#baronyofthesilverwolf

"That's it, Blossom - remember to keep you back straight, and LIFT your forelegs. The power needs to come from your abdominals, to make up for the extra weight of your torso on the fore, else you won't make the jump with elegance. Have you been doing the exercises we spoke about?"

If Gladiola seeks Blossom, she finds her in company of Baron Aiden, both working up a light sweat as they practice in a paddock. The Baron doesn't simply sit back and watch, but jogs alongside the young centaur as she goes through her paces, so that he can watch her form and confirmation.

"Yes, Baron" Blossom lifts her forelegs proudly. She has become quite the fit athlete under his tutelage

"Teaching her dressage, Baron?" Gwen asks

"Gladiola." He smiles at his knight. "These days, it is more that she is teaching me, as much as I can teach her. The physics and practicalities of a centaur vs. a mounted rider, it's both new and intriguing. Blossom, take a break - it's important to stay hydrated in this heat."

He has remembered to bring a cooler with sports drinks - not just the horse trough!

"Yes, Baron!" She nods "BUt I could do more" Still she grabs the drink out the cooler

"Baron, did you have chance to read my report?" His knight asks

"You could do more, but if you get heatstroke, and Gladiola wasn't here to help carry you to the Manor? I'd have to drag you into the trough to cool off." He raises a brow.

Aghast, Blossom curtsies

A smile over to Gladiola, and he nods. "It was intriguing. Do you think that, if these creatures ARE in a form dreamt by modern game players, that their dreams are reaching the inner realms of the Dreaming, or that the glamour, released into the Autumn world, simply chose established paths to build their form?" A scholarly question!

"It's possible, my lord. But it's also possible they're being taken advantage of by fell forces. The map Arthur made is beyond my understanding. I feel very foolish, but I was hoping that Blossom might get an areiel view" She shows it to him "You know these lands better than I. Does this look familiar to the lay out of any place per chance?" SHowing him

Blossom keeps drinking, but gets closer curious

"Hm." He looks at the map, then spreads it out atop a crate that holds gear and tack. "Blossom, does this match any of the aerial reports you've been working on?"

To Blossom, it does! She recognizes the lines and blotches - hard for Gwen to make out, because they could be anything - a pond, a copse, a valley - but Blossom sees a spot that she knows well enough to avoid. It's a swampy, unpleasant area, where a poor Centaur will sink to her ankles in deep, sticky muck that smells of old water and decay.

"Uch," A sniff "The marsh. Nasty terrain, smells like old water and rot. I don't hunt their much. HEck, even Briar doesn't much, not sense she found out there were no campers to wake up in the middle of the night while wearing a hockey mask with blood stains"

"Wetlands are important. They provide habitat for migrating birds, spawning grounds for some fish, and can help reduce pollution runoff." Aiden comments. Then adds, "Though I am of your same mind when it comes to visiting them. A rather unpleasant place."

He frowns, looking at the map once more.

"Which one, please, blossom" Gladiola says

"That was, once, the territory of a River Hag. Mirebreath." He dredges up the memory, "Ora Mirebreath."

"It has been years since I've even given her thought. She did not welcome company in her best days, and you would not wish to cross her on her worst. She might not even be around any longer."

"Or she could be in danger" A thought "She's kithain, she deserves the right of rescue if she needs it" Gwen's jaw sets

"IF she's even still there, she may not welcome intrusion. Though it's our Barony land, she claims the river, and we have not disputed her claim. After all, there is little of value to us in those boggy lands."

"Then I guess we should go with an offering worthy of a guest?" She did not expect this. The idea that the Baron and Baroness have an area 'in dispute' seems alien

Well, in dispute may be misleading. More, it sounds like she claimed the riverbanks... and the Baron chose to humour her presence.

"That may be wise, though again, I don't know her well. I chose to humour her presence, years ago..." He looks distant a moment, remembering. "it was during a storm, and I was chasing down a lost mare. She would have foundered in the mire, but that Ora... I won't say SAVED the beast, so much as drove it off of 'her' territory, back onto solid land. In respect, I trouble her not, and she neither troubles us."

"I don't mean to be trouble, Baron, but those things have to be culled at the least if not destroyed. The Baroness wants it" and so do I Gwen thinks

"I have my hawks hunting the skies arouned places near the city ege to help protect" Blossom says proudly

"You have done well, Blossom." Aiden nods to her, "But your hawks are creatures that hunt by day, and Gladiola's prey are night beasts."

To the troll, "Seek their nest and destroy it, if you can. You make take from our dross and supplies whatever you wish that may be a proper gift to a river-crone, if you wish to seek out Mirebreath. Though, I advise that you do not expect hospitality from her, it is not the way of their kind."

"I'll settle for her not attacking" Gladiola assures "Thank you, Baron."

BLossom nods 'I do have an owl but only one"

"Don't risk your night hunter on these creatures." He advises Blossom sternly. "Owls are not common, and Mother Estrid will not trade us another if you allow this one to come to ruin."

"Yes Baron" the centaur says contritely then thinks "May I go off to tend to them now? "

"Do so. Good work today."

"Do you plan on taking Ivan with you on this hunt?" He turns back to Gladiola. "I would not go alone, but know that he won't be at his strongest in the swamp. It weighs one down."

She cursties and trots off

Dame Gladiola says "I could use his nose, not as keen as Glass by any measure but... yes. I'm not looking forwqard to the swamp myself" She taps her stone skin "I did consider taking Thistle along. A flame thrower might be dangerous in the methane but it might also burn out the next"

"If you are confident that you can protect her and yourself both, you have my leave to take her along. Her saining is soon, and it is important for her to experience as much as possible to learn and be ready to join Fae society as a full member."

"I have been over protective" She says

"But I realize this could be an over correction." SHe frowns IS she confident she can protect them both? That she's not sure of

"You might take Briar with you as well. River hags and redcaps are cousins, of a sort."

"She'll probably love it. " Amusement "I do confess, Baron. I am not sure I am half the protector either of the thanes are.""

“They did not get where they are in a day.” A fond smile to Gladiola. “You are doing well.”

“Perhaps, though, do not take the lad.”

"Well, between Omens and Dictums he's showing magical potential"

“Yes, but those are not battle arts.”

"Yes, Baron" She nods "I'll ask Thistle when she.. oh right, she's away" She sighs "I had forgotten. How seflish of me"

He raises a brow. "I did not know it was a Knight's duty to maintain an accurate schedule for all in the Barony. Would I have known, I'd have had you running my day planner and save Julius the task." a little dry.

Sheepishly "It's her step mother, she's in the hospital, the baby is way early. But yes, I do tend to do that, Baron. I'm working on... work life management"

His brow furrows. "The lost maiden of the sea. Well, perhaps, maiden does not fit. Try to focus on what is in front of you, Gladiola, and not that which we cannot change. I'll speak with Nadeen, and our people will check in on her. Even lost to the dreaming, she is still kin of our fledge, and we take care of our own."

At that, she is touched, "Thank you, Baron. It's an honor to serve you, my lord. You show strength in your concerns"

He nods, and brushes the dust from his knees. "Take these crates back to the stables, then you may consider the rest of the weekend your own, other than normal patrols. If you go seeking the beasts, let us know before you leave so we can watch the other borders in your absence."

She bows then grabs the Crates "Yes, Baron. I'll have my cellphone nearby should something come up and you need me" She has been far less 'tense' this last month, more willing to ease back. She visits Chuck and Pam frequently.