#baronyofthesilverwolf

"For sure."

"Are you allowed to drive this yet? Is it, uh. Road... ready?" Patting the Cab.

"Ehhhhhhhhhh."

"Just a few more tweaks."

"There are no storms called for tonight if you wanted to take Gertrude. Though..." A sigh, "She cannot carry more than a few books."

"You want to go right now?"

"Don't have to." He leans against the cab again. "It's a nice day. I enjoy just relaxing, too. But... the longer I spend her, the higher chance that the Lady or Baron might notice me at leisure and assign more studying."

"You like studying. That's how you found the storges."

"Stirges! Yes, well... I do, but... did you know that there are 10 recognized counties in the Duchy of the Golden Sigil, not counting the Ducal Seat? Across those 10 counties are more than 40 individual baronies, not counting the contested areas. Each area has a Baron or Baroness, sometimes both, and house affiliation to keep track of. Beyond that, Julius was speaking of quizzing me on their capital imports and exports! It is making my head spin."

A grin, "Even if I DO think of them as stars."

"You will get it."

"Bluebell suggested setting them to rhyme, but... that just confused me more." He laughs!

"Speaking of our neighbors, have you been to see the forges at Dark Gate?"

He recites, "In the County of the Diamond, named not for mineral but for the baseball associations of Cooperstown, where the Count resides. Baron, or as he styles himself, Chieftain Hewitt of house Dougal rules Dark Gate in the manor of a Troll Lodge, and their primary exports are finished armor and forged items."

"Ruled by, um. " He hums to himself, then snaps his fingers. "Count Harner Silverswerve ap Beaumayn."

"Those are the french ones, right?"

He nods. "They are not very well regarded in high society, though I'm not sure why. Some call them Dark Stars - it is a house of monster hunters and occultists. Lord Aiden did not dwell on them long in our lesson."

"Well, you like magic. You're probably an Eiluned."

"I mean, no offense, but I don't think you're a Dougal. You can't tell a wrench from a screwdriver."

"Sure I can! The wrench is the one that gets thrown into the gears in cartoons."

That earns a smile.

"Aiden has been telling me about House Eilunid. His mentor and the previous Baron was of the house of moon and stars."

"Magic and books!"

"I think Liam do books, too."

"He fears I will be a seelie house, perhaps at odds with his own. Eilunid would be acceptable. Liam... might be trickier."

"I haven't shown any particular affinity with the wilds - he had a Witch of house Aesin speak to me, but she left, I think disappointed."

"I would not mind house Varich, either. Lady Nadeen is gracious and kind, and a wonderful teacher. They see patterns, you know."

"So do you!"

A nod!

"I think it'd be nice if you were a Varich or Ailil. Then you could stay here."

"But maybe if you're another house, a house mentor could, like, visit?"

"You have school, and family..."

He looks up into the sky, watching a small cloud scut across. "Maybe? I won't know until I'm sained."

"But that's soon, too. Must be more stressful, waiting to find out house and title."

He gives her a smile. "That's why I don't worry about it! See, you know it will come, whether you wish it to or not... so there is no point in being paranoid or upset, because it WILL come.... come what may."

"Makes sense, I guess."

"It's later than I thought. I guess we'll have to go to Watertown for shopping another time." He is a bit surprised, when did the sun get so low to the treeline.

"Tomorrow I'm working - don't tell Gwen, though? I'd really rather her not come to visit."

"...Can I come visit?"

He gives her a wary look. "You have to promise not to laugh."

"...That's not reassuring." He sighs.

"Why would I laugh? Fine, I promise."

"Okay. I start at noon. You'll see me in the parking lot."

"The parking lot? Okay."

"I should head home... Mother doesn't like me biking in the dark ever since my bike got dinged up."

Grimace.

"Sorry about that."

"Can you help me stick a flashlight on the bike? The ones at the bike store are expensive."

"Oh, totally!"

"Don't be... she's right, it's dangerous riding at night. Even without Thallain, I could easily be run over."

"I could put, like, running lights on the spokes, too... it's look badasss. Maybe charge it by pedaling..."