#brightwindsbarony

"Oh, I can totally help you there," Sylvi smiles to Hope. Then she catches sight of the rock. "Oh, is that Tiger's Eye?"

Grete's eyes widen at Sylvi. "How did you know? I asked 'em his name and it told me."

Even Little Joe softens at this talk "You were right to defy him."

"I've seen others before. That's a beauty."

She offers the stone back. "We can make sure your friends have shelves so they can shine."

She accepts it and slides into her pocket. "Most of my others are still inside. I didn't have any good tools."

"They're still inside...the walls?"

A smile over to Sylvi - anyone who likes stones can't be bad.

"Well, we can fix that." She considers. "Does Texas have fossils?"

"Inside themselves." She clarifies. "And in the walls. I put them in the vents because Haro- Harkson would take them otherwise."

"I always know where they are." Grete says confidently. "Fossils?" Thoughtful. "I wonder. When can we go look?"

Little Joe hears Hope whispering to him and he nods

"I would think whenever. Though probably with a wilder... I'm afraid it's not entirely safe right now."

"I'm tough." Grete says, with a firm nod. "I'm not even afraid of bobcats."

"That's very brave" Hope says

"I'm less afraid of bobcats than I am of fae who want to take this place back."

"I'd like to see more of your friends...and hunting for fossils sounds cool. But the Baroness is right. There are still Balor who want revenge here."

Then she says "Grete, I was about to show the Baroness and Emmisary Sylvi parts of Fort Davis...get them to know town. Are you wanting to come with us?"

Her eyes narrow. "They can't. If Harkson died, then it's mine now." A pause and she considers Sparrow. "And yours."

A curious look at Sparrow.

She hesitates. "Grete... I killed Harkson. Well. He fell in our duel."

"And I did not stop him."

She grows more serious.

"I don't want the Barony. But the land. And my friends... are in it. It's Steinfeld land, and I'll keep it safe. But you can stay."

It seems so simple to her.

Little Joe's lip twitches

She nods. "I understand. And I would not take you from your land, nor do I wish harm to your friends."

Hope tries to get a read on the situation, a gift all boggans and some baristas have

Then nods to Sparrow as if confirming her read on it

"It's probably going to be really good to have somebody who knows the land so well here to advise you, Baroness."

"Agreed. I am very lucky."

A little crease between her eyebrows. "His mortal properties... we will likely have to set them in trust, for mortal authorities."

Grete nods. "I can be an advisor. I know a lot. Did you know there is turquoise under the east ridge, down the trail past the three spindly trees?"

"I didn't! Turquoise is one of my favorites - it's the same color as the sky."

HOpe nods at mention of the properties

"And you'll tell my mom and dad that I can stay here." She nods, confirming. "They won't care. When I was too little to travel, they just left me with a nanny."

"I see."

"Then an au paire."

Sylvi's brow furrows at the complication of the properities and inheritance.

LIttle Joe has slipped out..

which is kind of like saying a glacier has removed itself from the continental shelf. you know it happened , but what are you going to do about it?

She looks around, wondering where the mountain went.

"It was going to be a governess soon." A heaved sigh.

"You will need to sleep outside of the hold on occasion. Good to keep balance."

This smudge-faced girl does not seem interested in high society. Deep society might be more likely. After all, she is still... a minor.

A minor miner.

"I like camping out." She agrees.

"Bet you could make a rock shelter, if you tried."

"I bet you wouldn't need to try hard, either."

"I bet I could! Want to arm wrestle?" She shows off a wiry arm, shoving up her sleeve.