#brightwindsbarony

"Right away then, I'm off. "Another bow and she walks out gracefully, but can be heard running down the halls

Sir Dubh looks amused "Ray of sunshine that one. SHe seems more relaxed here than she was at Earth Runes, despite that she loved much about Earth RUnes."

"Well, Earth Runes could be... intensely Fiona. And she is a Fiona, but also a troll. I think there's less pressure to fit a box, here."

"True, the box is still being defined" A nod "And while she is too polite to say it, I think having helped you win this throne is a point of pride for her. Ah, but I digress. How can I serve you?"

"She should be proud! I just rolled in late, with a rapier."

"You've done more than that, Baroness" Firm "You won, but more than that, you stayed and assured. Killing is easy. Ruling is hard"

"Now, there is word of an Aesin out in the nature reserve. I would like to meet her. Perhaps you and Caitir could go send heed... "

"Well, we shall see how I do as ruler. I hope to prove by doing."

"I'll attend to it promptly" She bows

A smile. "Hello, Caitir. And thank you."

Dubh looks back, "I didn't know you had followed me"

"A gwydion is often needed" The girl says "Even when others can't see it"

"Then, let's go , Catir" Dubh says , then says "With your leave, Baroness"

"Of course."

And they withdraw

Hope however, comes in as they go out, "The Reeve told me you might want me to prepare chambers for guests?"

She nods, and briefs on the three reported.

"I suspect the Aesin may prefer to stay in the wild places, while the brothers would wish to be housed close together."

"Sensible. I have news as well. We had a shipment, a big one, " She holds up a letter

"A shipment? The changes never end... do tell."

"This from the DeBuke Lodge? From Chieftain Clementine.. to whoever passes for the Hearth..which I am told might be me?" confusion "It came with a truck load, ahnd I mean like the 18 wheeler type, full of winter squash, corn, grains and woven blankets and more."

"Apparently, the suggestion was to use it for the commoners and their kin through the land."

"And, there's a note of congratulations to the liberator of the good folk and the defeat of the balor" A confused look "Why are they going out of their way to avoid noble talk?"

"The DeBukes are firm modernists. Troll hold, they don't do much by titles."

"But good folk, and I know we have people who could use the help..."

"We do and despite the fact they seem to make me to make the choices I thought I'd run them by you. I was thinking, the poor parts of town are hit by COVID closings and such. Small businesses forced shut. You're a Liam. I've been reasearching, but it just makes sense, dreamers dream better with full bellies. Permission to donate most of this through mortal food banks locally and work the way up?"

"Oh, and the soup kitchen" SHe adds

"Absolutely! Oh, very much so - you know who needs the most help."

"Certainly,. you know if you like helping people, why don't you come with me when I drop it off? I'll introduce you to some of the charity workers in the area?"

A blush and a nod. "I would like that. I like helping people..." A touch of nervousness, however, that the boggan can detect.

"But..." Confusion

"I.. no, it's good."

"I don't think it is, that face is beautiful, but it was also was troubled. Now I've been studying more sidhe 'lore' I guess? And it's a lot more.. open than that awful Harkson indicated. Sir Dubh is a quiet man, but Catir is forthwright young girl. She says you're an Autumn Sidhe.. means you're a changeling like us. I Thought that was rumor. But I do understand that means you can handle banalty easier so it's not that. You'll tell me when you're ready, but know that when we do this, when I say you can go with me... I also mean I'll be looking out for you. Not because your'e the baroness, but because you're a good person and I'm partial to helping good people out."

"Ah..." She wavers.

"It's... " A frown. "There is a reason I struggled, before Earth Runes took me in."

"I can... I can attract quite a bit of attention. I do handle banality better than Arcadian sidhe, that is true. Many Liam and Fiona are so, if they are less known for such than the Scathach..."

"Oh my.. they sense your beauty even when they're unechanted, don't they?"

She nods.

"Well then, ,that settles that. Word is out we're related, so it will make no surprise to anyone that I make sure you have a friend you trust check on you frequewntly if I cdan't do it myself. I will not have my neice/cousin whatever hassled, no definitely. Also.. this is texas. If some asshole grabs you... you have the right to shoot him"

That earns a little laugh.

"Thank you, Hope. You have been... honestly, I don't know how I could have done any of this without your kindness."

"It was that boy... that scrawny slightly sickly looking sluagh, a wilder himself but still young.. reminded me to keep holding on, that things coudld get better. Was the kick in the pants I needed."

"Symon? Not that he would appreciate too much attention.."

"I know, that's why I refer to him as that boy" A smile

A bright grin.

"Did you know his mother is a boggan? He let it slip... or at least a guardian or something." A proud look "Well, his upbringing showed in that moment. Raised right"

"Oh, Anne Marie, yes! She's amazing - she's a social worker, and helped us quite a bit after we broke up a slaving ring." A pause. "Why is it always Balor?" Sniff. "Anyways, she helped get them to families, or to asylum in Canada."

"It's not always Balor" she sighs

A surprising coment from one who barely knew one house from another

"Sorry... just.." She frowns. "Have others been causing problems?"