#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Hmph."

As Julius and Willy debate the nature of names and the positioning of tools, the Baron looks up from his paperwork to see that a certain redcap has entered.

"Yes, Dame Chompwhomp? Have you come to a decision?"

"Truthfully, Baron, I'm still not one hundred percent sure, but a deadline is a deadline and I'm closing in on it. Sometimes even the wrong decision is less trouble than indecision. I'd be an invaluble asset to Lady Kenna IF she didn't decide to have my hide, but I've got no guarantee of that. I have a hard time imaginging Baroness Brekke wanting me even if she holds no grudges. And then, there's you, who I guess had me dead to rights but at least haven't screwed me.. yet"

"Begging your pardon for the terms, Baron. " She adds "Redcaps aren't made knights because we talk eloquently"

His pen taps thoughtfully. "You might reach out to Lady Kenna to see if she will hear your petition. If she's planning to throw you into a dungeon, that would be a waste."

"Thank you for seeing that, Baron. May I have the time to contact her and see if she's interested and if she tells me rot in hell or gives me indication she might welcome me with open thumb screws, come back to you? Another day or two should be enough"

He nods. "Assist Briar in breaking down the carcasses for the hounds, I think we're due for another elk to be pulled from the freezer. Don't let her eat all of the scraps herself, she is still growing and needs more than just protein. Also, please put yourself at Hostler Willy's disposal should she need any hand in setting up her new workshop."

A grunt "Yes, Baron. Can't blame the little nipper for being hungry, of course, but dogs gotta eat and I prefer it not be me. " At the mention of Willy "I saw the gear arrive with the Chancellior and will offer my help to the Hostler if she wants. Anything else, Baron?"

"See Steward Marigold if you need anything. I would that you consider yourself as a guest with exceptional circumstances, rather than a prisoner. That will be all."

She bows "Yes, Lord. thank you" And she withdraws

*****

And Briar will find help there to break things up. The older redcap follows her lead, but when the little one starts to snitch "I was told we don't get to eat too many scraps ourselves. Your barons orders"

Briar scuffs a foot and asks, slyly, "Do you always do what some big boss orders you? Maybe he don't know everything there is to know about 'Caps. Maybe I'm wastin' away and he should feel guilty because I ain't been fed enough meat."

"Maybe, being a cap, I know that enough will never be enough so no body with a lick of sense bases anything like feeding dogs on OUR hunger" A look at her, a hint of amusement "You're smart. So am I. The only ones who think all redcaps are stupid tend to not last long once they run into those of us with brains and get on our bad side. And I admit, following orders didn't work so ggreat for me recently, but if you were me, already in deep shit, would YOU risk pissing off Baron Aiden just so some nibbler could scarf down?"

She snorts. "Ain't no one else looking for these scraps. Unless you wanted to go ice fishin'. I use 'em for dog treats sometimes and I'll allowed to eat 'em, they just get all fussy if I fill up on meat and ain't got room for veggie slop. I'm still HUNGRY but until I'm big as you I only got so much space in my crap factory."

And she shakes her head a bit with a scowl. "Big guy ain't bad. He means what he says but he's not a shit about it, y'know? His boss bitch is the one to look out to. She gets nasty when she don't get her way."

"Noted. You get some scraps.. just not too much" She says "And I get to decide too much. Sides, the more I feed the dogs, the less they're going want to bite on me if I make a break for it" COULD be joking. "Dame Calanthe huh? Yeah. Ailils want want they want"

"Boss mostly wants to be left alone. And that's the best kind. You don't fuck anything major up and you get to do what you want." Maybe simplified from a Childling's point of view. "C'mon, I'll show you the hanging room. We got deer, and elk, and conies - you're supposed to call them conies because Bluebell makes this STUPID sad face otherwise... and birds for roasting, and half a BOAR that the Chief of Doomgate brought over."

"It's fun to swiing on the meat hooks, but watch you wear gloves otherwise your skin will stick to the metal."

Then a scowl... why did she say that? She could have watched.

A nod "Gotcha. " A beat "Ever want to put an extra long chain on the meat hooks while they're still cold and set them down where some one might sit on them?"

Her eyes WIDEN. "Holeee shit. If they tried to pull it off, then THEIR meat would stick the the chain! Maybe I can use that on some of the campers and poachers."

Kandi nods "Sounds like you're running with the idea already, and to good use. " And she helps her deal with the chore, but now wiht something new to try out

And Briar, to her credit, shares the extra meat scraps with both Kandi AND the dogs!

..and a piece to drop into Gwen's boot for later.

"Darn it, Ivan, why did you eat my boot?"

Woof! "I didn't eat all of it! You can keep the strings!"

Sigh and hug

A tail wags, and all is well. That is, until Ivan's ears prick, tenses a bit, looking down the hallway. Calanthe approaches, looking much restored from a long spa session. A sigh, and she asks, "Should that beast be in the house?"

"Part of his training, lady. The animals must learn to work in doors"

Her nose wrinkles a touch. "I suppose it worked on Briar. You're looking well, Gwendolyn." She looks the Troll over, and pauses, her gaze seeking. "...Have you been musing?" A little surprised.

Suddennly she's glad she didn't drink in that dross. "Lessons from Bluebell"

"Mmm-hmm? Is that so? I was under the impression that her little yoga club was on hiatus for the winter." She gives Gwen a piercing gaze, and kens her.

Gwen is well stocked in glamour, most of it here but some of it yes, seems more from that source of dreams the human

"Yes, she still gives lessons . Pardon me, Dame. Is.. there something you need?"

Her gaze trails across the room, and she follows it... to rest a hand on Gwen's desk. A glance back at Gwen, and then she slides the drawer open, looking within.

"Hey.. hey" The girl stands up "That's my dross collection"

And there it is, a folded drawing, when opened, the figure trapped behind the eye

The delicately manicured hand slides in and seeks with fingertips, while Calanthe leaves her gaze on Gwen. Lightly plucking the drawing from the drawer, which is then smoothly pressed closed. "Did Bluebell teach you about... poaching?" Ruby lips pursed.

"Tell me how you came across this... and I promise, I shan't be angry with you." Her voice gentle.

"I did not poach" for a moment her eyes darken, then she takes a breath "I was GIVEN that. Her choice. "

A finger wags back and forth. "We have been remiss in your teaching. Once a dreamer is claimed, it is... oh, terribly bad manners for another to drink from that font. To leech away another's hard earned glamour, tsk."

"I did not leech. " A frown "And I've been taugght very well. I know for example, that you get what you give. I know that dreamers aren't empty bowls only, they FEEL what you put in them and draw out so you should be KIND in what you put in them. I know this barony has too few dreamers to go about abusing hem"

Her hand tightens on the paper, crumbling it, and then her hand relaxes once more. The smile has not left her face.

"Is that so? It sounds rather like a matter of opinion. And it is dreadfully gauche to believe that simply because one method of musing suits one fae, that it might be the one and only way. You have much to learn, and not all of it, I hope, from a hollow-headed doe."

"...and yet, no harm has been done, truly. And I did say that I would not be vexed with you." A soft sigh.

"You just accused me of theft. And SHE's harmed. You couldn't give her nice dreams? You couldn't tell her she's allwoed to leave her jerk of a husband and follow her dreams? Is it really that hard to .. to be KIND?"

It slips out

Calanthe reaches into her pocket, and pulls out... a phone. "Be silent, child, I have a call to make." And her glamour trickles forth like a binding tie on Gwen's lips, the weight of a Dictum command in those words.

Gwen finds herself, atl east her lips, frozen

I .. I can talk. I can try and she does ... try that is. But effort makes success possible, it in no way guarantees it.

The phone case glimmers, are those rhinestones on it? Speaker phone on, and it rings.... and rings. A male voice answers. "Yeah?"

"Why hello, this is Dr. Candace Greene of Greene Psychology. I was calling to check on dear Angela, as she missed our appointment."