#baronyofthesilverwolf

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Marigold chatters to Gwen as they drive slowly up the road towards the Manor. She has an older model sedan, nothing flashy or fancy, but well maintained - if only she would drive over 20 miles per hour once off the highway. "Oh, heavens no, not on these back roads. I could hit a deer - or Briar!"

A smile as she adjusts the heat. "Thank you again for coming with me. I like to stock up these days, and you saved me a few trips of carrying! Oh, we could get delivery, but I don't trust any old soul to pick out my produce."

"Sure.. "

Walking in front of them is someone with a large backpack; hard to see more than that due to the pack. Wearing denim from the waist down? Pack looks full, heavy.

Gwen mutters "Run get out of the way, wild car on the loose... "

Trudging along the side of the road.

"Oh, there, you see? Someone walking right along the road. Speeding through here like certain so-and-so in her sportscar, they'd get run over. Oh, Gwen dear, do warn them to walk further to the side." She pulls up alongside the walker slowing to a crawl so that Gwen may roll down the window.

"Careful.." Gwen says "there are maniacs that drive through here" she ccalls through the window.

Marigold glances up the road, and gives the walker a closer look. After all, they are only a short distance from the last turnoff before it turns into a private drive. "Are you lost, dear?"

The young teenager with the driver has long dark hair. And is dressed pretty casually himself

Mortally, she is ... not stunning. Plain brown hair held back in a messy bun, skin that shows the effect of teenage acne, and teeth that have never seen an orthodontist (but should have). Something in her eyes, though; a spark, a fire that burns through the muddy brown... her body is angular and knobby but there is strength there, muscles. She wears overalls and a corderoy, fleece-lined coat.

But there is another vision of her there....

She is a nocker; that explains a bit.

"Oh! " Realization from the troll, and she is a troll... her skin taking on a redish blue tinge, but a polished one like smoothed stone

Long white hair in a bun, stands sticking out like static electricity has had it's way with her. Shark-teeth, her pale skin decorated with whorls.

She glances at the driver and answers the passenger. "Don't think so." There's a light southern twang to her speech.

"SHe doesn't think so" Gwen says, then says "I'm Gwen, this is Marigold. Uhm. We're from Silver Wolf barony"

"Oh, well, you must be heading our way then. Come along, it's frigid out there. Mind you don't sit on the eggs." Pulling to a halt - which is hardly slower than she was already going.

"Silver Wolf?" that gets her attention "Yeah, ok." She opens the door and slings the pack in first, then gets in. The eggs.... are fine?

Good! Otherwise they'd have to turn around and go back to the store, golly you can't make a quiche without breaking a few eggs, doncha know? But the eggs are intact, so they crawl forward - onward towards the homefront!

"What brings you out to our neck of the woods? We seldom get visitors." A welcoming smile in the rearview. "I'm Marigold, Steward at Silverwolf, and my sweet girl here is Gwen, our finest fledge."

Gwen blushes

"No shit? I mean, no, er, kidding? I'm Willy. I'm looking for work. Maybe a patron."

"Oh?" Turning on her blinker a good quarter-mile before the turn upcoming. "Well well, now that's a pleasant surprise, isn't it?" A smile over to Gwen. "You're in luck, we just went shopping so you'll have to let me know what you like for supper. You will stay for supper, and overnight if it's late." She says, in a tone that invites no argument. "Even if we're not a good fit, it's so nice to see a new face during the lockdown."

"Yeah, it's rough on the musing with so many mortals having to social distance" gwen adds "Nice to meet you , Willy. What uhm what's your craft ? Nockers have crafts right? I'm still new ish"

"Silver Wolf is doing lockdown?" nervous "I got a mask in my pocket. Just wasn't no one on the road there so...." she digs in her coat pockets "Where the furk did it go.... I do a couple different crafts. Metalwork, mostly." then she mutters "That's where those nails got to...." a soft clinking sound in the backseat.

"Oh, bless my heart, no. We're a hearty lot... but there's not much travel to and fro from our hold these days, and even less so during the Pandemic. The news has been hopeful on the vaccine, sounds like it will be coming to our hamlet before too long. And not too soon! I worry that our youngest, Briar, is languishing without her little playmates."

"Metalwork? Jewelry? Kitchenware?" She sounds interested!

"Steel, mostly. Blacksmith. And Farrier. A little leatherwork as needed. I lost these keys a month ago." the last part mumbled.

"Bless my soul, how lovely! Leatherwork, our Chancellor has just been saying that her jesses are wearing through. I offered to cut her some from an old duster, but oh, the look she gave me!" A chuckle. "She's got her opinion, that she does."

"Jesses?" she looks up "Probably could make 'em, just won't put 'em on."

She taps her hands on the steering wheel as they turn into the main drive. "Gwen, had Lord Aiden spoken to you about armor for Ivan? If he's to go out on patrol, it may be wise. There's all sorts of critters in these woods, and not all Chimerical."

Willy sits back in her seat.

"And of course, there's always need for horseshoes. Perhaps not exciting, but horses need shod! We have a farrier on call, but it is tough to tell someone to hold on their patrol for a day or so until someone can be brought in."

"Mmm I'd hate to have Ivan hurt, but he's tough. He's gonna be huge. Even by troll standards"

"Yeah, I can make -and- shoe."

"That will please Julius to no end! Not that money is tight, on no account." A friendly grin. "But he must learn to operate on a budget if he's ever to be a proper steward, so I've been tightening the strings a bit to see how he deals."

"Silverwolf has an amazing array of quality animals. Horses, dogs, and birds of prey. "

Pride blooms

"All those need metal and leather."

"As do our Lord. He favors leathers to armor - it lets him wield a bow for hunting. But our thanes are well armored. Oh, dear. I'm afraid I cannot allow you to tamper with anything of Linnea's, though. She must continue to see Dark Gate for her armoring needs." A hint of a smug smile. "We do have a new knight that should be outfitted though."

"You got this Dark Gate for armor and weapons, why do I gotta fool with it?"

"Well, you don't GOTTA..." Gwen says "But it would be nice to have a closer source"

"They are.... nearby, and friendly. Not officially allied, though perhaps we can change that in the future. Still, to seek out their services too often would put us in their debt."

"But they got blacksmiths and suchlike there?"

"One of the best, if our thane is to be believed." A crinkle around her eyes that Gwen can see. Oh, Marigold looks smug.

"Pfft." a soft but scornful sound.

She turns into the drive, and puts the car into park in front of the entrance. "If you'd be so kind as to wait until we have these groceries stowed, I'll gladly introduce you."

"Yeah. Guess I could."

And she stays put.

Gwen grabs things "nice to meet you, Willy"

"Inside, Miss Willy, of course. You'll be chilled to the bone!" She lightly chides.

Marigold takes up a few bags herself, rescuing the eggs. "Just right to the left is a parlor, please make yourself comfortable. I won't be two shakes of a lamb's tail."

"And if you run into Briar, well, humor her a bit and it'll go a long way"