#baronyofthesilverwolf

The Thanes are dedicated, but not prone to idle chatter. Linnea is around more often, though lately she has been taking to the longer patrols that happen past Dark Gate.

Marigold is sweet as her pies, and doesn't seem to have a mean bone in her body. Julius is more reserved - a bit odd for a satyr, but he pours his passion into his work. And in the occasional naughty limerick if anyone cares to hear one.

Would Bluebell even come into consideration? The rabbit pooka is in turn comical and graceful, ridiculous and strangely wise. What do those long ears hear when people don't see her as more than window dressing? But if so could she even relate what she knew?

The boggan head hostler is gruff, yet kind, and has worked with Aiden for many years. But Dolph is currently away, visiting grandkids down in Albany.

So many choices. Who might she choose?

Boggans talk She ponders But at the same time they see things pretty well. Julius is a felllow satyr but so devoted. The thanes..would they feel duty bound to report her? Talking to Bluebell might be safe, no one really understands her speech all the time. Finally though, she takes a gamble and looks for Julius. No straight comment yet. But he might know things to build up from

Julius is found in his office. A mug of tea steams to his elbow, and he is looking through some paperwork. Bluebell is perched on the edge of his desk, and he chats with her even as turns pages. "Yes, I've finished my Yule shopping, no, I will not tell you what you are getting, and no, love, that is not an invitation to go snooping." Fondly, the satyr remarks.

A snerk "Careful, pooka can get you talking"

He looks up, and grins to Delorean. "I'm wise to her tricks. If she makes me slip up, I guess I'll just have to save the present for next Yule. That's only 366 days away, after all."

Bluebell affects a pout.

"Your Jedi mind tricks only work on Briar, sirrah. I know you cannot resist my wiles." A smile from the pooka, as she slides off the desk to give the Knight a graceful curtsey.

Delorean bows "I can wait until later if you like. Blue Bell"

She gives a hand flutter. "He is being hard-headed, my mountain goat. Mayhaps I shall go give a box a shake." A grin.

"You're worse than Briar." Julius retorts! "You can take the Pooka out of childlinghood, but you can't take the childling out of a Pooka."

Delorean smirks at something "Now Julius, maybe if you let her shake your box she'll let yo ushake hers?"

He laughs! "If she behaves, I have a present she can unwrap on Yule eve."
"Oh! You cad!" Bluebell scolds without any rancor. With a flip of her pufftail, she prances out.

"Was there something I could help you with? I'm just double-checking some inventory before the Baron heads North."

"Kind of a question on who can do what. I find myself in need of one skilled in Chicanery, possibly.. but I need a non noble who knows it"

He taps his pen thoughtfully on the table top. "That's an interesting query. I'm afraid I don't have anyone off the top of my head. Dame Calanthe is skilled, but she is a noble. Unless you mean just not someone above your own rank?" Curious.

"Oh, grab a chair if you like. No formality here, by the by. Don't sit on the desk, though, Bluebell might fuss if she thinks she's being supplanted as my most lovely of paperweights."

"Are you kidding? I stay tight, but that bunny could sit on a thin branch and it barely sway.. may? I'd break the poor thing." She does take a seat "So no one else here does fuddling veiling or the like?" A thoughtful bite of her lip

A shake of his head. "I'm a Julius of all trades, master of none. I can fuddle , but anything beyond that is a stretch. Calanthe would be the one to talk to, to be honest. She seldom does anything out of the kindness of her heart, but she's justly proud of her prowess, so sometimes stroking that ego may help if you need to barter for some work."

"Why do you ask?"

"I know someone I suspect has been chicaneried by a sidhe, and do not wish to have it turn into a game of favors and the like as would be more likely amonng them"

He ponders this silently for a minute or two. "Delorean, I've been working here for just a few years, which makes me still a relative newcomer, comparably. No one explained things to me, and I had to learn on my own. House Ailil is proud, but also can be intensely private. Dame... there are some things at Silverwolf that you may not wish to pry into."

"like the fact that someone, someone is bespelling the baron with chicanery?" It slips. "Who's fucking with our liege's mind, Julius?"

Julius may be mild-mannered, but he is a satyr as well, and his blood rises in response, though he tamps it down to keep his tone quiet, yet intense. "You don't know what you're speaking about. There's things in work here that no newcomer could begin to understand. And it's not spoken of for good reason. She's not fucking with his mind, she's holding him together."

A breath, as he tries to settle. Remember the meditations that Bluebell showed you. In, and out, clear your chakras. "I'm fairly certain by now that you're not a plant from some rival looking for weaknesses. Trust me that there are reasons we don't speak of it."

"What?" A blink

"Holding him together? From what?"

He sighs, and moves to close the door to his small office. "Frankly, I don't know what got you sniffing on this trail in the first place. If outsiders even began to suspect any weakness... we're not the most strongly fortified holding, for the value of our Bale. We've relied much on being secluded as a protection as strength in arms."

"So this isn't some Coup by the Dame?"

Stunned. She wears black, minus the mustach she fits the stories

"A what? Delorean... she's his family. Granted that I'm Johnny-come-lately here... but I've been told that when the Baron lost his wife, he was.... broken. Calanthe is the one who held things together. If she'd wanted to try to claim the bale, she could have, years ago."

He sighs. "I can't - I don't want to- imagine losing someone I love. And we goats are more resilient than most."

"True. Wow. I.. wow. I feel like an ass" She says

"Does.. the baron know?"

"He'd have to be as dull-sensed as a mortal to not know." He frowns. "She is his chancellor, and he relies on her. What happened to bring this up? Is he not well? All of these upheavals... this whole year, mortal and elsewise, so much is thrown into chaos. Not all bad - but..." A shrug. "It's all a whole lot."

"he neglected the horses" As if that explains the problem

That does get a frown. "I'd say maybe he needs a vacation... but he has a trip coming up that can't be postponed. Maybe that WILL be a vacation. A bit of time away from his normal routine. It may do him some good."

"One of us is going with him right?"

A shake of his head. "He has an annual solstice trip north to visit and renew connections with some allies. The Baron always goes alone."

"It's not any lengthy venture. He's generally back by the next day, or the day after that. Depending on weather and travel conditions."

"Ugh"She frowns "I'm sorry, Julius I.. guess I .. I'm his knight, you knnow? I want to do right by him , to protect him"

A raised brow. "You are -a- Knight. But you're not sworn to him. Though your dedication is admirable. I think the Thanes would approve." He sighs as he retrieves and sips his now cooled tea. "Thank you for looking out for him. He gave me a chance to seek my own passion where others saw just another randy goat who would bother their ladies. Not every noble can see our value outside our kith." Nodding to the satyr who seeks glory in jousting rather than conquests of the bedroom.

"Truer words never spoken" She says "Yeah. I get it. The Baron knows quality" A chuckle "Guess he saw I was a thorughbred "

Julius chuckles at that as well. "They say that the best stewards are often Sluagh or Boggans. The former because they can seek and spy into everything and know what needs must be done, and the latter because they just do what needs doing. I guess I'm an odd duck, but I work somewhere in between. I've learned where to toe the line, what to look into, and where not to pry."

A pause, and he adds, "...don't let me sound like Calanthe is some altruistic figure. She's not someone to get on the bad side of. She's no angel. But I feel confident that she does care for Silverwolf's best interests at heart. She grew up here, and as much as she carps about wanting more high society, this is her home, too."

"Yeah . I'd apologize to her but then, she doesn't know so..glad I came to you about it."

"And.. thanks Julius. It's nice to talk to someone who understands" She ducks her head "I'll tell Bluebell you're wrapping something INTERESTING.. and see if she rushes back in" A wink

"I'm glad you did." He admits. "It's good to know you're looking out for him. I'm glad you came." A smile... which turns into a bit of a devilish grin at that last. "Oh? Sure...."

And she trots out.. soon she can be heard "Amazing..never ever seen anything QUITE like..."

(End scene)