#baronyofthesilverwolf

He looks for Thistle, checking the kitchen, then her workshop.

He hears a raspy, papery voice raised in concern. "Bandit, Burgler, criminal, Crook! Defalcator..." A pause, and Fornax repeats that word. "Defalcator? Defalcator!" Apparently savoring the sound of the unfamiliar, rarely used term.

"Defalcator? Really?"

Thistle is underneath her scooter, now that she has her wrench once more.

A considering look on the draconian face, and he adds, with CONSIDERABLE smugness, "Purrrrrrloiner."

"HA."

"I feel targeted, Fornax" The piskie declares, then says "Thistle. I may owe you an apology. I Screwed up"

An empty cardboard box has become a trap for the catburgler. Unable to resist, he is curled up within it and purring.

That is to say, safely controlled for now.

He notices the box and contents, "Ah, the cute culprit snoozes"

"An apology?" Ratcheting noises!

He squirms a bit then rambles off quickly in a hasty barrage, "I got asked if I knew how to ride because I might go patrolling with Danica who did apologize though I suspect Marigold put her foot down but regardless of that it came up that I learned the basics of riding because the Baron found out and had Lady Lavender train me so I wouldn't embarrass the hold and then somehow it came up to mentioning you didn't need a horse because you got your scooter and then Danica was like 'until the hunt, then he might insist' and now because of my big mouth if you haven't already taken riding lessons on horse back you're probably gong to have to so I'm warning you before either the Baron or Dame Dee shows up ready to start your long delayed training but HEY if you already know how then none of this is the problem. I'll leave you to your work now shall I?"

As he eyes a possible withdraw

She slides back on her creeper, to squint at Madern. "(*&&^?"

"I have a scooter."

"RIIIIGHT" he says "And.. the Baron is an old school Ailil lord with a love of some traditions, particularly for WIld Hunts held by the hold"

"Also, he's kind of proud about horses being one of Silverwolf's things. So I think he expects everyone to at least stay in the saddle so... you may get lessons?" He tries to put a good spin on it "Could be fun, right?"

And by 'may' his tone hints 'will'

"Uh..." Blink. "Lessons?"

"I'm not Art. And I can make horseshoes an' all that drek, if needed. Willie taught me, in case she's caught up or out of town."

"Look, I don't like Danica, but she said that's likey what would happen and Marigold did NOT correct her on that. That means it is likely going to happen, and word will get around that you don't know how to ride.. Even Briar knows how to ride, and I'm pretty sure she's tempted to bite anything she mounts."

A small frown.

"Well, hell. Yeah, okay, I know better than to taunt a Dragon, especially in his own hold."

"Didn't realize I was doin' that, mind..."

He relaxes "You aren't, not yet, and you know..it's not all bad. If you move now, you look like you're showing initiative. Dee's probably your most eager teacher, knows her stuff. The Baron himself MIGHT teach you if you asked, but he can be intimidating, still, he's probably even more expert than she is."

"I am NOT asking the Baron! You crazy?"

"Like.. hell no. He's a good liege an' all, for sure, but I don't need that much direct attention."

"Now THAT question is the subject of some debate" At the mention of his sanity "But noted, noted"

"Especially not about a deficiency."

"Just a gap in your knowledge and you can fix that" He assures

"I mean, if this was a nocker hold or dougal place I'd probably be the outlier because I never changed a tire"

"Oh, I could show you that..."

A pause. "Don't s'pose a mechanical horse would be an option here, huh?"

"Somehow i think he'd consider it a scooter with extra steps" The Piskie admits, "I mean you could try, but the baron strikes me as a purist. Maybe you jazz up the saddle or other gear ON the horse in reason? Like a GPS or something?"

She harrumphs.

Hapless shrug

"You could ask the Baron, but that would mean talking to him" he reminds

SHe makes a face.

"Well" He says "You asked my opinion. No worries though, you'll get a few lessons from Dee, and at least be able to stay in the saddle. It's not my favorite thing but it's kind of relaxing. The Baron's got this Quarterhorse that's a good training steed."

"Or maybe it was a Morgan? I can't remember the breeds so well" Something HE won't confess to the Baron

"It's a horse of some variety. Ponies are the short ones."

"RIght" He nods "All I know is the ones the trolls ride make me look like a toddler on a pony ride"

"Percherons, right?"

"And Friesians or however you say it. Anyway, glad you took the news gracefully. You might even enjoy it. I..." And just then, outside the window, a dozen nevers go streaking in one direction. A beat, and that same dozen go streaking back. They'e all chasing someone.

He looks outside "What's Rochalor up to?"

"Pooka, man."

The pooka boy is carrying a sparkler, one that cascades in whatever color touched it last, but does not seem to burn whoever touched it. Because of this, he flees the Nevers.... the nevers outfly him, one of this color or that touches the sparkler, and the sparkler turns a matching color, then the other nevers get jealous, and tag it to turn it THEIR color

"Joe, help, I'm being besieged!" Rochalor calls out as he's in the Sparkler Never Scrum!

"Yep. Architect of his own suffering, right there."

"He can get out of it anytime he wants, He's even better at legerdemain than I am" The piskie nods "Still, I can see why the sparklers have the Never's interest"