#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I would escort you if you wished, Lizbet" the knight offers "though Art and a thane may already be at Earth runes"

"He may, but we have the dragon." Lizbet leans in and whispers to Gwen only, "and if it were to perish along the way, I could help preserve it. See, I am useful."

Another scowl flickers across her features.

She does straighten up a bit though, and says "I am no fledge to require escort, I may be a childling, but I know how to walk on a trod. Even without a dreaded monster dog or a slavering half-tamed bloody-capped compatriot." Right, Lizbet is not overly fond of the hounds, OR of Briar.

Lizbet adds, "Though company can sometimes be pleasant."

Meanwhile Fornax nudges at Thistle's fingers, protesting at the lapse in reading.

Gwen looks at Thistle , unsure what she said wrong if anything to the girl, then looks to Lizbet "i meant no insult, Miss lizbet. to anyone, but if you would allow company I would offer that too. Thistle should go with us. She's Fornax's champion in this whole thing"

"Right..." She picks up where she left off, in a low tone.

"It sounds like the learned Librarian would best guide you further. May I inquire if I might be of further assistance?" Elias asks.

"You were helpful, thanks."

She does have some manners, for a nocker, though there's something sullen in her tone.

"There is nothing greater to which a public servant can hope to aspire." He says in his dry tone. "Take these with you. Refreshments I cannot easily offer to your taste, but here is some nourishment for the least of your party, that much I can do." It's both volumes of the Carthage history, a dictionary, and a thesaurus, offered to Thistle.

"Mister Aberndeen, if I may?" Gwen observes "Would you consider my debt for this aid to be to you, or Miss Lizbet? I am not sure of the protocols"

"I'll make sure he's read to. Got podcasts already..."

He considers. "As the beast belongs to Miss Thistle, I will ask for her aid in return. Miss Thistle, please keep me apprised of his growth and care. I will write a paper on him as a most interesting and unique creature, if you will aid me in updates as he grows. I trust, in your care, he will thrive."

A look to Thistle. She might argue Thistle is a fledge and shouln't be indebted, but then she remembers Gwen, you ended up in a few favors before YOU were sained as Gladiola

"I can keep you updated, but he's not... "She frowns.

"Art had a vision. And it was his glamour. And Art's... he's a book guy."

"I have met the boy. He sought an internship with the city council while seeking employment earlier." The elder grimaces slightly, but looks amused at the same time. "Halfway through the first box of papers to be filed, he became distracted in reading them and was almost locked in at the end of the day. With respect, I would not, perhaps, trust him to care for a goldfish unsupervised."

Lizbet adds, "Uncle said he would forget to eat and sleep if he had books enough to distract him. I wanted to test it, but Uncle said you would be wroth if he actually expired." To Gwen.

"I would" She nods to Lizbet "It would vex me and I fear I'd become uncouth, and who needs that?"

Resigned. "That's kind of how it works."

"Then we have a bargain, Miss Thistle. Treat your charge well, as I will be most interested in documenting his growth."

"Oh, I could chart it!"

"Measurements and everything..."

"She's really good at that" Gladiola nods

"Please do so. The more detail, the better. In fact, tell young Art to take reports, if you will. Have him turn these in to me in place of a spoken report. It would be good practice for him to learn to record rather than simply absorb. Between the two of you..." The elder sluagh pauses, then smiles. "I will consider myself well repaid."

Mr. Aberdeen looks thoughtful, as he regards the little draconet once more. Fornax is rapt, leaning on Thistle's hand and making soft, almost chirping noises as he listens.

She nods. "I can do that."

Lizbet pouts a bit towards Gwen. "You are not a very good negotiator, you know. I started bidding with a secret, and you offered me what I wanted for free. That's not how the game is supposed to be played."

"Trolls can't haggle for dreck."

Lizbet nods in agreement. "It makes me feel like you don't think my information has value." Definitely wavering on the edge of a sulk there.

"No, seriously - trolls don't get how to haggle. They'd give you their shirts."

a blush 'i'm sorry...we could try again?"

Lizbet purses her lips...

Elias says in a somewhat chiding whisper, "They are my guests, child."

A sigh. Lizbet leans in and whispers conspiratorially to Gwen, "Your captive monster is less captive than usual these days. She stalks the town at night when she thinks no one is watching. It is cute. No one sees me watching. You should ask her about who she meets in the dark."

Gwen frowns at this "Oh dear. She's talking to Al, isn't she?"

"That answer would cost extra." Lizbet says satisfactorily.

"What's wrong with Al? He's cool."

"Al's got... issues with the system I suspect. Dee thinks he's too hard on Art." A look at Lisbet, then ponders "what kind of payment would you hope for?"

"Well, Al's cool." She harrumphs.

"What do you have to offer?"

Gladiola is frowning

Things had been great... now she finds out Briar's getting into trouble, maybe dangerous trouble. I can't be ... how do I keep an eye on them all I..

"Or perhaps, a future boon?" Lizbet slips in.

She takes a breath, then says to Lizbet "I could tell you where the various Silverwolf hounds went for the last litter. It is not exactly a secret of great security, but it will tell you more than you might realize of our alliances in progress. I can also tell you news of a troll lodge that has undergone a lot of changes, including a new Hearth"

"Aw." She is slightly disappointed that she didn't get an open ended promise, but it seems that Gwen isn't that dim after all.

She considers this, and then nods. "Yes, I will accept your offer. Your answer is... yes! And no!"

Lizbet looks smug, as she leans in and whispers, "If you were dealing with an elder, you should phrase your questions more carefully. But I am fond of you. So I will add - your Briar went to speak with the cook, but was sent away. So, she looked for others to talk to. I did not stick around to listen. I am sneaky, but not stupid. I will not get eaten, even for a secret."

"THank you, lizbet. " She says "Kourtney DeBuke, who challenged my mother in a Cullinary ronin contest, is now the new Hearth of the DeBuke farmhold. Their old hearth is said to have died in her sleep before a suspected ceremony. the details of the ceremony were for famiy and friends only and I do not presume to qualify and so I don't know the details. I can tell you the Chief there has one of our dogs in her keeping now and refers to said Dog as Butternut. "

"A death ceremony?" Lizbet looks very interested.

"I wonder if they ate her liver. Do you think they cooked it with the squash?"