#baronyofthesilverwolf

His brow wrinkles. "Whatever do you mean, Dolly?" Lifting her hand to press a kiss to the inside of her palm, and then he turns, looking behind Nadeen -

And they both hear it, Calanthe's voice from where she stands in the doorway. "You see that things are not so simple. What has been cast is not so easily undone. There are always spies, always opportunists, seeking chances to steal what we have built. All it might take is a rumour, that the lord of the manor is unhinged, that he cannot fulfil his duties... and everything we have could be wrested away from us." Calanthe looks in at the two of them, holding a folded piece of paper in her hands.

"You are right about one thing, Dame," She says with cool resolve, "Things are not to my liking. If you think though that because something is beyond YOUR power, it is beyond solution? In that you are very wrong. Tell me what magics you have worked on him, which arts, what constructs of his mind?"

She straightens up, and snaps. "My power is not the problem here. You think that workings of over a decade can be... simply brushed aside, like cobwebs on a shelf? There are layers, levels of intricacy... I warned you not to disturb him. You have made things worse, not better."

A brow "You supported him thinking you helped, until his natural strength atrophied, like legs becoming useless not from injury but disuse." She rises "You blinded and numbed him and are SURPIRSED that the brightness is overwhelming? I do not question your power, I question your so called wisdom and the overuse of it. He has had no chance to heal, wrapped in your lies however well intended. If we are going to help him recapture his TRUE strength, we must work together and hiding the facts of what magics were used will NOT help"

She purses her lips together tightly. Taking hold of the folded paper, she tears it, stacks the pieces, tears again, and again. A quiver, a snapping sensation like thread under tension being released, as the most recent cantrip is released, the freshest layer of glamour draining away. Aiden drops Nadeen's hand, reaching up to rub his own forehead.

Blinking at the two sidhe in his chambers. "...Ladies? May I help you?" His expression cleared, and yet clearly confused.

"How much we can help you remains to be seen, my lord," Nadeen answers

Then she says "Please, Dame, have a seat, join us. The three of us should talk"

Calanthe bows slightly to the Baron, speaking to him directly. "I'm afraid I was not able to help you today, Aiden. Must we insist on this folly, then you may grant me leave to work uninterrupted." Pointed.

Realization comes to him slowly, and he frowns, reaching up to loosen his collar, lowering to sit beside Nadeen on the bed - the closest spot to sit.

"Perhaps help would be more easily achieved if I wree not kept out of the loop as to the arts being used. I had thought the point was to let the magics do less, not more"

"Are YOU a master of the mental arts, now? Or perhaps it is Tanya who holds a doctorate in Psychology. I had missed the memo where suddenly a bumbling child may tamper with forces in play and think that just because she has a pretty smile, it will solve all!"

Nadeen's nostrils flare

"Calanthe, that is UNCALLED for." Aiden stands suddenly, turning to face her. "She is trying to-"

"To what? To help? To meddle? To ensure her place at the right hand of your Balefire?"

He snaps at her, "YOU are acting the child, Cally. Shall I send you to your room?" Tempers flaring on either side of Nadeen.

Then she cools herself, "Dame Calanthe, I have enough art to dictum you to tending to my shoes so a maid might take the day off. However tempting that might be to demonstrate," Cool grows colder "It is not productive. I have contacts you could only dream of, resources that allow me access to magicians, sorcererors, that know secrets hoary and miraculous. An Ailil, of ALL house members, should know that connection to those with power IS a form a power. So please, put aside any jealousy you may have for my presence here, and inform me, however more 'masterful' you are, what arts you are using? Chicanery is obvious. But there is more."

"Are these your true colors? Petty threats and empty promises. You think that I am without resources or recourse of my own? You play at being part of our hold, and thought you refuse to divulge to our thanes your own capabilities that they can best protect us all. And yet you will question me on my own inner secrets, within my own home?"

"It cannot be bourn, Aiden. She insults and belittles me at every turn, while trying to play the innocent. My lord. Sweet brother." Calanthe says, pleading to Aiden directly. "I am your Chancellor, and most trusted confidant. You have always trusted me. If we must move down this path, do not lose faith. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and too many fingers meddling will muddy even the simplest spell."

"Refuse to divulge to the thanes?" A realization "You have them spyinng on me. Of course, no wonder she pressed so hard. Not merely for 'my safety' but because you pressed those thanes to act as spies on the hold's own Reeve"

She is not surprised, "Please spare me the wounded dove act, Calanthe. You don't wear it well"

Her back stiffens. "You are an unknown quality, a newcomer in our midst. It would be beyond foolish of me not to." She does not deny it.

Aiden has been silent until now, and he feels a headache coming on.

"Aye, I don't claim to be surprised by it , just surprised that you spy on me, and then have the gall to be offended I did't give you my life story. There is a VAST difference between my resources when I am not actively using them on ANYONE, and your spells, which are now his daily bread and butter and you know it. You love your brother? So be it, wonderful, a redeeming trait, then work with me! If we both love him, this should be easy! You say too many chefs, but sometimes a new insight is needed if only for fresh perspective. Can't you see I DO care for him? And not merely for Ambitionn's sake? Do you think Marigold wouldn't know? wouldn't warn you if she saw me as just a usurper? If you don't trust me, trust her!"

She listens, Nadeen must give her that. And it looks like the comment about Marigold struck home. She hit a sensitive mark there. Calanthe wavers, but then her chin sets, stubbornly.

"If you would have me continue my work, I must be given rein to work as I see fit. Without muddling, without meddlers. That is FINAL. My Lord, you can find me when you are willing to speak further. My door is always open, to you."

Aiden sighs as Calanthe exits, shaking his head.

She watches Calanthe storm off, then takes a long slow breath and says "There are days I want to put my shoe so far up her tight ass a heel comes out of her venomous mouth..." A reminder to herself "But that would be unladylike"

Aiden sinks back to the bed, sitting once more. "I suppose that wishing the two of you could get along better is a bit of a pipe dream. Then again, she has always been like this. When Calanthe gets the bit between her teeth on something... she can be as stubborn as a Troll. " He smooths the comforter beside him. "Sit with me?"

"Ive handled trolls" She hurumphs "I LIKE Trolls" But she sits with him, "Aidenn, do YOU know what magics she's using? what arts? Cantrips?"

He leans over, and rests his forehead on her shoulder. A rare moment of what could be seen as weakness, seldom seen in a sidhe lord, much less a Dragon.

She strokes his hair and curls about him

Support she shall give

"She has mastered Chicanery... even as a childing, she was skilled. When we were young, she dabbled in playing with other arts. Sovereign, of course - and she used to think she would look regal if she could turn into a dragon herself... but metamorphosis escaped her, or lost her attention. I think..." His brow furrows a bit. "I know there is Winter in her, as well. But I have never pried. She is loyal, and powerful. That has always been enough. Many have reasons not to discuss their arts. I largely no longer practice my own."

"Were her magics being used on just herself I'd not care a a whit," She is curious what HIS arts are but she takes a breath to say "I had hoped this would be a happier day for you. The interoggation went well... I had news of it"

"Tell me? I welcome some good news."

"Well, you know what happened with Willy and Lavender yes?" And she relates that part of the story first

(End Scene)