#baronyofthesilverwolf

When she sees the Baron, she turns from Moondance and bows "My lord"

"Dame Lavender. It seems that you've attracted some attention." He offers the letter over for her to read.

"I have?" She takes the letter and starts to read. Her eyes light up, and she keeps reading

"WHOO!" She hoots by the end of it "WOW They like our stuff! I KNEW They would I just didn't expect..." Then a blush "Ah, assuming it's okay with you, my liege?"

"And if it wasn't? Shall I have your stable privileges revoked and yourself flogged for impertinence?" He looks amused and brushes off any look of concern from Dee. "No, when I asked you to take over daily management and maintenance of the stables, I gave tacit, if not implicit, permission. This is a good thing. I am pleased that you took this initiative."

She did look concerned a LITTLE but then beams again, "Thank you, Baron. I've been a big fan of the magazine for awhile, and the few submissions of Silverwolf horses before really caught their attention." a grin "I guess better than we thought. Ah, they may want to interview you, you know that right?"

A slight hesitation, but then - "Vet their agent to ensure that they will only ask about Silverwolf's stables and cavalry programs. I do not wish for any prying into my private affairs."

"Yes, lord. " A nod "They do sometimes ask about your personal life but mostly as it pertains to the horses. 'Do your family members help around the stable' 'do they love horses as much as you' 'what drew you to horses" etc but I'll discourge them from being too free and vet the agent. "

"I trust your judgement. It would be good to get new interest in the stables. We are not hurting, never - but eventually we do exhaust the need of our current associates for new mounts. The type of buyer who uses horses up and looks for a new one is not our consumer, but my breeding efforts are somewhat curtailed when there are not placements waiting."

"I was hoping much the same, my lord. Interaction with Earth Runes has helped our line options, and word is spreading, why there is even a..." A blush "Well, one hesitates to mention as I don't know if you'll find it insulting or amusing"

"Speak." He nods.

"It would appear another Baron of Bergen has made inquires into our horses, with talk of trade or purchase. One who is being discrete, and hinting that discretion would be ideal. I think the would be buyer is worried his liege, the Count, might have biases against your house. Now, the Chieftain has been more open on interaction, but she IS the Count's old motley mate and has much lee way, this baron has not so much"

"Who is this Baron? What house does he follow?"

"Baron Kealan of House Scathach, one of the few titled and landed lords of that House, of teaneck"

Aiden may recall that Nadeen mentioned Baron Kealan as the spymaster of the Count. And yes, he was there at the Pennons that SW visited

He considers. "Have some research conducted on this Kealan, privately. See how the grey walker is reported to treat his mounts. If he is a capable and even-handed horsemaster, then I respect that more than I might judge his political aim or affiliation."

"I will, my lord. " She says "I have seen him at Pennons in past. There seems to be a superstition of the Bergen folk that if Chief Brekke unhorses Baron Kealan, there will be good harvest for fall and gentler weather. That said they seem to be friends and, Doomwind, a kngiht and champion in his service, is actually a master equestrian. She's of House Aeisin. As for his type of horses, of fae blood, they have a Mare of Morgan line they might be tempted to breed with one of our stallions if we're so inclined. But I haven't seen that horse myself beyond picture"

"It is a shame that he doesn't have a stud of the Morgan line. That is easier to negotiate a scion of. Trading him a horse to improve those lines benefits only him." He considers.

"I do believe he mentioned purchasing our services flat out but he also mentioned he mgiht be able ot help us with connections that might normally snub an Unseelie hold"

"That would be worth entertaining. I will not simply gift the product of our lines for mere money or dross - to do so weakens us and strengthens them. We must have an equitable trade."

"Yes, my lord. He did mention he was considering another source, not to insult us, he was impressed with our lines at Pennons" Proud, HEr Horse was one of them or what would be her horse later "And we are closer he says and proven. I... ah, well, as you know, my lord, I am no Ailil but I do not hide my affilation?"

"I do know. If you think him worthy, find out what he would offer in trade for a stud from our lines. Perhaps the colt out of Moondance by Snowthorn. He is showing good confirmation, if they are willing to wait for him to be proven. If they desire a faster turnaround, Brego or Telperion. The former for a troll-sized destrier, the latter for a nimbler fighting or travel companion."

"I shall, my baron but" A blush "I mentioned your house because I..tried to think like one. Probably poorly, but it did have results. One doesn't spy on a spymaster, but I did find some around him who were chattier. I tried to find news of this 'other source' he was considering. And I think, thanks to Cavaier Quarterly, I found it. Or pieced it together. It maybe WE might want to talk to them ourselves. "

She is bouncing on her hooves

He listens, and looks impressed. “You did well. Tell me, dame, do you have interest in house membership?”

"Torn, my baron." She answers honestly, "In truth, I have noticed you do rub off on we knights a bit. There are advantages to mere affilation in that it allows me to play the 'simple satyr serving a dragon' instead of a dragon myself, allowing me a WEE bit more trust from those who maybe biased against the Dragons. But, about what I found... a moment, let me get a magazine of a particular issue to show you where I think it is?"

“Ah. Yes, show me.” He is perhaps a touch distracted, but not disinterested.

She races off, not as fast as a she could go, but quick. She returns shortly, then finds it... "Here it is." She opens a book "The boggan servant mentioned Idaho being far away.. and that reminded me of this place IN Idaho"

And he sees the picture

Below the picture, the article reads The Appaloosa Gang is a Motley where it's all in the name. While not Nunehi, more than one is partly Nez Pierce and they seek to reclaim the heritage of breeding Appaloosa fae steeds such as 'Fabio Goes to War' here, a name they assure is somewhat tongue in cheek

"A commoner motely, Baron, and this article is over a year old"

"Is that so?” Clearly intrigued. “At first glance, I thought her a Knabstrupper, but those are very rarely seen outside of Denmark.”

He reads over the article. “Idaho. Hm.”

“Would that fall on the edge of Grass, or Pacifica?”

"I believe the Duchy of Gemstones is claimed by Grass, but as you say, on the edge"

"Now I'm not one to say we should deny the Baron of Teaneck anything, as you say, if he's good to his horses, that speaks well of him, but I feel no shame in looking out for our own stables and contacts first"

A nod! “Just so. Now, do you feel that you would be suited for an outreach endeavor to these commoners? Or might Gladiola have an ace with her native Heritage, though you are clearly the finer judge of horse.”

"I would like to think I'd be suited, but i can see why Dame Gladiola's heritage might help" Then an aside "Also you know I'm champing at the bit to see. Dame Gladiola knows horses well enough, and LIKES them, but she'll never love them as we do. I did wonder if we should invite them for Pennons but that's a long haul for folks we don't know"

“Hosting Pennons? That's an ambitious thought. Now that we have the guest housing, perhaps even a possibility.”

“Though, if we have an exclusive article featured in the Quarterly, we are that much less ‘unknown’.”

The satyr bobs her head eagerly, "THat's above my paygrade to decide on, obviously. BUT I was talking to Blossom of all folks and she was grumbling that hawking is rarely celebrated at Pennons. Got me to thinking that, yes, it is our STRONG Points, but what about a Pennons that focuses on animals? Equestrian events, Dog Agility courses or the like, and yes, hawks? I still want jousting mind you, but it seems to me that.well, there must be other holds that have fantastic horses for races but not jousts, or who have fine fae hounds that have no outlet to boast, and so on. If you wished, you and the baroness might get that mix of animal husbandry and expanding social contacts. We would be.. unique in what we offered for Pennons. An outlet for those like minded. Of course, if we get our butts handed to us it will backfire but I'd put our horses among the best in Concordia"

“True. And true. However, the potential gains may outweigh the potential of failure. After all, all we must do is simply not fail.”

“Blossom is interested? Let this be alm endeavor for her. I will see for her and Rochellor to be appointed as young ambassadors. We will visit holds of interest to personally invite them, and at the same time, scope out the… competition, as it were.”

"She is," And Lavender smiles "Permission to invite Dame Dagmar or some other Valer to represent Rivervale for the events?"

“Can you defeat her in a joust?”

A thought "I've trained hard, my steed is good. SHe has every edge on me in strength, but I believe I'm quicker on the lance thrust and am no push over. In truth? We're about even...a coin toss my lord "

"For horse races, we'lll need to separate those horses that have supernatural edges from those that don't. I fear there is no horse faster than Star of Rivervale, its almost a rede for her"

He smirks. “What elder would one expect from Silverwolf lineage?”

"Oh true, a good spin if any inqurie" She nods