#bergen_county

He does cast more than one glance at Star. Fondly at first, and then, appraising. He looks her over, but returns to his own charges - a curry comb found and starting to clear the lines of saddle from Smokey's back.

Water, hay, oats... by now, it is drizzling.

"Oh quite," Nadeen says "Usefulness allows one to demonstrate competence, competence allows one to build one's opportunities in the future. And one must know the nature of those they will eventually rule. Oh... yes, a knight. Perhaps you needn't prepare for the same things"

Dolph produces a lantern, and sets this up with care so that it is not threatened to light straw aflame, and with practice, the carrier for the Hawk is drying out and warming nicely.

"And do you plan to eventually rule here, then, Baroness?" She asks in a polite tone, slender brows raised.

"Okay, I think everyone is settled... Calanthe, Linnea, do you want to come in for a hot cup of coffee?"

Linnea stirs at that, but looks to the Dame.

"Is that what you think I mean?" Nadeen shakes her head "no no... I will need the Chieftain and those of Rivervale as allies when I take my hold elsewhere. Patience is a virtue."

"Indeed it is. I do endeavor to patience." She replied to Nadeen. And to Dagmar, in response, "Refreshment would be most agreeable, Dame."

RUMBLE.

Inside the hold, Jack has wiped off, and says "Hearth? We got an Ailil lady.. she showed up and the sun went away"

"We might have to take a bit of a run! Dolph, you want something sent out for you?"

And soon Kerri has ordered Jack upstairs, has done a quick wipe-away of muddy hoofprints, and is quickly setting up a light refreshment tray.

"No, Lady, I am fair well enough in good company." Referring to the horses, the Boggan declines.

The Baroness is not a Dame, so she is sure that was not meant for her.

(She answered both at once, sorry)

Dolph gestures Dagmar over towards the hawk carrier. "Dame, if you would?" He says softly.

Dagmar drifts to the cage.

As the sidhe carefully dance with words, he lifts the silk to give her just a glimpse inside.

"A hard one to master" The Baroness nods

She peeks!

A soft murmur to calm the bird - to fae eyes, the reddish feathers have a darker, almost smouldery look to them - coals, banked and damp, and the bird seems rather affronted as well. But the lantern is helping, and the nearer feathers are a brighter orange.

"Ohhh..." She keeps her voice soft, but is suitably impressed by the fire-hawk.

"I would speak to you more, ere we go, have we the time." The boggan comments softly, his hand on the carrier - though his eyes flicker to Star once more.

"Should I tell em to come in, Hearth Kerri?" Jack says, Clean all over

She nods. "We should get to the lodge before the sky opens. I'll get some food run out for you."

"Oh, good heavens, Jack, I thought they were already on the way up! Yes, please do. And very good job with cleaning yourself up."

The feedboxes are practically overflowing with hay and oats, Connor doing his ordered duty to almost excess.

"Okay, let's go." Dagmar leads from stable to lodge - she's hardly dressed for horses OR company, still in swim-trunks and rash guard. A few faded scars are visible on her thighs when she walks.

Jack says "I think Nadeen and Cali are like doing some weird Jedi mind thing to each other.. winner doesn't blink? "

Star does not mind, she stretches over to nab a mouthful of hay from Stormwake's end.

"Please, let's go inside" Nadeen says

A snerk at Star's typical antics.

"Yes, let us please." Calanthe speaks almost in unison.

at that time, Jack opens the door "Please come in, by request of the Hearth"

Calanthe taps the mud from the trail off her riding boots, allowing Nadeen to enter first as etiquette states correct.

Nadeen has discarded her flip flops by the door so she need not track mud, and goes in first "Dame Kerri, Dame Calanthea ap Ailil, and two others are here. I'll allow her to make introductions. PRay forgive, I really should chaange into spare clothes"

"Hearth, hi, sorry!"

Connor realizes he is all over mud and now sticky with hay, so he shoots up the stairs for a quick cleanup.

Kerri comes up behind Jack and nods to the guests. "Welcome to Rivervale. Please make yourselves comfortable. Yes, Baroness Nadeen, we'll look for your return. No apologies needed, Dame Dagmar."

Jack whispers "No tears shampoo is on the bathtub"

"Connor...yes, exactly..." Kerri says as the pooka hurries to clean up.

She bends to whisper to Jack.

"They're from Carthage, Silver Wolf. And...." A BOOM outside. "Well, we needed to get their horses under cover."

Jack nods at something, and gets a small tray and heads through the kitchen (And thorugh the kitchen door)

Linnea watches them go in, then turns to stand guard on the porch outside. Under cover of the awning, though the whipping winds will likely still find her damp.

"Yes, of course," Kerri says to Dagmar.

A frown at the door.

Calanthe bows to Kerri as an equal. "Dame Kerri - Hearth, is it? I've heard tell of your prowess in baked goods. Cooking is not one of the skills I have mastered, I am fair ready to admit, unless you consider trail rations as haute cuisine."

"Dame Kerri is one of the best cooks in the county. Probably the best baker."