#baronyofthesilverwolf

In the mews, Nadeen works with the falcons and hawks. Vespa knows her well, the others not so much. But she tries to learn the art of falconry a bit further... she has two options as she sees it. One, sell or trade almost all the falcons and hawks ... this could be of gain true. Not just that it brings other resources, but because it might shut out 'the Chancellior' should she somehow return from one more avenue. Yes, I am petty enough to consider it. but it feels a bit wrong. Besides, if she gets good enough, there is a chance she can still shut Calanthe out...and damn it, she ENJOYS Vespa. She hates the idea of giving up this for Silverwolf.

But there are prices to pay for practice... getting birds to land on the gauntlet is good. When they miss the gauntlet because your body language was off is another matter

And that's how, after time with the mews, she ended up with cuts at her fore arm, shallow ones, thank goodness. But she tends them with alchohol to prevent infection and wraps them, hoping no one notices.

Long sleeves She tells herself

*************

Oh dear, Katrina has escaped Dee. And now she's nosing around. Smells have led to the kitchen...

And she might find Nadeen wrapping her arm delicately. The frosty blonde turns, "Ah, Katrina. How are you?"

Beauty like sun on the first snow, but it might be clear that the Varich was hoping to get that arm tended to without witnesses

Too late for her now

"Buh..." She blinks, caught up in the Varich's beauty.

A slight twitch of her lip at that, it's flattering, but she says gently "You'll get used to us." Does she mean Silverwolf's folks, or the sidhe?

"Um. Hi!"

"I meant hi."

"Hello, we met before when you and Arthur came here, but it was hectic wasn't it? I admit I may have focused more on him, for which I apologize if it offends. It's just that Gwen and Lavender seemed happy to guide you. I'm Baroness Nadeen Dancingsnow ap Varich. Now co ruler of these lands."

A nod, still looking a bit like a deer in headlights.

"Because he's an elf... sidhe... like you?"

A pause. "Uh - you know you're bleeding? Um. Your excellence?"

"Well, that and Gwen knows you better," She look at the bandages "Mmm I thought I had that tight enough," A huff. How is it even her blood on bandaged arm strikes of beauty? Like a red rose petal on winter field "I've noticed. Technicallly Excellency is for Counts and Countess. Baroness can be referred to as "your ladsyhip" if you like. You're a fledge and folks know you're still learning the ropes. "

She takes it off, and reaffixes.

"Ladyship. Right."

"Thank you. Now about you, Katrina? Do you prefer to be called Katrina or is there another name you use at school or would like to try on here?" Yes, that seems to have stopped it

"I'm usually Kat here but Trina at Dad's... do I need a flower name? Not sure about that, I feel like a furkin' thistle in a rose garden..."

A smile at that "Well, If you are a Thistle, take pride in it. The former lady of the hold, my predessor , Dahlia, was a much loved woman before she passed. I never had the pleasure of meeting her in life, save one spring time moment" Thoughtful there "But it's not a law or rule you take a flower name though. I kind of like Thistle but the important thing is if you like it, Katrina. And, yes, it's rough being the new girl. Believe me, I know"

"Well, thistles are tough. Stubborn, too."

"And, the official flower of Scotland I think. Well, Thistle it is until you say otherwise," Nadeen's approval probably shouldn't mean much but it somehow feels uplifting that she does, "So, Thistle. What do you think of the place? "

Her spirals shift colors a few times as her moods shift. She likes having Nadeen's approval, and she's not sure how she feels about that?

"It's like Wonderland, but, you know, I've read those books which means that I'm pretty sure I've fallen into a madhouse? You ain't gonna have me painting roses, right?"

"Would help if I preferred them white? " then a shake of her head, "No I'm far too busy to do that to others even I wanted to. Though I did need to talk to you about what you ..wanted to do? or so I hear? Something about a Klin?"

"I used to make ceramics..." Her mouth screws up into a knot and her spirals dull.

"D'Lavender has that idea. Making stuff."

"Used to? Yes, Gwen says you were robbed of your chance to create," The woman reaches and touches the cheek of the younger lady where the spirals dull "Bastard has injured you .. not to the body, but to your joy . I'm sorry. Do you have samples of your work you can show me? pictures of clips of it? if nothing else?"

She shakes her head. "It's drek."

"Is that his opinion coming out f your mouth or your own? And did it make you happy?"

"I should say, did making ceramics make you happy?" She inquires

"Used to."

"Autumn people are.. unimaginative, they're filled with what we call banality.. coated in disbelief, gutted with rigidity. Your art teacher is one such and he is dangerous to dreams. Exposure to him seem to have held you back. Gwen tells me your ceramics are quite good. You tell me they're drek. Bit of a clash there. Still, it's the trade you want to learn, yes? What you want to improve on? Sounds like a good way to spend some of your year and a day to me. How hard is it to build a Kiln? Do you know?"

"Depends on the kiln... and, no offense, but I don't think Rocky knows what's dreck or not. She's just being nice."

WHY do you insist on such monstrosities, Miss Smyth? The voice echoes in her head dully. Art has FORM and function. This is not art, it is a waste of materials. Again, and perhaps THIS time you can manage a simple bowl.

Thistle squints and scowls.

"SHe is nice," A nod "But I still want to see a sample of your work for myself. Do you have any at all? SOmething your mother kept?"

Did she take any pictures? Mm.

"There's some..." She fishes out her phone, flicking through photos.

Some pictures of a little boy - 7? 8? "Artistic" snapshots of street signs and road grates. Selfies with vibrant hair.

And finally, a collection of greenwork - clay that is dried but not fired. A menagerie of creatures - gnomes and fairies and winged frogs and mushrooms with faces.

She looks them over, really looks

A teapot shaped like an elephant, the trunk forming the spout.

then smiles "one of the streets is named Fantasy lane. I love that"

Whimsical, irregular, exuberant...

"They're sloppy."