#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Ok, so I know you can understand some of what I say. And I bet you can just read a lot more. Here's the deal. I can fix what's bothering you. You gonna let me?"

He leans in and sniffs at her, his breath hot and steaming in the cool air, and smelling of oats and apples.

She lets him, and even blows some warm (coffee) breath into his nostrils gently.

He paws a bit at the stable flooring, then lifts the front hoof he was favoring, leaning to the left side to take the weight.

Aiden is observing closely, and Dolph has joined him, chewing on a stalk of (clean!) hay.

"A'ight." she opens the stall and steps in, setting out her roll. Then she takes the hoof, straddles it, and examines. Not with a hoof pick, not with a pinchers, but with her gnarled and calloused fingers.

It looks like he may have hit a stone or something else hard, and loosened the fit of the shoe. Still intact, but a nail is missing, causing it to shift uncomfortable underfoot.

She checks a little, probing; no other damage?

Gwen bites her lip. Wanting to help.

A hand lightly rests on her shoulder, and Dolph gives her a smile. “We know what you can do, lass.”

Brego champs a bit and snorts as she proves the tender frog of his foot, but with Aiden and Dolph there, he calms. No damage, just a bit hoofsore from the shifting shoe.

Gwen nods slowly

"Yeah, yeah, keep it together." she chides as she releases him. She looks at Aiden's chin. "Loose shoe, nail missing, it shifts and that's uncomfortable. Doesn't look like permanent damage to the shoe or the horse. I can fix just the shoe but I'd rather rotate and balance, you know?"

He nods to her. "If you would. Do you have the tools you need?" Knowledgable about the basics and what needs be done, but not skilled in the doings himself.

She scratches her neck. "Lemme look at the other shoes." She squints up at the horse. "Gonna check the others. You good?"

He tilts his head and reaches out to lip at her sleeve. His ears are up and alert, not back and alarmed.

"Getoffit." she scolds and checks the other shoes.

He snorts again and rolls his eyes. Testing, he puts a hoof on one of her feet. Just a touch of weight, enough to let her know he's there. He could lean in and easily break the foot.

She looks up and STARES AT HIM.

He blinks slowly, and lifts the foot, as though nothing happened.

Tail swish!

"A'ight." slowly, agreeing. She moves around him, checking each hoof and the fit of the shoe.

The others are all good! Well made shoes, put on securely. And a sleek, well muscled, powerful animal on top of them.

Dolph nudges Gwen a bit - pressing a carrot into her hands.

She releases the last hoof and goes back to the stall door. "Everything else looks good, don't think the stress of the loose shoe did anything to the other hooves. Maybe an hour job for one shoe, or three for all four if he behaves. I got the tools with me I need.

"Will he be alright on the loose shoe for a time, or should it be repaired immediately?"

Gwen offers up the carrot

"He's got attitude and something to prove to start with, and he's uncomfortable. I'd get it done soon as you can."

Ears flick forward and he neatly crunches it off Gwen's hand!

Aiden nods, listening to Willy. "Will you accept a trial appointment period? Let's start with your three day hospitality period. I will pay your going hourly rate-"

"Within reason." Dolph drawls with a smile. "...within reason." Aiden agrees. "For your work during that period. If everything looks well, we can discuss a more permanent position, if you are interested in staying on."

"There we go" She pets while they talk

Adelie, Linnea's mount, whickers hopefully across the stall. Dolph chortles and starts handing out carrots as the other horses snort and stamp.

"Spoiled, the lot of ye."

"Hourly rate includes room and board." she haggles.

"They're the biggest fur babies around" Gwen agrees

An amused look on Aiden's face. "Despite what you may believe about House Ailil, we have hospitality. Yes, room and board. Did you drive? We have a garage to keep your vehicle from getting snowed in if the weather turns."

"Got a truck, yeah, but walked here from the motel."

Aiden reaches over and rubs Brego's nose. The horse leans into his hand. "If it's far, I'll have someone drive you to fetch the truck. You may start on Brego's loose shoe after supper." He says, somewhat a request.

"Yes, Lord." she responds to his left ear "Don't mind walking in the daylight but it'd be colder'n a..... very cold thing at night this far up north."

He gives Brego a last stroke then dusts off his hands on his pants. "Good, that's settled. Take a look at Ivan on the walk back, observe his carraige. I'd like to hear your thoughts for armor for him over supper. I might recommend studded leather..." A glance to Gwen. "Though Gwen must be the one who decides on that. He is, after all, hers."

She looks at Ivan more closely now.

Gwen smiles "Thank you, Baron."

Ivan is not a year old yet and that might surprise the nocker for it is already huge

"Ivan's my dog, my pride and joy really. Best let him get your scent, Ovcharka are protective of their owners"

"That thing doesn't need armor, it needs a saddle!!"

"Settle down, Eggshell, I'm not going near you....." snort.

"My name's Gwen" Gwen says "Please call me that"

"The Ovcharka has a double-coat which is a sort of armor in and of itself. But he may face not only wild game and boars, but potentially wild Chimerical creatures... or intruders of more intelligent and dangerous sorts."

"Chimera.... yeah. Maybe." thinking about possible armors, not the potential for creatures.

She rolls up her tools and slips out of the stall.