#brightwindsbarony

"It's.... in a different kingdom. That's.... New Mexico, Arizona, and half of California. The long half."

"Done... done what to Hastien?"

"The Rovers are a lifesaver, for sure..."

"Details," Coradel shrugs to August.

A soft sigh.

"Vermin must be routed from their holes."

"ohh, Hastien apparently went to Old Man Olgar.."A grin "And said 'look, it's a good deal'... stop sulking not everyone is in awe of us and put some poor sap in an Oath of ALliance already. Well.. can you guess what Olgar did at that?"

"...Hastien's going to be the one Oathing?"

Coradel looks curious about the story.

"With your approval," Siv nods and laughs "Oh.. wow. He walked into that one"

"Oh, he did."

"Well, good. I like Hastien. He seems smart."

"Despite this."

"Sounds like a rather impulsive act." She says this with approval.

"Also, while he might grumble, the truth is this is a promotion for him of sorts and no small sign of respectt to him"

"Oh, he certainly will have bragging rights and battle tales."

She nods. "He will be a freeholder, at that..."

She looks off, eyes focused somewhere-else

"Which is a novel sensation, really."

A gentle smile.

Coradel smiles also. "Tell us of your 'Fire."

"Yes, what's it like.. a he, a she? Ze?" Siv asks

"It..."

"It's.."

A curious look as she waits for Sparrow to form her thoughts.

She can feel the balefire's presence. It's grown to understand her better, and vice versa. The bale knows beauty as it didn't before, not from Sparrow itself, but from seeing the sky nd mountains around it from Sparrow's eyes. Harkson didn't see thing that way

"We're learning each other."

"It must be quite an adjustment for both of you."

Siv nods "As time passes you'll grow to know each other even better. Mom doesn't talk much about hers, but they talk TO each other more than we know I'm sure. I think maybe your flame is trying to learn not just what it is, but who it can be tied to such a different.. hell, I'l lsay it, better person than old Harkson"

"I haven't had a fire since Arcadia..."

"I myself am a fire virgin" Siv says

Trays clatter as.. the boggan with more food and drinks coming out nearly drop them . THIS is not a Fiona hold

August is just a little pink around the ears.

A wry look at Siv. "Novel experience?"

"I mean I wouldn't know what being a freeholder is like first hand" Siv says "And pretty sure I'd rather stick with me ship"

And with delicate boggan ears present, the conversation turns to memories and hopes and shared drinks

and Ladybird hovering under the table for scraps

(Fade to banter)