#baronyofthesilverwolf

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It is a warmish day, mid-fifties and slightly cloudy. A nice day for a walk, though it turned out that a rain shower overnight had left the trails spotted and treacherous with mud puddles. Whereas Gwen's pup Ivan delights in barreling through the mud, Nadeen has been pleased to find that her own ovcharka takes care, when able, to walk around the worst of the mess, rather than reveling in it.

"Fewer baths needed that way." Pyschka sniffs at Ivan, smugly. "WORTH IT." Barks the mud-coated mess that was once Ivan under there.

"Good girl, Pyschka!" Nadeen rewards this with pets

Gwen sighs "Ivan, I love you but argh"

A wagging tail from Ivan slaps a coating of mud on Gwen's legs as well.

From the direction of the manor, a bellowing call is heard. "NADEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEN!" Briar doesn't sound worried, least ways as far as a shout can sound, but certainly insistant.

Nadeen says "On my way, Briar" And she does move with alacrity.

Gwen , curious, trudges after but with less alacrity

Briar is trotting down the path towards them, and stops to laugh at Ivan. "What is THAT? Did you trade in your dog for a mud-golem?"

Gwen says "That's Ivan, who apparently LIKES the muddy season. I'll hose him off before he gets inside"

"Good thing, Marigold is kind but I think that might be pushing it" Nadeen observes, then says "Briar, you called for me?"

Briar is observing "Ivan looks like he ate a bowl of bad meat and then rolled around in his own- Oh! Yeah. Nadeen!" She turns towards the sidhe. "Julius asked me to get you. I told him I ain't his fetch-hound but he said you were needed at the manor. Someone came!" Her nose wrinkles up a bit at the imposition.

"Thank you for informing me" Nadeen looks at her own outfit, then says "Your swiftness is definitely wolf like and the sign of a fine huntress. " She begins to head that way but asks hoping the cap informs "Who is this someone, do you know?"

Gwen looks for a hose. If they have guests, all the more reason to get the mud off Ivan now.

The kennels are best for a full bathing experience, but there are faucets with hoses along the manor walls for gardening/cleaning purposes as well. Sadly, Ivan is now FAR from fitting in the utility sink in the mud room as he once did.

"Uh. I didn't ask." Briar says. "Does it matter? They're no one interesting. If they were, then they would have been invaders we get to attack. Not someone that Julius sticks in the study and makes tea for." Sounding disappointed.

Garden House for the initial rise it is then "Ivan, hold still" FIRM command.

Nadeen keeps moving "People have different interests and I'm supposed to be the diplomatic one so might need to dress up, but I hope this will do. Thank you again, Briar. IF we are ever attacked by invaders I'll try to let you know promptly so you may feast well"

He holds still - as best as he ever can, except his tail, which he has NO control over. He gets clean, even as Gwen gets wetter and muddier.

Briar GRINS toothily at Nadeen. "You better!" She retorts, which is as good of a thank you as might be expected.

Hearing the commotion, Julius opens the door from one of the receiving rooms, closing it carefully behind him before trotting over to speak to Nadeen. "Baroness Nadeen - that is, Reeve Nadeen? It seems that we have a guest come to inquire about a possible position available." He seems a little nonplussed.

Gwen sighs. This is my life now But she fights a smile too. Wet Russian bear dog is adorablely funny looking drenched

Nadeen enters in "Do we?" She raises a brow This is... interesting. I may not have moved fast enough with Flo. "I admit I didn't expect it, but I'm not surprised. "

"Thank you Briar, you can go about whatever it is you were doing."

"NOTHING." The redcap grunts.

"Then, please take care of your nothing elsewhere for a time." Julius smiles a bit, despite the firm request. Briar rolls her eyes and heads to the kitchen.

Thus freed of listeners, Julius turns back to Nadeen. "To warn you... the guest is perhaps not who you may have sought. It's a sluagh lady... I believe her name was Lucretia, though it was hard to pick up with Briar talking over her."

"A... sluagh" She feels a headache coming on and pinches the bridge of her nose to forestall "She must know of my House? "

Julius shrugs a bit. "I would imagine so... though she did not request you specifically."

"Would you like me to ask her to leave?" He watches Nadeen for a response.

"Perhaps you are indisposed, or the position no longer available."

"No" She says "I am Reeve, and that comes with it things more important than my distrusts or biases. She deserves to be seen until she proves otherwise. I may not trust her kith as a rule, but I owe her a hearing. I must be at least try to be even handed or my position is merely ceremonial" A sniff "I will not be an ornament. I will see her. Julius, thank you for being so genteel about this and understanding. if there's nothing else you feel I need know?" She is ready to go in

He shakes his head. "I'm afraid we don't have any refreshments that our guest may find suitable, but I did make tea."

Julius walks to the door and opens it, stepping inside. "Miss Lucretia? May I introduce our Reeve, Baroness Nadeen Dancingsnow ap Varich." And holds the door for her.

Nadeen enters in, "Miss Lucretia, please forgive my rough dress. " her 'rough dress' , of course, looks fantastic, but it does have those protections for the muddy season in place, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long?" She appraises the slug.. err sluagh Stop that She tells herself. It's frustrating sometimes. Centuries of a past life where sluagh have been the enemy and folks just expect her to turn it off. But.. Dagmar would want me to, and Aiden needs me to so she shoves any hostility to the side - for now and the courtesy is genuine

Sitting within, carefully perched with elegant grace on the edge of a chair is the promised guest. Slender and pale as all their kith, this wilder is dressed formally in a Edwardian-style dress, though it is more of a modest, middle-class style then fancy or nobility. A corset further accentuates the slim figure to true gauntness, and she has a 'merry widow' style wide-brimmed hat set on her lap, trailing with dark feathers. Lucretia's hair is pulled back in a tightly woven bun, which lends a severe look to her features, and her dark, sunken eyes watch Nadeen intently.

After listening to the greeting, she stands, and gives the Baroness a properly formal curtsy, to the exact degree appropriate to her station.

Her thin lipped mouth moves, then a second time, she speaks, this time a touch louder to be audible. "Thank you for receiving me. I understand that there is a position to be filled, and wished to inquire about the details."

"On behalf of Silverwolf, you are most welcome," She says and motions "Please, have your seat again," She takes her own gently, "I fear you put me in an awkward situation, Miss Lucretia. You see, the position's very definition are somewhat in flux. However that is no answer and you deserve what I can tell you. There is consideration for personal servant for me, who would also moonlight as it were about the hold to help with some cleaning and kitchen duties. To what degree on which side, well there in lays the flux of it"

Her gaze drifts across the room, carefully taking note of what she sees, and yet not quite leaving Nadeen from her sight. There is a tray with tea set out, though the cup poured for the guest appears untouched.

Nadeen does have a sword, scabbered. One doesn't go out without some protection Pyschka eyes the sluagh, warily.

She carefully returns to her seat, the folds of her gown - the fabric old, vintage or antique, yet well maintained - falling softly without creases. Indeed, the sluagh is very clean and if there is a scent, it is of mothballs and cedar, perhaps.

Nadeen however seems quite genteel and hospitable.

The dog does get a careful look. She IS quite a dog.

Nadeen is listened too, and after a moment, a soft response. "Would your servant be expected to assist in your duties as reeve, or merely household sundries and such as expected of a ladies maid?"

Lucretia's head tilts slightly, listening.

"Again, Flux, but my initial thought is no, a triple task seems unfair. And as Reeve it might give the wrong impression to defer too many duties to a servant. I suppose my pride is involved in that, but it is more .I am reeve, then people deserve access to me, don't they?"

the first question she has put into her side of the conversation, it won't be the last.

"Indeed they do. Though, it is a shame, so oft people do not get what they deserve, or those who are deserving are not served their just desserts. It is the way of the world, I am afraid. But is it the way of the wolf?"

"Wolves birth many legends, noble wildness, terror filled nights, the idea of 'wolf' captures and inspires the imagination. I can tell you what you no doubt already know. The Baron is Ailil, a reserved man but one of comportment and a pursuit of excellence. I try to follow his lead in this last. However, if I may? It is customary to ask questions of those who inquire about positions as to qualifications, what you have to offer, and the whys of you seeking it?"

She listens once more, then continues listening for a while longer, perhaps waiting to see if Nadeen will add, or taking a moment to compose her own response.

"My name, as you have been told, is Lucretia. I have worked as a housekeeper and maid to hire for mortal organizations as well as independently. I pride myself in efficiency as well as thoroughness. Though a boggan may clean quickly, a sluagh may be far more exacting and precise, with no corner left neglected and no silver unpolished. I have experience working with antiques and fine art, that I know well how not to clean such, which is an oft overlooked skill. I have served on court as an advisor, as well as in the kitchens of a duchy where tasked to create palatable meals for my own kithmates, either from scratch or by aging, which is not as simple a task as one might assume, to maintain flavor and quality profiles while allowing a measured decay."

(pause)

"Indeed? Which Court please? have you references?"

Lucretia looks slightly surprised to be asked, but covers it well- maybe Nadeen imagined that.

She gives the name of both a common hold in Apples, and an Eilunid Barony in Northern Ice, near the border. The first for personal reference, the latter as employer.

A common hold. Well, if I ever want to usurp a place she considers 90% internnally joking and looks over the references "I must confessed I'm surprised you applied still when you learned of my House, Lucretia. " She glances over again, Eiluned know Aiilil and get along. On the other hand that increases the spying