#baronyofthesilverwolf

"She was your friend."

“Against the forces of the shining host- she would have taken many with her, it would have been glorious… but she would have fallen.”

A small nod to Thistle.

A look to Gwen, and she blinks, “Ah. I thought I recognized you. I see it now.”

"Uhg. See, politics only make things worse. I just want to make things and have my friends."

Art slides a hand into one of Thistle's and squeezes.

She colors brilliantly, and squeezes the hand back.

Gwen shrugs "The one you remember is dead, and yet come home again. But ... I am Gladiola now"

"Okay. So we find the rock. We put it to sleep. Life goes on. Nobody dies."

"Sounds like a plan!" Art says brightly. "Though, it would be cool to see what it could do." He says, a touch reluctantly.

"But no, you're right." He quickly adds.

"I like the nobody dies part"

"You ever hear the story about the Golem of Prague?"

"It was supposed to protect, too."

Art shakes his head, but his eyes gleam- curiosity peaked!

For the story that is.

"Didn't it go insane in the story?"

"Yeah - I forget the details, except it went bad. Murdered a lot of people until the rabbi could disable it."

"It was clay, too."

“Do you want to go back to the quarry? Or we can ask your Glome if he can find the notes and bring them to Thistles workshop?”

"Welll, I could text him if you want"

"Well, we'd need him or Gladiola to lift the rock..."

"But maybe we should go, just to make sure we don't miss anything?"

"Then on we go so we don't miss anything"

“Right.” Art pauses, and gives a respectful bow to Isolde. “Thank you, Granddame. I’m sorry for your loss.”

"It sounds like he was real keen on you. Loved you."

A brief frown and a look over at Art.

The lady looks touched. “Go, young squire. So that the only things my Caelan are remembered for are his deeds and works. Do not let this Sentinel rise and further tarnish his memory.”

Art looks solemn, and joins them in the car.

Isolde nods to Thistle, wiping at her eyes. “Yes, more than words can say.”

Gwen bows, then turns and gets in to drive them. She's not sure what to say Isolde ... the woman burned children, yet, she also clearly has... pain

“If you find a love like that.. don’t let it slip away. Do not allow pride, hubris, politics… anything come between you.”

She says to Thistle, Art already out of earshot.

"I..."

"I'm gonna do everything I can to keep it asleep. I promise." And she jogs to the car.

When it is just them, Gwen says to her two friends "I feel sorry for her, and yet I would totally understand if someone snapped her neck if they had family back then. Is that...weird?"

Art winces a bit. “Yes. …and no.”

Looking up at Gwen, “I’m surprised you weren’t more curious about your past self.”

“It’s probably for the best that Caelan was killed in battle..” Art muses. “If he’d known that she was behind the fire that killed his apprentice? I don’t know if even their love would have survived that.”

"So am I" she says to Art "But my mom knew the old me... so" A shrug

"Probably not. Glad we're not at war."

"Some bag of cats, that one. Ruined Nan's rep to 'protect' her. FAFOed to get her boyfriend to make a weapon."

“Faffo?”

"Fucked Around, Found out"

"Exactly. Playin' with real people like they're chess pieces."

"Eiluned sometimes do that, they're not as good at politics as Ailil, but they do enjoy trying intrigues. And yeah, it can backfire"

"I hate it."

Gwen nods "Not a fan myself"

“I thought I might be an Eilunid, during my fosterage. Guess not though!”

"Well, Eiluned are more common. You're my friend no matter your house."

"I mean, I don't have a house or title."

"And an Eilununed wouldn't share glimpses into sym bols. We wouldn't be this far along if you weren't Beaumayn"

He chuckles, “you might someday if you get a patronage and they offer you house membership. There’s more than a few Dougal Nockers.”