#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Well, there's no simple way about it, so out with it, I suppose. There have been some changes at Silverwolf, Willy, and I wanted to make sure that you are in the know."

She goes even MORE onguard, banging the coffee down and scowling. "I'm out?"

"Good heavens, Willy, why would you think that?"

The workshop is filled with wonders! Well, perhaps not to Blossom. Wrenches and tools and scraps of leather... oh, that stack of horse shoes that gleam with silver catch her eye, though.

"Last in, first out."

"Well, you just get that thought out of your head. You're not going anywhere, miss. In fact, the Lord is very pleased with your work. No, no. These are changes from the top."

"What? I gotta share the shop?"

"Can we sit and chat for a bit?" The boggan leans slightly against the worktable, just enough to rest a bit of her weight.

"Yeah, sure. Guess we gotta." Willy has a few stools and one chair from which a few spindles are missing. "Cop a squat." for herself, she leans on a workbench too.

Marigold pulls up a stool, and her gaze travels over the workshop - internally redecorating.

"Dame Calanthe has left Silverwolf. She will no longer be in residence or serving as Chancellor." She folds her hands in her lap to avoid the temptation to tidy up a nearby stack of leather scraps. Wouldn't they be nicer organized by color and length?

"Ok."

Brows raise just a bit. "Baroness Nadeen will be taking over her duties for the time being, as well as joining the Baron in co-ruling this Freehold."

Willy thinks for a minute. "She's the blonde?"

"Heavens, Willy. You must spend some time outside of your workshop. It's not healthy to not have interaction with another living soul. Yes, Baroness Nadeen is 'the blonde', but she will also be your Liege Lady. Are you not at all concerned about these changes?"

" 'M not getting canned?"

"No, but things will be changing, to be sure."

"Not losing or sharing the shop?"

"Well, no, but..."

"But what???" she jumps on it.

"Silverwolf has had a major change in leadership, shall be co-ruled by a Lady of Varich, the previous Chancellor banished and all you have to ask about is your workshop?"

Willy squints "Funding's drying up?"

Marigold's expression cracks just a little, just a chin quiver of emotion, but she nips that right in the bud.

"No, Willy. Your employment here is secure. I just thought, well, perhaps you might want to know of recent events. If you will excuse me."

Willy looks confused, lost, but..... "Yeah, sure. Thanks for the .... " she picks her mug up "....food and stuff."

"Oh, yes, here." Marigold almost forgot, and offers Willy a shining metal canister in Green and Gold.

"The coffee came in this - perhaps you can utilize it for storing... wrenches, loose screws, whatever may please you."

Willy looks the can over.

The scent of fresh beans from it... ah, the same as the quality brew in the carafe Marigold brought today.

"It would be nice if you would join us for meals sometimes. But no-" She forestalls the anticipated question, "..It is not required in your employment contract. Supper is generally served from 6-8pm."

Willy mumbles something.

"Pardon, these old ears don't hear as well as they used to." Not unkindly.

"Thank you."

"Just.... the work's important."

"I get focused."

A smile. "You're very welcome. Please try to remember though... you are important. Not just your work. It may be hard for a Nocker, I suppose, but you are more than just the sum of your achievements."

Side-eye. What is this foreign language?

The boggan looks earnest - she's probably not teasing?

"Let me know if you're coming to supper some time and I'll make biscuits. Proper ones, without any chocolate." A small tease there. The ones she brought today are, obviously, cookies. 😉

"Yes'm." apparently something got through; she's remembering her southern manners.

NOW she gets the full force of Marigold's sunny smile. "Very well then! I'll be out of your hair. Blossom, remember, you may stay if Willy says it's okay, and only if you don't interrupt her work."

Blossom is eying the horse shoes on the wall "Can you make something like these, but SHINIER?"

"Yeah." in tones of DUH to Blossom.

"Purely chimerical... maybe something I could connect to mortal shoes ..." Blossom says "The Baron LIKES Silver"

Willy looks the centaur over critically. "Kin ah take a look at your hooves?"

"Sure!" the girl says "Which one do you want me to lift first?" She is happy to show off her lovely hooves

Willy comes around "You mind if Ido the liftin'?"

"Long as you don' make me fall" The girl answers "I don't mind at all. Dressage is very important "

Willy is an old hand at this; she stands at Blossom's shoulder, leans into her slightly to telegraph the move, and slide a hand down her leg to a tendon on her lower leg to squeeze gently. The centaur might feel it very natural, a reflex, to lift her hoof.

And Blossom does

Willy touches the hoof, inside and around the shell of it.

"Hm."