#brightwindsbarony

A nod as she tuck the paperwork safely away. "Stu, are you sticking around here for a while?"

"Was about to head to my nest because that's where the cool kids are, but I can do a concert anywhere you want" he says

She ponders this for a minute. "Did you want to come with us?"

"Lead me to the white van" He smiles

Pepper winces "Do no say that so loudly, Stew" But they all three head out

"Well, this turned out to be a bit of a whirlwind of a day. But... not bad?"

"Yeah, and we learned something" Pepper says "You should tell the Baroness or at least your parents about that trouble in the paper store"

**********

Sparrow finds Hastien saluting her, "Baroness."

"Hastien."

"I bring news from Rivervale, and Rover Olgar. It's.. .quite a lot. Short version- they will be on a lock down of sorts due to assassination attempts brought about a Dairrean with a Balor 'advisor'"

Her wings rustle. "Do they need help?"

"They've not requested any- their childlings and a few non childlings are taking refuge at the DeBuke farm. WHich is damn secure actually. It turns out House Truthbranch already has a knight protecting local dreamers at Rivervale, two in fact"

"Carawyn, yes." A pause. "Two?"

"A fierce fighter...sworn to your father... hold on" He checks some notes "Oh wait, is this a joke? A mouse pooka?"

"Oh, no - Temerity is no joke. She is a mouse that roars."

Brow of surprise, but it passes, "Good, they need that"

"Any threat to this Barony?"

"Nothing seems to be pointing towards it specifically, but obviously where Balor are involved, Brightwinds might be a thorn in their side. Same could be said about Fenix and other places"

"They have been suffering losses. Mind, well-deserved ones."

"Any wounded animal is prone to lash out" He ponders "We back your play, Baroness. My own orders are to keep patrols strong but not so thick they call attention. I can change that if you like"

She shakes her head. "Visible change could draw their eye here."

"My first duty is to my people. If Rivervale asks for aid, we will figure out something."

"Understood. I understand we have centaurs?"

"We do! From that Yule trod? They're almost as tall as Trolls."

"The golden trod. Even the old man had never seen that before" he smiles

"And we got a prime view, yeah. How are your men? They get a good look?"

"Not everything is remembered, we saw visions of various kiths and horrors that couldn't touch the gold but didn't ..well, that was only so much help"

"I have heard of at least two other lost kiths - hobgoblins and rusalka."

"Rusalka have been confirmed at both the farm, and at Earth Runes. But only by word of mouth"

"Well.. I would think both holds are sheltering their fledges. Which I approve of, not that they asked me."

"Chrysalis is quite enough uproar without being treated like a curiosity."

"Actually, I think if you cared to, we could pass notes regarding the new kiths... not interogations, just a sharing of knowledge. It would sure help the Rovers. We need to know what to look for "

She nods. "I will write down what I have, and double check with Clio - she's been handling most of the teaching."

"She's working out as scribe? Nice" he says

"She's great. I do hope we get a few more satyrs... I wonder if Piper would want to come visit for Imbolc?"

"PIper might just to get warm" He observes with gentle humor

"I know your men will be doing extra duty that night, guarding Firebrands. I wandered - would the day after be good to throw ya'll a feast, or would you want THAT day for recovery?"

"I feel like guarding is usually hungry work."

He smiles "That's a very nice offer. Thank you" He ponders "Truth some lucky few will have that day off, at least that's my plan and I figured they'd just go to regular imbolcs. If you hope to do a Rover feast in mass, perhaps after sometime? And..very kind"

"Well, don't expect fancy food." Gentle teasing. "I was thinking maybe, like, chili and cornbread and snacky stuff."

"But plenty of all of it."

"Plenty of it is a troll's favorite dish" A chuckle "I understand Pepper is learning a lot of local food from Mary Ellen"

"She has been. I hope she's not feeling to put upon. I know she came here to Thane, but she's wonderful with Hearth things, too."

"No troll sees honorory Hearth as an insult, not that she'd call herself that as Hearthing is much more"

"Well, she might get snapped up at some point by a Lodge... but for now? We're lucky to have her."

"Oh don't sell Mary Ellen short either. She keeps giving my men these little donuts... I can't decide if the cop reference is her implying or my inferring?"

"Anyway, they're delicious"

A soft laugh. "Mary Ellen is great. I'm glad she's coming out of her shell a bit."

"Oh she's still shy when you try to talk to her, but somehow we get donuts."