Calanthe fumes as she paces.
"I want something DONE about this. If I had been here, I never would have allowed MY DREAMER to be brought in for the farce of Carnival."
"It was your choice not to attend-" Danica starts to respond, only to be cut off by the Sidhe knight whirling and glaring up at her. And perhaps even a bit more angrily because she can't look DOWN at the taller Thane.
"You forget yourself. You are MY Thane, and you are sworn to ME. That means that you do not backtalk like one of the untrained new children waltzing about who can just play at patrols and call it a good day's work. "
Danica stands at attention, her expression carefully smooth and emotionless. "Yes, my lady."
Calanthe glares for a moment longer until she is satisfied with the response, then returns to her pacing.
"It cannot be borne. I had plans for that mortal. Vital plans that deal with the very fate of our hold. And they think it can just be thrown akimbo by a whim to play at royalty with a dreamer they had no right to?"
Silence from Danica.
"I asked you a question!" Calanthe snaps.
"Of course, my lady. Apologies, my lady." The Thane responds quietly. "I do not think it was intentional. The Queen was chosen by Tiberius the Wanderer."
"...who was brought to us by Fledge Gwendolyn." Calanthe adds, watching Danica, and then snapping her fingers imperiously when there is no response immediately forthcoming.
"Correct, Lady." Danica reluctantly answers. The Knight's eyes narrow. "But no retribution may be taken for events on Carnival." The Thane adds.
A scowl from Calanthe. "You needn't preach the laws to me, Thane. I know then as well as you. I shan't punish the fledge. But the mortal is still MINE, regardless of whether she played at being Queen."
Danica shifts her weight slightly. "Perhaps it would be wise to seek a new canvas. One untainted by other's glamour." She offers, in a carefully neutral tone.
"Do you think I hadn't considered that?" Her tone clearly sarcastic. "The Equinox fast approaches. Where would I-" And she looks to Danica, and a small smile forms.
"You are, of course, correct."
A worried crease on the Troll woman's brow.
"A fresh canvas would be best. Shall I have you choose one for me? Perhaps among those poor waifs left behind. The township bleeds to feed and house the the city's miscreant population. It would be a true service to rehabilitate them to some useful endeavor."
Danica says in a low tone, "They are not fitting your needs, Lady. They are base-born dregs of society. Unworthy of you."
"And yet, I have a need. Shall you pay the price?"
The thane exhales. "I shall." Calanthe's delicate brows raise in surprise. "Shall you, now? Remember, that your first responsibility is to me. If this task interferes with that-"
"It will not." Danica says, firmly. "I will find you the dross you need."
A spreading smile from Calanthe, pleased. "See that you don't. Now, that wasn't so hard now, was it? Tide me over until I can win back my Dreamer, and your poor, unfortunate ones will remain untampered with. Despite the recent trend of poaching."
Danica winces so slightly that only another troll could possibly see it. "It will be as you say, my lady." She responds.
"As it should be." Calanthe purrs.
----