#brightwindsbarony

She turns the pen over and over in her hands.

"Reeves are... emissaries, diplomats, advocates, spokesmen. They bring me news of what is happening with the populace, and also share with the people what happens here."

"DeBuke... yes, I know the look of them" says Wenceslas. "And it is good to meet you. " He glances at Grete then nods at the Baroness' words "sluagh do not always trust not sluagh so.. it's best I act the Reeve for them"

"What happens if you don't like what they say? Do you get mad at 'em for saying it? Or is it better to lie and tell you what you want to hear?" It seems an honest question.

"Oh sweet summer child" Wenceslas whispers at this

"Well." She considers. "I can't say I will never get mad. I'm half-human, my mother is a Fiona, and I'm red-headed."

"But I do not want to be fed lies."

"The Baron didn't like bad news." A sloooow shake of his head. "And you don't wanna be the one to give it."

"I have known rulers like that." She shakes her head. "It is not who I want to be."

"It's okay if you're mad." Grete says, as though conveying a Great Truth. "But you have to have a REASON, and you have to be mad at the RIGHT REASON."

"Much better to have truth and face it. Just... by facing the truth, I must be honest and say I can't promise to never lose my temper. "

She nods.

She turns and bows to Wenceslas. "Thank you for finding my pen, Reeve Wes... Wesles. Wenslesles."

"If you need something found, maybe I can help you find it someday."

The pen is slipped into a pocket - a treasure, lower-case-T, but freely returned.

"you are welcome, and.. thank you, from one of your kind that is no small offer" he puts a hand over his heart and gives a nod bow

"One time, I got real angry because we were supposed to go hiking, and a flash flood washed out the trail. My mentor, he pointed out that if I was mad at the storm, I'd be mad forever, 'cuz there's no getting your own back on that, I can just shout at the cloud until I turn blue as a troll. So I thought about it, and later when we went out, there were new rocks washed in I would'na seen otherwise. So there's no use in getting mad at some things."

"Very true."

Bix observes this interaction

"I have my pen back, so I can take notes for you. Until you find a scribbler who can write better."

"Thank you." Solemnly.

"I ain't gonna know how to spell his name, though."

"I'll just put W for now."

And she accepts the paper Bix offers, and starts carefully writing.

Later, she may comment to some of the other childlings she passes. Did you know that Lady Sparrowwyd doesn't punish bad news? Well, she might get mad, but... let's just say folk maybe don't have to draw straws at being messenger no more.

Wenceslaus seems not to mind and says "baroness.. I do bring news..though it is not bad."

"Oh? Do share. Would you care for a cup of tea?"

"oh , my you clearly are acquainted with my kind, but in this case i believe can be..informal" The sluagh is reluctant to drive out anyone and tea of 3 other non sluagh is a bit much for him. "ded romeo sends word a storage area where some retreating balor loyalists tried to hide some goods has been found."

"Interesting, and potentially beneficial, yes."

"there are also..rumors I do not understand" he admits

She nods. "May I hear them?"

"rumor of some stash of a precious metal"

"In the ground?"

"a fortune but I do know if .... well. i fear it was only a passing notation "

A gentle lift of her eyebrows.

he hands out a little note "left amid pages.." a map.. but with so many circles as to be useless and a note 'where is his treasure?"

"So the Balor was seeking something..."

"trying to find something he thought worth more than the dross"

She nods.

"And there may be other seekers."

the sluagh shrugs "it is possible. i have taken the liberty of asking my kith to uncover more... but i think they will expect a barter"

She nods. "Likely."

"i thank you for understanding our pecularities"

"I do not fully understand, but I try to respect."

"that is more than many... unless you have a return message, i shal go back to them and let them know you are eager to hear more"

"Now, what might your kith be interested in gaining by trade? I fear I have few secrets so far."

"oh, it would be tawdry to discuss it so.. but i shall remind them that it is in our interest not to be too taxing"

She nods. "Forgive. I can be a clumsy soul, sometimes." That seems at stark odds to the melodic voice and graceful figure.

Now THAT calls Grete up from her painstaking scribing. “YOU?” A scoff.

Bix also looks dubious that the sidhe could be less than graceful