#baronyofthesilverwolf

And so Nadeen finds herself looking for the Baron

It should not come as a surprise to find him in the stables. Spring is definitely here, and the paddocks have been opened! Even the serious and steadfast Brego is frolicking like a colt as the mounts snort and dance in the sun, and nibble at shoots of fresh green grass. Aidan leans on the fence, smiling as he watches - a rare candid shot of the somber Baron.

She helps herself up to tthe rails to perch prettily.

And wonders if he'll notice. It seems I am attracted to folks who would sometimes forget I'm here while a horse frolics She finds she doesn't mind too much.

The large - lanky, not solid like Pyschka - wolfhound that was a gray shadow at his feet stirs, and gives a whuff at Nadeen's perch. Aiden glances over and his small private smile turns into a larger one to share with the Baroness. "Good boy, Fort." He rubs the dog's head, moving over to join Nadeen. "The sun rose twice over the paddocks today." A rare bit of poetic license.

Damn it, that was good! a delicate blush works it's way over her, and tingles that are most pleasant stir, "You are more a poet than you think, my lord," A pleased look. She does reach down to scratch Fort, then looks at the baron "Have you a moment, Aiden? I hate to disturb you when you are at peace but it involves Briar."

He turns to face her, expression moving to concerned. "Has she found herself into some new and interesting trouble? I can only hope that the lack of screams, torches, and pitchforks may be a good sign."

A smile slips out at that and she covers her mouth, "I think she's caused no mob uprising. It's about her schooling," Nadeen explains, "Her grades are suffering, that is not a surprise, but I think she misses socialization, in her way. I wondered how you might feel about sending her to the DeBuke farmhold?" She says "They're a foolish group in some ways. A troll lodge that has been extremely modernist yet still locked back in time. However, they are allies to the Rivervale lodge, and despite their distrust of nobles, particularly sidhe nobles, they've been allowing kithain and some kith hands on education on their property. Briar might hate it, she might like it, but it's an option and she's not happy with her current school set up online now. I've attened there myself. I won't lie, they have biases, but more against sidhe than redcaps. Odd as that is."

His brows rise sharply at the mention of the modernist common-held freehold. Considering this, "You believe that they would welcome a redcap childling into their midst, one with a, mortal mind you, track record for early juvenile delinquency?"

"I think they might give her a chance. Also, they're trolls and trolls are good at restraining redcaps."

"And what of an Ailil spy?"

"Is Briar an Ailil spy?" A brow "or do you mean they'll see her as one?"

A small smile. "Wouldn't you?"

"Probably. i imagine, like me, she'll be kept from certain areas. They have wards and guards. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's worth looking into. A shame they're so closed off. They've got some fine horse flesh and canine breeds here too, and... I'm told, a fae cow. Produces more milk"

"As Reeve, it's for you to help decide what is best for our subjects, and Briar certainly falls under that umbrella. It sounds like you think it would be good for her. I trust your judgement." A moment, and he does admit, "If she did happen to see anything interesting in their stables, I wouldn't be opposed to know of it."

"I will confess that Briar might just spy on their horses and dogs, like any little girl, even a redcap, might." She promises

"But if they get huffy about that, I'll make them embarrassed for doing so" A snort

"As they should be"

He reaches out to take one of her hands, and gives it a soft squeeze. "Thank you for looking out for Briar." If not pulled away, he keeps her hand in his light grasp.

She smiles and yes, her hand remains "Thank you for trusting me to do so" She looks at the horses, sharing the view "Oh my, they are joyous. I dare say Joker will not stay the youngest colt for long"

He chuckles. "I should hope not, or we'd have several very disappointed fae customers." The two yearlings who won gold at Pennons are racing each other around the far paddock, not to win, but for the joy of running.

"Do you recall the venture we had discussed... it feels like a lifetime ago? To venture to the Caliphate of Cedars in search of the horses I had sought? I had suspicion after certain inquiries that Tiberius made prior leaving... I think he may have gone seeking them. I hope that you are not feeling that a quest was stolen from you - but I must admit, I'd be loathe to have you leave, now. That is, the Barony needs you..."

"I think Daggmar will be more dissappointed than I, but as much as it was postponed, I cannot blame you"

"Then let us hope for his success, that she may meet them as well." He offers.

"Agreed. I rather like Tiberius.. " A smile "In moderation. He's a cheeky man, but I too wish him the best" She looks at the Baron and says "You say the Barony needs me, but I confess, I do wonder how great an impact I am having. I have taken a kinian as a handmaide ,which helps her and her son. I'm not sure Mariggold is reaping the benefits yet. One slaugh decided to 'bait the bear' as it were, but seemed surprised when I put my personal biases even a bit to the side. Will that be good word of mouth? I don't know. Is there any area you wish me to focus on in my reeving?"

He takes both of her hands, and presses them between his own. "I worry that there are more kithain like Tiberius. In need, but unwilling, or unable, to seek our assistance, or unaware that we would support them if they did. A pack is only as strong as it's weakest member, same for a herd... and it is well past time that we consider the entirety of the Barony as our responsibility, rather than just what is before our noses."

"I see, "She gazes into his eyes "I think my pride would be well sated by the idea of patroling to 'rescue' lost kithain, and, of course, it is the right thing to do. Do not worry, Aiden. I shall be your extended hand"

He gazes into her eyes, leaning in just so - and Nadeen feels a TUG as a naughty little foal has notices the hem of her shirt waving in the soft breeze, and has all four spindly legs planted as he grips the fabric in his teeth and pulls.

"mm?" And she tries to keep balance...

"Little help here?" She tries not to laugh as she is in danger of being pulled over

Aiden gets a mischievous look in his eyes, "My reeve, shall this be a trial for you to conquer?" He watches her struggle for just a moment longer before easily vaulting the fence to the inside, and pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wave at the foal instead. Joker is distracted, snatches away the bit of cloth, and then proceed to prance the length of the paddock waving it proudly!

As for Nadeen, he wraps his arms around her and lifts her off and to the ground as well.

"Youngsters are often troublesome." He chuckles, then sobers a bit - his lands that were lingering on her sides are drawn away. "How is your new handmaiden settling in?"

She rather liked the feel of his arms lifting her up, though she fusses at Joker "You , young one, are a brat." But she notices the hands going away and figghts a pout, then with a sense of entitlement, she takes his hands in hers and puts them back "Confused, poor dear. Flo was treated like an object at her previous holding, actually GIFTED if you can believe it, Sylvi finds the idea of a servant terrible but at the same time is being kind to her annd treating her as an near equal if a victim who should be supported, and there I am, her employer who expects 'my lady' at the hold, but just my first name or Miss Brown at the house. I think Marigold is just delighted by her little boy, and has made a good first impression on Flo in turn. " she now moves closer to her rescuer, and says gently "is it wrong I rather like being waited on? Tended to?"

He hesitates, then wraps one arm around her waist, and the other hand raises to stroke her hair. "There are some who would say so. But, no. I do not think so. Rank has it's privileges, along with it's trials. You do your duty to your subjects, and theirs back to you, thus is the very soul of fealty."

"If your handmaiden was raised to serve, and did not reject the role - even if her previous hold treated her less than she was worth? She may find that the role of serving suits her moreso than otherwise. And it would be unkind to deny her if so. You may as easily ask Marigold not to dote upon us all."

"Ha, Marigold should explode if we tried to prevent her from tending to all. She is a force, Aiden. I shall both dread and enjoy butting heads with her," her eyes light at the attention, "And yes, Noblisse oblige may or may not be a fiction among mortals, but not among us. I shall reward Flo's service. I think perhaps Rian needs a college fund started.. discretely. I'll set one up.. at this age it need not be much."

"That is a kind thought. I had wondered about investing into a scholarship program as well. For kithain in our community, those who cannot afford college, or graduate school, or vocational training if they are under employed. Perhaps... even kinain and mortals as well. There are those that flourish in the small town life, and those who stifle, and dreams may be lost. If we had a way to better support them, we may even find that on graduation, they return to liven the town with dreams anew." He smiles a bit wryly. "And Julius tells me that the tax write-offs would be considerable."

"Remote work" she says "If you can get better Wifi in the area, you can encourage growth in the tech area .Of course, too much success could breed it's own problems, but that would get some college graduates here"

He blinks. "WiFi...." And shakes his head ruefully. "See, now you're speaking another language. I can see the appeal of living wherever you choose and being able to keep your occupation? But you cannot smell the spring grass, or watch the horses run, or..." His hand is nudged, and he reaches down to pet Fort's head. "Or so many things, in front of a machine. Perhaps we need a... technician? Of some sort as well."

"We may not need one so much as need contacts who migght help it happen locally, within reason . I'll ask about if you like" She ponders and absentmindedly scratches Fort too. If her own dog were in view, she might get jealous "But yes, there is a wonder in the land itself. One advantage to some sorts of technogy is that it actually helps support it. Remote work means less need for streets. Solar panels and wind mills can mean cleaner air. That sort of thing. It's all above my head, but with locals in construction and design, it's something to peek into." A mischievous look "if I am very good at my duties at Reeve, might I also get petted pleasantly?"

"I suppose, it would be my own duty, if you are very good." He agrees, and leans in for a kiss.

And she meets him there, kissing him warmly.

There they stay, meeting in the middle for a sweet interlude. Fort lowers his head to relax, though his ears are pricked and ever on watch, his tail lightly thumping the ground. Around them, stallions and mares frisk as easily as fillies and foals. Elsewhere there is work to be done, but for the here and now, it's the two of them.

She does not ask for, insist on more, this is.. right now it feels like everything. His lips on hers, the intimacy it implies, the mix not just desire, but deep affection and yes, trust. Yet she strokes along the side of his face, a sign she would not refuse frolicing, when he is ready

His kisses are tender, and his hands both gentle and strong as they wrap around her, supporting her slender frame. Yet there is something holding him back, some hesitation, which prevents him from pressing on to further frolic, and after a time, he draws away, though not without some reluctance.

A slow breath

Then a sigh "No frolicing this fine spring day for two winter sidhe? Alas"

"I'll put Joker away before he catches a chill, it is early yet for him without a full coat. And if he gets a stomach full of new grass, he'll suffer for it." Aiden says, a touch apologetic. "We can walk back to the hold together, if you haven't any immediate calls on your time?"

"I do not, and I love the company . Here, I'll help you with joker. Perhaps we can lure him with a cuff from myself" Wryly

Rounding up the fiesty foal is a bit of work, as once Joker realizes that the goal is to return inside, he relishes this new game! If his dam, a wise fae mare herself, realizes that he's acting up, she looks the other way. After all, the more energy her foal expends now, the quieter he shall rest later! But with a little ingenuity and teamwork, and Nadeen's tempting lure of her shirt cuff, the foal is finally wrangled and the other horses trot in eagerly at the promise of oats.

"Brat" She declares to the horse, and hen, arm in arm, Nadeen walks with Aiden back to the hold

(End scene?)