#bergen_county

Gerd inclines her head to the Hearth

Connor whimpers softly and reaches over to tentatively tug at Calanthe's arm. She flinches away, not expecting the touch and an arm is raises back, and dropped. To lightly rest on his head, giving his hair a soft stroke.

"My Nephew was placed at RiverVale for reasons beyond your understanding. It is good to see that he thrives here, and has achieved the honors of both trust and rank. Were it considered not to be the case, I am sure that the Baron would reconsider his placement." Smoothly. And she sips her tea.

"We're all very proud of him here," Gerd says .

"As well you should be. Squire Connor, I have brought you a gift. Will you accept?"

"We are very proud of him. I know my squire will do honorably."

"A gift? How nice." Kerri's tone is quietly wary.

Nadeen enters in and shoots the Hearth a look like 'How's it going?' . She is dressed ..very nicely

And an inclination of her chin to Dagmar, acknowledging.

Connor's eyes widen. "Is it squire things? A horse? A bird I can ride? I don't need a sword, I have a stick and can do more than fetch." And then his eyes go WIDER at Nadeen's return. "Oh, pretty."

"Thank you, Squire" Nadeen says "You do your knight honor with such courtesy"

Kerri gives Nadeen a nod as if this is what she normally expects. She seems tense and formal. "The lovely thing about gifts," she adds to Calanthe, "is that they are given without conditions."

And a sip of tea.

Brow-furrow. She tugs a little at the sleeves of her swimsuit.

"Just so." A nod to Kerri. And a brow raised at the return of Nadeen, "Baroness."

It is to Dagmar that she offers the wrapped item, about the length of her forearm. Black and silver paper, of course, but the bow is green and gold - it looks expertly wrapped. "For thy squire, Knight. As the moon to the tides, guide him well."

"I gave my word to do so." Bluntly.

"Connor, would you like to open your gift?"

Connor's eyes are wide and he shakes his head, nods, turns in a circle, ears pricked. And holds out his hands!

Dagmar places the wrapped object in the pooka's hands.

He doesn't hesitate once handed, and tears through the delightful paper - oh, such work destroyed in matter of seconds! and a flash of gold! It is... a knife!

Kerri watches carefully. When it is revealed, she gives Calanthe a glance, then says to Connor, "It is beautiful."

A rather magnificent piece, it gleams with glamour - not a treasure, but a marvelous chimerical knife on top of mortal form. Bone handled and carved like a dog's head, and Eagle and Wolf ornaments. "A family heirloom." Calanthe remarks. "I trust you to use it well. A bit large, perhaps, but maybe you will grow into it."

"Interesting. I assume you mean from Connor's family?" Sip.

Dag appraises the knife, and nods.

"That's quality" Gerd says, kenning it

Gently, softly, to Connor. "What do we say?"

A slow blink, "I had not thought to split hairs where family was concerned, Dame. And not over a gift."

Connor steps over to show the knife to Kerri, and whispers to her, "May I?"

"No hair splitting, appreciation for the full history of a wonderful item" Nadeen nods

"Yes," Kerri says after Nadeen. "I mean, which of Connor's relatives has this come from?"

"It was a wedding gift from his father's father - soul's father, may he rest. We have not oft the pleasure of 'breeding true', as Aiden would phrase it, as the - the common kiths. It is now Connor's, as the only Lowell child. Aiden, I fear, will never sire another, so it is meet that you find siblings by... deed, was it?" A gracious nod towards Gerd.

Gerd nods "Just so. And it's good he has a piece of his legacy."

Kerri puts down her teacup and looks over the blade. "Such an important gift..." She looks to Calanthe. "Surely it would be better for Baron Aiden to wait and present this, from father's hand to son's."

The door opens and Jack comes in, the rain must have left up a bit as he's not really wet again though he did scrape his hooves.

Calanthe is about to retort, but then the little satyr barges in, and she can frown at that instead.

A sip of tea.

Kerri looks over. "All is well, Jack?"

"Has the storm broken? I also wanted to show off my Veritas to the Dame." Not petulant, sidhe are too dignified for that.

Dagmar fixes up a sandwich and some veggies in a bundle. "Oh, Jack!"

"Uhm Dolph asked me fetch the Dame Dagmar hither...I guess Hither means stable. He wants to talk about Star"

"It IS a shame." She remarks to Nadeen. "That gown, while stunning, is not meet for a ride." Apologetic.

A worried look. "Yes?"

"It is a shame indeed, though this muddy ground might make a ride less than ideal" Nadeen says

"That's all he said. " Jack says

"Excuse me..." Frown. "I need to go to the stable..."

"Unless you can call game to you by whistle, riding is the best way to Hawk." She replies amiably.

Calanthe stands. "All is well with Aquilla, Veritas?" A frown.

Kerri gives Dagmar a serious look...then a short nod.

"I will check on Aquilla when I am there, Dame."

"Jack, please go back with her."

A small frown, she glances out the door to Linnea, and they exchange a look... and Calanthe sits back down, and takes one of the tea cakes. "Very well."

"I am aware, " An amused chuckle, from Nadeen "But again, Patience ...one can wait for dryness if one wishes"

Jack says "Sure, he only mentioned Star" And jack rushes out