#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Hey, Thistle?" Gwen peeks into the workshop/kiln area

"Darn, she's not here. Oh well, I'll leave a text. I think she knows I'm going out."

And out she goes

*********

"It was lovely," Nadeen sends out the next applicant "it was and I have here a letter of recommendation to a local theatre. But ... we were looking for more options in our Troubadour than tap dancing" she turns over the referal and watches the sad satyr go

Once the satyr is off ground, her pleasant smile grows cool "SOme days I think the Dreaming is mocking me"

"Marigold, Flo? Which ever of you is in earshot. I want coffee, with vodka in it"

The sound of hooves. "Might I recommend whiskey, and a touch of irish cream?" Julius responds, glancing in through the slightly open door.

"That will do" She agrees, and smiles "Hello. Julius. How are you?"

the smile is weak but sincere

"Hold that thought." He disappears, and soon is back with the coffee. Perhaps not with boggan swiftness, but satyr swiftness has it's perks too.

"Why are you running yourself ragged over these interviews?" He asks, then belatedly, remembers, "M'lady, if I may ask."

"I don't know, Art mentioned a lack in musical education and options in Silver wolf to that countess and it just ran all over me" A sigh

"They're not even our Counts." Julius offers, helpfully. "So their opinions doesn't really land on us. I don't think Dark Gate has a troubadour. Then again, I don't know if they even have an exercise yard or weekends. That place looks more like a barracks than a barony if you ask me."

"I believe they have what they call a Skald actually, but yes, mostly it's Cadences there" Wry and a sip "It's just.. we have a ballroom... your beloved's truly.. and no balls. " A CHALLENGING LOOK to warn him not to take the bait there , then she goes on "I like dancing. I am good at it. And Bluebell, well, I've been in awe of her ever since she beat me. It was a great gift, that challenge she gave." And she means it "While I've no fond meories of Calanthe, she did have a point we are a bit backwoods. Now I LIKE that.. mostly, but now and then I want to see what I can contribute in the areas of art, culture. Your own endeavors in wines and the like met my approval partly because of that. And I am grateful Dame Lavender for her musical coverings, and others efforts ... but would it be too much to have a few household positions opened? Yet troubadours of quality seem to skirt the place. I wonder if sluagh are whispering slurs against us to musicians"

"I can't imagine sluagh have much pull in the way of modern musicians. I can imagine them perhaps listening to creaky old records on dusty phonographs." A dismissive smile. "But if you think there is a rumor mill, we can always check with Old Man Aberdeen in town. He's got good reason to stay in our good graces, and could advise if any of the other whisperers are whispering to no good."

He considers. "Why don't you let me do a little checking around? Goats know music, you know. So do Clurichauns, they have a talent for it that even Satyrs have to respect. You could also see if Miss Rosemary has any leads."

"But I've put out fliers , chimerical ones, of course. And feelers. I ..." A pause "You don't think a pooka is pranking my efforts?" A look "I love blue bell but SO help me..." sip

He chuckles and shrugs. "Our relationship thrives on me learning not to expect - or rather, to expect the unexpected. I can't predict WHAT she might do. But no, I doubt she'd sabotage your workings directly - after all, a proper court musician can only mean that she gets more opportunities to dance."

A pause. "Wasn't there that cock- er, Rooster fellow? Maybe he felt tiffed after getting snubbed."

"Snubbed? I reviewed him" She says "But.. a point. If it is he..damn it, well played."

Julius is doing a good job not to snicker at the joke behind this. "Still, even a skilled troubador himself, he's but one pooka. Let's see if we can make some direct connections. Granted, you may be running into some issues due to location. It takes a certain attitude to be willing to move to a more rural area, and many troubadours are by nature social butterflies and want more of that than Silverwolf offers."

"An older musician, maybe a grump who is retired from the circuit, might be the thing. Or a youngster who is looking to make a name yet and doesn't have good prospects, though they'd likely move on in a year or two, even if the pay is very good."

"Mmm very well, Julius. I leave it to you since you offer. Do not rush it. Young or old, or in between I want quality, and someone who would be a good fit. " SHe considers 'It would be good if they appreciated the horses hawks or dogs we value so, but not a must."

He gives her a thumbs up. And, the manor phone extension on Nadeen's desk rings!

The caller ID (remember that?) shows "Shamrock Realty".

"Thank you, Julius" Allowing him an escape if he wishes and picking up the phone "Tanya Brown speaking"

"Tanya, thank goodness." The voice is familiar, and a little harried. "Roseanne Morris here, Shamrock Realty. Is this a private line?"

"It is" She says . The thanes made sure of that "Is all well?"

"Have you any idea what shenanigans your Baron is up to?" She says, before catching herself. "That is, My Lady, I mean to say-"

"Shen..." A stop then "let's say I don't. Please, tell me what is occuring"

"Well!" Her tone drops a bit, conspiratorially. Clurichauns can't hold a candle to boggans in gossip, but Rosemary is a bit of a busy body, and that can come close! "He's in my office right now, you see, out of earshot mind you, and ready to drop a pretty penny on Paramus-perpendicular property, sight unseen!"

"He what? " A pause "Send a link to the property on my personal phone please?" She gives the number

"Well!" She says, "At first he was looking for a single home, see, but then when he saw the offering, he started considering investment opportunities in the area, and- well, if I may be so bold? I wouldn't dare say to His Lordship, but this runs the risk of potentially... not violating any rules, MIND, but stepping on toes, certainly. Even outside of baronial lands, local lieges tend to get a little.... "sticky" about outsiders snapping up opportunities."

"Imagine if I were to sell one of those sweet parcels just shy of your borderlands on the far edge of Watertown to a sluagh land baron?" Rosemary gives an example.

She shudders, then says "Yes, that would quite alarm me. I confess it." The words sluagh and baron should never be together Then she says "It may be of comfort to you that I was sained and raised in that area. This might make things easier for the baroness there to accept. Rosemary, I was not aware he was this dedicated to the idea, but it had been hinted at by one of our knights. I think they were thinking something smaller than what Aiden must be contemplating though. I don't want to buy anything unseen, of course though. Gwen will be in the area. The least we can do is have her review it and send pictures before we purchase. I can understand how you might want to distance yourself from fall out, but I don't wish to cheat you of your share of profits for all your hard work. Is there a place where I can review this property online?"

A tone of relief. "I'll send his moneybags- er, his Lordship back with the printouts. The properties he's shown interest in are not all publicly listed. He actually asked how we could reach out to the owners as 'certainly they would be amenable to a suitable offer'" That seems to be a quote from Aiden. "It's just not how things are done proper like, you see." Perhaps to larger investment firms, but Shamrock Realty IS just a small local firm in the podunks, after all.

"Oh my" She says "I... see the..difficulty." Though technically they COULD Dictum someone into selling. No, Sir Frank would have a fit. "Yes, please, tell him I am so eager to be a part of this " Giving her a gentle way to send him back

At least ONE of them is reasonable! Rosemary thinks with relief. "Just so, m'lady. Thank you, m'lady." The call ends.

Julius, who has been doing a very good "Not listening" expression over his own coffee, raises a brow slightly. "Ah, I should be getting on with my research." He steps out smartly!

Soft footsteps in the hallway could be Bluebell, or perhaps Marigold! Or Even Art. Not the Thanes or Thistle, they TROMP.

"Yes, thank you for the help Julius and.." As he goes out she tilts her head at the soft footsteps. SLuagh? No, they're usually quieter

For a hold with only one resident boggan, news DOES seem to get around fast!

She mutters "I love him I love him.." Like a mantra and rubs her head. At least she think she does. Varich hearts are so.. hard to stir. Yes, it must be love or he'd not make her a bit crazy

But she looks at the patterns of it. Aiden can be as aloof as she, disinterested in things outside of his horses hawks and hounds. Here he IS showing an interest. He is coming out of what some would call his shell.

A nod I'll support him in this... but best to do so in a way with a bit of a grip to keep him from the cliffs.