#baronyofthesilverwolf

Nadeen rides across the land with a bit of smugnesss. SHe has gone further afield than the thanes like, and while perhaps foolish at times, it can be fun to take up a patrol for herself. No doubt even Dame Lavender would agree it was silly to go alone. Of course, Nadeen's not alone. She has a horse, and Pyschka , while not a racer, keeps on her trail and can find her again.

It is spring, she rules, but Aiden now has final say. Winter was deliciously wonderful in that regard. Not that she craved power unrestrained. Sharing it had benefits she never really imagined.

But it was evidence of how much he trusted her judgement, valued her as a fellow noble.

There is, as always, a bittersweet sting when she thinks on Aiden and herself in one regard. They would never be true hearts. She had sworn to take the challenge of his love up, but ... it's not the same. There is no songbird for her kind, and no trueheart glow. It's a bit of ache in a warm rush of happieness.

Ah well, it is an ache she can endure.

She comes upon her favorite riding trail, and stops

There, chimerical sunflowers bloom, glorious gold with a blue sky behind them. Rows and rows of them.

Some, however, have odd red petals, making them look as if they were bleeding.

"Ah, " She realizes "Yes, it's always a messy business when Slavs kill Slav. The waste, the foolish waste of dreamers, damage to the land. All for an angry old man. "

"May your petals be wholly gold and still healthy and strong before the next winter comes" She wishes them well, and rides on

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