sorry about the language"

She tuts, and is softly herding her towards the kitchen. "That, unfortunately, is what it is. But if it ever gets beyond looks, you don't settle for that treatment. Be polite until they no longer are, and then return any treatment you get in kind - the Baron will back you up if there's any funny business. That Ailil mark, it may be a flag, but it's also your shield. We protect our own."

Tiny, yet fierce, as she leads Gwen to a snack tray set out. "Now I know you probably ate all sorts of treats there, but there's always room for a cuppa and something sweet. And you must give me the news of anything and everything I missed!" Settling in for a gossip session!

"Thanks" She beams at the talk "Lin and Dan have been teaching me out to fight though I'll never be as good I can take a hit" Memory of a certain beating endured . When Gwen is lead to the snack tray "Well, I guess I could tell you about the scandal regarding Kerri's thighs.. oh no, you wouldn't interested in tthhhat" light tease/test .But she adores Marigold and would not deny her any story lightly so yes she'll tell

"The star baker from Bergen? What about her? She didn't... no, everyone knows she's devoted to that Rover of hers. Go on!"

"Well, it wasn't her at all, the thighs were from Emu, a recipe she had perfected two years ago or so it's said... and this fellow claiming to be 'Kerri Grant', which I doubt was his real name because well Jackal pooka, was using her good name to sell his goods. he called out praise for biting and licking Kerri's thighs! It was a scandal born of no truth but that certainly didn't make use of her name for such and that form of advertisement any less disturbing for her I'm sure. Well, I don't know the whole story but later his booth was wrecked ..some say by an angry redcap who wanted the real deal! he left after that.. but then, oh the singing competition..." And she explains how THAT ties in

Marigold is an expert at the boggan arts of gossip, and if she's gotten a little dusty at it, sequestered away up here, she's at least not rusty! Gwen's teacup is kept full and steaming so that she never lacks for a sip, and little pastries ply her to go on and fill in the details. They are bound to both be quite full and satisfied by the time Marigold has teased out all the details.

"I don't suppose you're a singer?" She comments, slightly disappointed that they didn't have an entry into that department.

"ME? NOooo" She says then realizes "I'm afraid not. I might be able to write down the words and give Julius a crack at it?"

"Oh, maybe. He's an odd duck though, his passion runs more to management - see, I make sense of that, seeing everything all set up and running smoothly is a beautiful thing, but he can play a bit too, I've never known the Satyr who couldn't. I've heard him serenading Bluebell now and again, oh, it makes me feel young. But speaking of Pan's tribe - what can you tell me of this new Knight who our Lord has taken under his wing?"

"Dame D'Loriean? She seems nice" She says "I talked to her..she'll be here soon , she's seeing off River, this really old Horse, to a ranch where Autistic kids learn to ride? Dame Dagmar suggested that. But Dame DLorean is really good on horseback and jousting. I don't think she could outrace the baron himself in a regular equinte sport, but she's only a little older than me and she jousted very well. The Baron thought so too, obviously. I don't claim to know satyrs well, Julius is my main influence there, but rather than run she prefers to ride horses. She loves the joust. Knows all the joust winners there ever was by name and date of such. it's like she's a sports nut and the sport is joust. That said she does talk about other things. She seems.." A thought "Kind of reserved for a satyr until you catch her off guard with something that makes her happy then she gushes." She realizes "Oh you want to know what she likes to eat? I Might have an idea"

"Well, I feel safe to guess it's not Viande de Cheval, but that's not something I make here, even if it IS a French delicacy." A small smile as she encourages the tidbit of info.

"Strawberries. See, there were these chocolate covered strawberries. I had bought some and hid a few from Briar or else they'd be gone before the return trip right? Thought I'd save them. I offered a few to D'Lorean, because it was nice to do so... and then I realized a lot of the chocolate had melted off by that time. how dumb was I? But I apologized and she said that was okay. She liked the Strawberry part best...and I think she meant it. What kind of girl likes strawberries MORE than chocolate? odd huh?" A pause "Then Briar found out I'd been holding out so.. between the two of them I think out of the twelve I had one" Wry

She tsks at the greedy nature, but "Oh, she can't help it, bless her. You'll soon learn as I have to keep plenty of other snacks on hand, a constant graze is the key to a good natured Redcap. Strawberries... Mmm."

Standing, she moves over and starts searching through a cupboard, and comes back with a cookbook - it has a faint hint of glamour about it, and she pats the cover lightly and fondly. "When things god quieter around here, I admit, I may have fallen into a rut. When feeding folk who are looking for fuel rather than fancy Fromage, it can be hard to keep up the inspiration. I should have brought this out sooner, though."

Paging through what looks to be an early edition of a book titled, "Le Guide Culinaire". "Ah! This may be something that the Baroness Dancingsnow may enjoy as well, if she were to stop in for dinner. Fraises à la Romanov."

And a smile to Gwen. "Bet you didn't know that this old biddy had a touch of La Paree in her? I studied French cuisine when I was une petite fille. This dish is French, but with a Russian twist to the history... the story goes that it was developed by the chef to Czar Nicholas the First..."

"I did not. " Gwen says her jaw open "Like that.. how is it pronounced Cordon blue?Oh I'm getting it wrong"

A grin, pleased to have surprised the Troll! "If you'd like, I could teach you a little Francais. Julius speaks French as well, the better to manage the wine cellar, I believe. It being a language of love also does not hurt."

"Well, not like I have to attend school anymore" She shrugs though it does sound fancy

"Mmmm." She shakes her head a bit. "Things have been a bit uncertain with the Virus, you know. But we'll need to see about getting you Enrolled. We've been homeschooling her, she had... trouble adjusting the the classrooms, but with the online classes, I'm sure we can find a solution that works for you."

Meanwhile, gathering together some ingredients, which doesn't slow down her conversation in the least.

"Oh... " A blush "Well, if I have to take a language course maybe I should go with French, especially if you're being nice enough to offer." a curious look 'Have you actually been to France?"

"Oh, my yes. Back when I was a wilder, I was quite the footloose young thing! Of course I've settled down now, but if you'd like to see Paris, once things calm down Mortal-side a bit, I'm sure it can be arranged." Her arm is a whir now even with someone watching, it takes some muscle to whip cream like that! Sure, she could use a mixer, but isn't that a bit of a cheat?

"I'd help cook but I worry bits of me would flake off and fall into things" She says "But I can carry other stuff or fetch what you need"

A smile "paris huh?"

She beams at the troll, and rattles off a short ingredient list - sugar, berries, orange liquer - and soon there is a luscious looking layered strawberry trifle ready! "These need to chill for a couple hours, and then I'll need you back to taste test. I DO appreciate the tip - and even if it turned out that our new friend didn't care for strawberries, I haven't known a satyr yet to turn down a brandied whipped cream!"

"Oh, oui!"

Gwen fetches everything, then says "When this clears up I'd love to go to Paris with you. I've always wanted to see the Eifel tower, but i guess everyone does"

"Oh, with me?" She laughs. "Surely we can find someone better than an old grump."

"You're not old, Marigold" She says loyally "You're a classic"

For THAT, She gets a big smile, and Gwen feels certain that one of her favorite dinners will be soon to follow.

A smile back. It's true that Marigold has been like a second mom to her. Maybe it's a boggan thing, but who cares. This troll won't forget.

"Oh, do we have a room ready for Dame D'Lorean?"

"Certainly do. Silverwolf used to be a bit more lively back when... oh, back in the day. People move on, you know, looking to stop being the big fish in the small pond? But the pond only gets smaller when they leave. But yes, rooms. I was thinking of clearing out some of the rooms over down the Northern corridor, past Calanthe's suite... mm. Unless you'd be alright with someone across the hall? A Satyr may be noisy - most of them play at least a little, and though we will ask for decorum, she may have overnight guests."

"Ah, maybe SOME Distance is.. better" the mention of overnight guests makes her blush

"End of the hallway it is." She says with a knowing smile. "Want to pick out a bedspread? Oh, or... Hmm. Winter is coming, perhaps I'll make her a new quilt, she can pick a few patterns that suit. Ever thought of quilting? It's not as intimidating as it seems, and many hands make light work. If not for you, you can always keep me company while you polish your spears or do other warriorly work." A chuckle.

"Well, I'll try" DUbious looking at her stony fingers "But I'll set out a bedspread for now"

"You're a dear. I have some toiletries ready, never sure what a traveler will come in with, why, one time one of the horse traders that M'lord had in from far Araby came in without even a shirt, just scraps, and this in the dead of winter. Now, mind you, he said it was a burning sand storm before he came off the trod..."

"Okay, starting to think I got lucky in a LOT of ways "

A pat on her arm. "Whatever happened, you're here now, and we'll see you get what you need. I wanted to ask, Briar.... did she have enjoy the festival? Oh, I will ask her, but sometimes she's hard to read, even for me."