#bergen_county

Star whinnies in delight as she catches Dagmar's scent!

"Hey babies." She jogs up to the fence to meet them.

A woof, and a large Great Pyrennes Fae hound, magnificent specimen, watches this

Star trots over to the fence, nuzzling Dagmar, a snort of sweet-hay-breath into her damp hair. Then her head raises, and she nickers, curious, at the new horses. A snort.

Stormwake is already eying the strangers and he seems to grow just a bit

And at this point, Star is likely visibly in foal to a knowledgeable horse-person....

Jack says to connor "She really wants you to have a party for some reason. I mean.. I like cake so.." Quietly but perhaps not quiet enough

"Oi there, Tinny-tin." The boggan clucks his tongue as he approaches, letting the other mounts sniff and view each other from each side of the fence. "Cé atá ina cailín cóir, tá sí." A touch of brogue melting into his voice as Dolph holds his hand flat for Star to sniff. "Star, is it now?" To Dagmar.

"Let me get these two in and toss some straw in the spare stalls. And yes, that's Star. She's mine."

And he is business again, after giving Star a pat. "If the weather lets up, we can stretch our wings. But for now, out of the damp would do for the birdy."

Connor whispers back to Jack, "Doesn't everyone like parties?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think she'd make one just so she could crash one" Jack says softly "Isn't she the mean lady?"

Dagmar puts a foot on the bottom rail and hops OVER the fence to enter the paddock. Gentle hands with the horses, taking their rope halters to lead them.

Stormwake observes the boggan. The powerhouse stallion notes that Star is not being abused by this ,but gauges her reactions to this stranger.

Whispering back. "She wasn't mean... and she said she brought a present, did you hear?" Hanging back and watching with the other childing.

Star's tail twitches, and she nickers. She knows this one, the small man, and seems interested. As they move past, she snakes her head through a post - the only part of her narrow enough still to fit, and tries for his pocket.

Jack nods as if sussing things out. Clearly his pooka friend means she WAS mean, and the gift is gonna explode. Wait.. maybe he means the present is mean.. argh.

Calanthe seems bored with these proceedings and eager to move away from the smell of the stables - even clean and hay-filled ones such as this.

Nadeen accompanies Calanthe "now, how fares the Baron? Does he encourage such initiatives as you seem to have shown? You've not mentioned him being the one to send you"

"Oh, greedy gus!"

She watches Dagmar at work with the horses, and raises a voice as the mule would move to scratch against the side of the fence to ease an itch. "Careful there with the panniers!" And Linnea moves to steady them, removing the carrier with ease from her height, and taking it under the stable's roof to stay dry.

A laugh from the Boggan, though he watches to ensure that all is stowed well. "She remembers, a sharp one she is." And a block of sugar is produced, and pause - he looks to Dagmar. "If I may be so bold." Star stomps at this delay. She wants the treat.

A chuckle.

"Oh, she does remember anybody with sweets. You may."

Stormwake is guided into his stall. "Connor, Jack, spread some straw for our guests!"

And the sugar cube is given, and he strokes her head. "Aquila is not good with thunderstorms, and may try to batter from the stall if it picks up. With your permission, I'll remain by them until this passes." Indeed, the fussy fae steed with the perfect sable hide and silver mane and tail is fretting at the stall already, and Dolph moves to calm her with soft words.

"Would a blindfold help?" Jack says "I Heard sometimes they blind fold horses what cross on ships" The satyr pips up

No lie sensed in those words.

The boggan raises a brow at the bow. "Ay, maybe for a mortal steed - this here is a Fae mare, and she may well bite if you tried such. All of this line has a fussy streak, one way or another. Soft music may help, I sing to them, a'times."

Dagmar listens, and looks between the boggan and the horses. "Your intention is to keep the animals calm in a strange place." Approval? A question?

"Ay, Dame. A firey steed is a fine thing to have at a tourney or battle, but in the stables, it's a recipe for broken stalls or broken legs, fate forfend."

"Third stall for Aquilla, then. The mare and the mule can be across from her in the big box."

"And there should be room in the tack area for the bird..."

Calanthe was watching over this proceedings before responding to the Baroness. "I am the Chancellor of Silver Wolf, and as such, have authority to deal with whatever matters I feel worthy of my attention. And even if not, it is a celebration for kin, and meet that I should visit the son of my sister to congratulate him." Though, she watches the horses, and Dagmar, more than sparing a glance for the muddy boys.

"Very little would get done, were the lord of the manor to have to oversee and micromanage every action."

Dagmar doesn't just direct - she helps with the horses. Capable hands, the ease of familiarity and skill.

A similarity in the lines of the fine fae mare - a relative of Star, to be sure. Though Star shows no particular family piety, she eyes the intruding horses with tolerance at best, and some bit of annoyance as HER human gives the mule a pat.

The patterns of Calanthe's eyes and body movements "How fortunate for you that he has you to do that for him," Nadeen nods "I confess, while Squire Connor speaks of his father, he has not overly mentioned you. Of course pooka are hard to understand, but I did not realize your ties were that strong. Commendable. You may have the common touch"

Her voice, is calm as a slow moving river in autumn, not too chill

"Be gracious, Star. You are queen playing host, hm?"

"We were not close in his youth. What with Dahlia's condition, and all." Her voice, heavy for a moment, and a hand touches her heart. "But let us not speak of ancient history. Tell me, how does a Varich come to have ties to a Gwydion hold?"

Stormwake is not sure what to make of the new horse yet, but at least it's not a stallion

The mule, a gelding, finds Connor filling the box with fresh hay, and stuffs his nose in there rather than spare Stormwake a second look.

Star calms a bit at Dagmar's comments - they are not here to upseat her, and guests means that they will LEAVE.

And so - Star, Stormwake and Aquilla down one side, and the grey mare and mule on the other. Is Star positioned furthest from the strange horses by chance?

Dolph would have acqueised to Dagmar's guidance at that, other than suggest that the mule's calm nature may be good by Aquilla.

"Da'ans blessing, of course. Whether that blessing is to the lodge for being graced with me, or to me for having such a fine place provided has been debated" a smile "But I don't want to bore you with our ancient history in turn. Suffice to say my dream dance was near here, and the Count thought it prudent to protect the Right of Ignorace by keeping me near my mortal parents. It has had it's advantages. and I have made myself useful"

Aquilla the fae mare has calmed, and sniffs curiously towards Stormwake's stall. "None of that, missy." Dolph gently chides her. "No poaching in another lady's home. Aye, they're well settled, Dame."

"To be useful is a blessing, especially amidst the common folk." She compliments in turn.

If Dolph thinks Aquilla and the mule are better sharing, she'll listen - she watched him, she trusts him with the beasts.