#baronyofthesilverwolf

Art does not, of course, have spirals to telegraph his mood, but his mouth turns down sadly at the corners.

"It's stupid and it's fine."

"If it is of so little consequence, why does it affect you so? I am not blind... nor deaf. I am your friend. If you are upset, no matter if the reason be inane or not, it is not fine."

She folds her arms tightly around herself. Her expression would look like a furious scowl, if not for the dissonance of the spirals.

"It's dumb. It's fine. Maybe I can make some kind of armor suit for those stirge things. Willy might be better, though. She knows leather."

"Willy said.... oh, what was it? I believe... that I had better be ready for horseshoes if I stepped foot in her shed again, as she'd take off the offending toes with her... I'm not sure what a 'hardy' is, but she sounded confident it was up to the task."

She scrubs at her face. "I can ask."

Art is not unaware that she has changed the subject, and still looks worried.

"If they are fragile, like a bird or an insect, a blunt weapon may be of use. Even as simple as a bat."

"Can't do a bug zapper, if they zap things - probably immune to shocks. Shame."

"I don't believe the lore referred to, ah, 'zapping'. Would that be an electrical shock? I saw that they are nocturnal, likely form colonies, and feed on life's blood - or in this case, glamour or dream energy, from mortals. Though I would not put it past them, if they caught a changeling to a true chimera, to feast on it's blood. At that point, it's fairly one and the same."

"Could try out the beta flame thrower on'm, if we find a den."

"I'd like to see it in action! Did you manage to do the... the things with the colors?"

"Oh, yeah. It's..." She frowns. "I mean, we're still working on it."

"I was surprised that Danica stepped up to help you out. I thought she hated us. Well, rather, I didn't think she liked anyone. She always has a face that's like, someone just dumped an entire truck of garbage on her porch and she's the one that has to clean it up."

She bites on her lip and nods. "I'm glad she did, though."

Rochalor finishes drawing where Dancia will be paatrolling later. Dug into the dirt with a stick, the words 'Fe, Fi, Fo, FREEZE!'

"Do you think I should try for some sort of weaponry as well? It doesn't seem to come natural to me." He admits. "Neither bow nor blade. I've become serviceable under the Baron's tutelage, that is, I can shoot an arrow now without it snapping back into my face, but he does not hide that I am disappointing in results."

"Maybe you're a wizard. You keep reading that book - Wizards don't do much with weapons in a fight."

"Though Danica says my fire could be pyretics and not soothsay..."

"Is that so? Well, do you see patterns in the swirls of your paint and the crackle of your forge? Do images appear in the clouds, I mean, other than looking like a rabbit or a mashed potato?"

"I mean, yeah, but that was even before I turned into a nocker. But it's not like... the future, it's just seeing shapes."

"You could try seeking an omen to see if it worked." He suggests!

Her spirals shift from muddy to blue. "I mean, I guess."

"There are so many different paths that cantrips may take." He leans against the checker cab, looking up at the blue sky thoughtfully. "Stormcalling and Soothsay, Fire and Ice, all of the seasons... manipulation of dreams, control of minds or illusions, or the very elements of the earth... leadership and control, oaths and bindings, and the science of Names... Time, Shape, Travel..."

"How will I ever find what path my magic should flow on?"

"Why have just one path, though?"

"Why not explore and try out many?"

"The Baron said that I should find a path and focus to mastery...." He seems a bit unsure on this.

"Sure, but life isn't... you don't have to do just one thing. You can have a favorite, but how do you know what your favorite is?"

"Are you saying that perhaps Lord and Master Dragon of Ailil may not know what is best for all?" An amused smile.

"Oh, no, no, not at all. But, y'know."

"Just sayin'."

"Well, I'm saying it. Not where he can HEAR it... but... " Art grins, a bit goofily.

"Maybe I'm meant to be a jack of all trades, master of none..."

"Maybe you can master more than one. Who knows?"

"I already know I have at least the power to work Sovereign, and Soothsay. Is it greedy to want to learn more?"

"Naming and Chronos are also both proper arts for nobility as well. Did you know that Naming will allow you to read any language?"

"Clearly, you need to learn THAT!"

"I wish you could learn it too.... but Lord Aiden tells me that certain arts were granted by the Tuatha de Danaan and it's only Sidhe who can wield them. Are there are Nocker arts?"

She shakes her head. "Not that I know of."

"Do you think the Earth Runes Namer will do us? He's a Dougal, I think. Or maybe there's one closer?"

"Lord Aiden has been teaching me of the local lords and ladies who rule the nearby baronies and counties. Our Countess doesn't keep a namer on hand herself. She had one, but he was old, and returned to the Dreaming before Gwen's saining. She's Eilunid, you know? If I sain as part of her house, I may need to go there to learn of the house ways." An uncomfortable look. "Though, from what I've heard, she's not a very welcoming sort. Countess Naevys Elsinore."

He rubs his forehead. "You would not believe how many names there are to learn of the nobles, and their baronies, and the County histories..."

Spirals darken at the mention of Art going to the County. "Maybe you won't have to go, since Ailil is a sister house..."

"Yeah, but you're smart. Think of them like learning constellations."

A soft laugh. "The Nobles would probably appreciate the analogy."

"Well, you shine, too."

"Well, you sparkle. Or maybe luminesce!"

That pinky-orange coral is a much better color for her spirals than blue.

"Willy says I give her dazzle migraines." Grin.

He laughs! "I like it. So do your little friends."