#brightwindsbarony

“Can I see the map?”

"Oh yes, I can step right in it."

but the reeve says "our ways are difficult even for one as courteous as yourself" he shrugs, the map is now in the Baroness' hands so

"Thank you, for the generosity."

She caps her pen and slides the notes into the big pocket of her overalls. It looks like a pad of paper fits there nicely.

And Wenceslaus whispers "you are welcome. pardon, i grow tired" one gets the feeling he doesn't mean sleep. he has been very talkative

"Of course. Take care, Reeve."

and he slips away quiet as falling leaf

Grete tries to strain a bit to catch a glimpse of the map.

SParrow shows her the map.

She taps her chin with a finger, brow furrowing just a bit as she looks it over.

So many circles, clearly areas they looked and failed to find things

"Searching for something, and something in the ground. What, I don't know."

“Everything worth finding is down there.” Sensibly.

"Well, not everything."

"Hope's cinnamon cocoa isn't down there."

A raised brow. “Unmmmm.” “If I took it with me in a mug?” She turns the map a bit, considering another angle. “They mucked this up good.”

"they did?" Bix says curiously

"Yeah? How?"

“Well, they drew all over it. And some of the circles are in the sky. Can you bury something in the clouds?” A pause to ponder that. “And the note is upside down.”

"Well, with magic..."

Bix says "You're saying they're using the wrong land marks?"

“Nah, see, it’s not a map. Well, it IS. This....” Trailing a finger on a winding pathway. “That’s not a river. That’s a SEAM. Coal, or useta be!”

"Wait, what?" A surprised look Bix stares "No wonder they couldn't find anything"

“This is like one of those cross sections they show you in science class talkin’ about plates and stuff moving. And how they crunched up the mountains.” An amused look. “The ones that aren’t lions that is. You can see a bigger version at the museum. We field tripped there, before the ‘Rona, last year.”

"Interesting."

A glance up at Sparrow, seeking. “Is that good?”

"I think so. I don't know much about this - is there a way to look for this that won't harm your friends?"

“There’s a ride at the museum. It’s a bus ride away, over in the Chihuahua park. You get to go on a mine cart and everything... but it’s just a replica. Still, I liked it... they dug out all the coal ages ago, that what was worth gettin’.”

"I'm not even sure what they were looking for."

“This is an old map.” She hands it back. “sorry...” She really does look disappointed.

"I don't think it was coal, but I could be wrong."

“I like coal.” A mutter, and a flinch away.

"Well, heck, maybe one of us coudl go with you and check it out ?" Bix says

"Nothing wrong with that, I just don't think they were looking for coal."

“Maybe there’s diamonds!” She ponders. “they say you don’t get diamond dirt in Texas. But... can I go look? With you? Please?”

"We can go see what is there... I don't always do so well in dark and small places, so I wouldn't want to go alone."

“Oh?” This seems so utterly foreign to Grete. “But... it’s...” She reaches out and pats Lady Sparrow on the arm daringly. “I won’t let it close in on you. I wouldn’t like being up in the sky none, either.”

"I think I can help" Bix says "My wayfare is pretty good . Ican make portal passages if we need them"

"Thank you." She half-mantles her wings. "I am bigger than I seem."

“Sidhe cast a big shadow.” She nods.

An interested look over at Bix. “I wish I could do that... once I could get through walls, I could go ANYWHERE.”

She folds her wings neatly against her back. "It's a wonderful art. Not one I practice, but..."

"Well, gosh. I'd be happy to teach you what I know sometime. I want to show folks trolls aren't all like the ones who just followed that scuzzy Balor" he offers "I'm not as good a teacher as I am a student but can't hurt I hope"

"I think just being decent and honest will go a long way."

"You can't force trust. These folk have been forced quite enough."

Bix nods "Understood, Sparrow..pardon, Baroness" That'll take some getting used to

“I’d like to learn.” She nods. “Though if I have tools, I can MAKE a door, too...”

“Your Sparrowness.”

"We can save the full title for formal court. I prefer Sparrow."