#baronyofthesilverwolf

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Voices, raised in argument, carry from the Baron's office.

"Why wasn't I informed of this call?" Lord Aiden snaps.

"It was nothing worth your time." Calanthe says in a placating tone. "Some petty house bickering, and chattel in the crossfire. Surely not worth disturbing you. You shouldn't be concerned over such nonsense at a Falcon hold."

His voice is stormy. "I will thank you, Chancellor, to not decide for me what should be my concern. Where Dairraen are involved, their vengeance lust knows no bounds. And what when their thirst is not slaked on mortal beasts and fae creatures? When it moves on to affect those who are..."

"Who are WHAT?" Calanthe snaps back. "An ambitious Varich sniffing around, aiming for your pants to get to your baronial seat?"

There is a moment of silence, and then her voice sounds again, "Aiden, I did not mean..."

He cuts her off, voice ice cold. "You forget yourself. Leave my office. I will deal with you later."

"But, my lord..." "LEAVE!" He snarls.

Calanthe exits hastily, and affects a haughty air as she moves back to her chambers - but she seems shaken.

Aiden's door remains shut.

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Nearby a knight of satyr make , having heard yelling watches the fall out from as safe a place as she can be while still picking up anything . Well, shit is going down She gathers her material for another patrol . Security is tight, and as fun as it is to be a knight, if there's one thing she learned watching her friend Dagmar, it's duties are involved.

Gwen doesn't need to be told about duty . Suddenly she's a back up thane, spear with her constantly, and Ivan by her side. In addition to chores there are nearby patrols. If someone touches ONE Fuzzy head on an animal here save in act of kindness, she'll have theirs on a pike.

Briar is stoked. She gets to run wild on the grounds and chomp up anyone who doesn't belong there! Well, report is what she was told, but she knows that really means "deal with".

Calanthe is seen leaving, with one of her designer bags packed, enough for a short trip. She does not take her car - a cab picks her up, and she is gone, without so much as a word to anyone.

Gwen is, a bit stunned. They're on guard and Calanthe just left?

Julius is at the door, seeing her out.

Once she's gone, Gwen looks to Julus, clearly curious what THAT was about

The Satyr notices Gwen, and gives her a nod. "How are patrols going?"

"Tight. As it should be. I'm in the inner ring with Ivan. Then the thanes have the middle and outer ring while Dame Lavender and Briar have more variable patrols to close any gaps that might arise. "

A curious tilt "I'm surprised Dame Calanthe is leaving when the hold is on a lock down."

His weight shifts, hooves tapping on the stone a bit. "Lord Aiden decided she would be better utilized in personally overseeing the order of the new forge and tools. She's to travel to the workshop in Montana... by Greyhound bus."

Brows launch in surprise "Wow. She must have really pissed him off"

His voice lowers a bit, even though no one seems to be around to overhear. "And other than some petty cash for the trip, her credit line has been revoked." He sounds a bit baffled. "I'm not sure what she did, but it must have been a doozy."

A cough. "But we shouldn't gossip. More important things at hand."

"True. Sorry." A blush "Any other orders, Steward ? Beyond the patrols?"

He taps a hoof as he ponders. "Just keep vigilant for now. We'll be setting up one of the practice yards as a dueling arena. I'm considering asking the Lord if he may wish send to Dark Gate if they wish to provide any witnesses - perhaps Wudlig, who has a valid connection to an Ailil hold."

She nods "Dark Gate fellows are solid. "

A thought comes to him. "Danica and Bluebell are coordinating to keep a watch on our local dreamers. If you're looking for something to do, you could speak to them. We don't expect any trouble, but... the reports were troubling on how this lord handles mortals, and better to be over-prepared than not."

A concerned look, "Yes, Steward. We have few enough dreamers as there are."

A smile. "Thank you, Gwen. It's good to know we can count on you." And he heads back inside.

And Gwen goes to tend to all her duties, and informs others of the idea of checkingg on Dreamers. If the other thanes are okay with that, she'll check on the yoga group to start. Bluebell would be horrified to lose a friend

Marigold tears up and agrees that it is a fine idea. Briar isn't to be found, but would probably scoff - until it's pointed out that HER dreamers - her scare targets, might be poached, and then she's agreed to keep an eye out. Bluebell is gracious, though her response comes in flowery prose that doesn't seem to relate, her grateful expression needs no translation.

Danica and Linnea both agree, the former offering rides to and from town, and a promise of police backup if needed to staunch any potential issues.

Darn it... Marigold gets a hug to assure her it will be okay. Briar might cause a slight smirk as it sinks in. Bluebell gets a nod even if a lot is a bit overthe troll's head (And what a height that is) . The Thanes are thanked and the offer of rides taken as needed.

In town, things are business as usual - well, as usual in a Pandemic. Yoga is on hold due to the weather, but there are other activities - kids are sledding at a fine hill, there is frozen pond for skating on (with skate rentals and hot cocoa!), and snowmen... snow women... snow creatures abound in parks and on lawns.

Mostly she kens. Threats so far have been other kithain, agents

A lively town, carefully curated by their unseen fae patrons. Giggling children imagine their snow people dancing, and in one case, a snow alligator that Briar might admire, with icicle teeth - but it seems content to eye the fat squirrels that are begging for roasted chestnuts.

One middle-aged lady with a short blond haircut, is pacing outside of an office doorway, and something more turbulent and murky burbles around her mind.

Glimmers of glamour from teens, and the occasional older couple, that skate hand in hand - a white winged Cherub watches over them, perched atop the roof of the rental store, smiling and uncaring of the cold though he wears just a toga, his pink and red arrows on his lap.

A look at the Cherub and if no one sees her, she waves to him

He beams and blows her a kiss... it floats along the air, trailing glitter before popping like a miniature firework in front of her, with a warm and giggly feeling for a moment.

She blushes and then recovers and mouths 'Be on the look out for any kith abusing dreamers, please. and.. good hunting"

A salute with his bow, and he watches vigilently!

As proof the wilder girl is sttill not wise to the ways of the world, she turns her back on a cherub with a loaded bow. However, assuming he doesn't 'betray' her, she ggoes to check on the middle aged lady at the office door way if she's still there

She is, and is dialing a number, and listening, then staring at the window in frustration. The name on the door is "Greene Counseling Center
Dr. Candace Greene, Psy.D - by appointment only"

She kens the woman, to make sure she's not too banal

She is not banal - in fact, she is quite glamourous. A dreamer, to be sure, though the feel is a far different mood than Bluebell's lighthearted friends.

"Someone cancel their appointmentt?" Gwen asks hoping that a young teen can get away with some social faux pauses

The lady looks up from her phone and slips it in her pocket. "Yes... you know, you miss an appointment and you're charged a cancellation or missed appointment fee, but if you show up and your doctor isn't there, it's all on you?"

"That seems like a double standard" She wrinkles her nose in sympathy

"Oh, it is. But, well, she's an important lady, busy I am sure...." A sigh, meekly. "I'm lucky I didn't have a medical condition or need a prescription refilled, this is just my therapist. Nice of you to ask though."

"Would have been nice if she'd have called, though." A bit forlorn. "My husband already has his friends over to watch football. I suppose I can wait in the park." Pulling her coat a little closer.

"Oh heck, you know, no disrespect to your therapist, but you're important too" Gwen says "I mean, I'd like to think every person is. Look uhm I don't know psychology, but I've got ears. My name's Gwen by the way" She offers a hand

She takes the hand and shakes. "Angela Chesterton... do you go to school at CHS? Maybe you know my sons. "

"You're Chet Junior's mom?" Realization

A smile that lightens her worn expression. "Oh, yes, proud mama. And Brett too, though he's just a freshman. Would you like a cup of cocoa? I have some pocket money. Please, any friend of my boy is a friend of mine."

"Uhm, thank you. I would. Though I can pay for my own, i's no trouble." She says "I think we both deserve something hot and chocolately, particularly you. Sounds like you've had a rough time"

"Oh, bless, it's no trouble. I do like to watch the skaters, reminds me a bit of myself when I was younger." Walking over with Gwen.

The cherub looks down at the lady, and his expression is sad, as he scoots to the far edge of the rooftop.

"You skated? " She asks, making a note of what might make a cherub sad. the options that come to mind are kind of depressing. "Was it just for fun or like, sports or?"

"Just for fun, it was the thing to do. I grew up here, and back in my day we didn't really have computers and games like you do now, so winters were filled with skating, on this very pond in fact. I think that it's a little hidden silver lining of everything, kids are so tired of screens that they'll flock outdoors. Chetty was mentioning hockey, but it's so violent, the games you see on TeeVee..."

A smirk at the term "Chetty? Oh he's going to regret you let that slip" But nods at the rest "Your sons seem to be pretty athletic and tough. I mean, of course you'd worry, but there's a lot of safety equipment now that helps." She ponders "I though about Lacross myself"