#brightwindsbarony

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Grete goes seeking the Baroness.

The Baroness is not hard to find! She is sitting on a cushion by a low table, looking over reports and drinking coffee.

One of the differences from the old regime to now, really - the austere halls have been softened considerably by colorful batik hangings, and braided rugs, and piles of squashy floor cushions that invite lounging.

Grete pauses in the doorway and watches Sparrow for a few moments, pondering. "Is that comfortable?"

She looks up and smiles. "Well, it is for me. You want to try it?"

"It's a change of pace from big thrones. Here you're down on the ground, not up high looking taller than everyone else." She comes over and prods one of the cushions, then plops her rump onto it. "Not bad!"

"I figure the BIG chair is for formal court. I do appreciate the boggans making one that has room for my wings." She spreads them a little for emphasis. "So. What's up, Grete?"

"I found some rocks!" A grin to Sparrow. "I wanted to show them to you... if you're not busy?" A glance at those reports.

Sparrow sets the papers aside. "I have time for you."

A blink, and she looks a bit taken aback, by a phrase that she's seldom, if ever heard. "Oh. Um... see?"

Pulling a small chunk of rocky ore out of the sack she has, and showing it to Sparrow. It doesn't look especially interesting, though it's immediately obvious as chimerical. Greyish stone with flecks of... mineral, or rough crystal throughout?

"May I?" She asks, holding out her hand.

"Yeah!" A grin, offering it. "And when you're done, I'll show you the cool part."

"Cool part?" Brow. She turns it over in her hands. "Looks like some kind of chimerical crystal?"

A mischievous look and she holds out the sack. "Peek in here, don't let any of the sunlight sneak in around the edges."

That eyebrow travels higher... but she plays along.

The room is bright and sunny, big windows letting in sunlight... but inside the sack, where a small pile of rock chunks sits, the light can't quite filter through. It's not dark though, each piece emitting it's own soft glow, enhanced and reflecting off of the crystals for a glimmering, sparkling effect.

"Oh!"

"Yeah! It glows! And.. and.. I think you could maybe turn them into glowy paint? Fel... Miss.. Lady? Felicity? She thinks maybe we could make markings for wards with them." Nodding.

"Ohhh..." Feather fluff.

"I was thinking of placing a ward around your fort, too, so that only safe people could get in..."

"I ground a little bit off of one of the pieces and it still glowed. I think they would like being paint because it means more people could admire'em." Her eyes widen a bit. "For real? So we're not in trouble? Dubh seemed awful mad."

"Dubh was concerned." She nods. "Our job is to keep you safe."

She nods, a little glumly. But then brightens again as she gives the sack a small shake and the rocks sing... well, clack... together softly. "Do you like them?"

"I thnk they're very pretty, and it is kind of you to offer me some to turn into paint."

A pause. "I wonder... did you find these by your fort?"

A nod! "There were more, too - we put some in the walls for pretty lights. These are the smaller pieces that would be ignored."

Sparrow nods.

"I wonder if these special rocks are what drew the land sharks. We have a report that your fort has a pack of them lurking about..."

"Obviously, they can't stay there. If they are drawn to the special rock, it might be harder to lure them away."

"Landsharks?! Like.. they can swim through the ground? That's SO COOL. Maybe we can ask them to hang out and be our guardians! Do you think they might be friendly?"

"Well.. they weren't nice to Ross. Maybe if we had someone who could willow whisper chimera?"

A disappointed look. "Not me... Maybe Felicity? She knows everything about cantrips, to hear her say it."

"Well..." Sparrow considers.

"Eiluned are very good at magic. And sometimes, people like to puff themselves up because they worry about how they measure against expectations."

"She's not bad or mean or anything. ...maybe I sound like that about my stones sometimes. She came to help with the fort. It's good to have friends who can do things you can't."

She nods. "It is."

"And, well... it can take practice to learn how to be friends."

"Thank you for including her."

She nods. "Do you have anyone bigger who wants to try talking to the sharks first? Felicity is just a mouthful."

"Dame Otha may wish to. I believe she has the ability."

Grete runs a finger over the chimerical stone. "Do you think she can help me with talking to special rocks? I tried, but.. it's not the same as my normal friends. It's not that it's not listening? But... like I don't know the right words."

"Well, we can ask. I can't whisper, but I can affect chimera... so if you need help with Realms, I can teach that."

"You can't? But that's the first thing I learned!" She seems baffled that there's something this majestic lady cannot do.

She taps her chin. "I believe Bix might also do both Primal and the fae realm."

A smile. "Nope! I can't. Magic isn't my strongest."

"How do you ask the walls what color they want to be? I was sure you asked, because it looks so right where you painted."

"I just guess!"

"You're a pretty good guesser. If you ever need anyone to ask something... something, you can count on me."

"Thank you, I appreciate that. I know you are an excellent rock-speaker."