#brightwindsbarony

"Uh-huh. He said he was resisting arrest."

"Lett me guess, he wasn't really resisting"

Irene shrugs. "Mom said it was a damn shame, then told me not to say damn."

"She didn't know he was a troll. But I remember it now. He was big and green and scary."

A nod "Well, the trolls here now are much more honorable"

"Oh yeah! Ashlee gets to do special Troll Stuff with them, too."

"They speak highly of her. Pepper is very fond"

"Good."

"I don't like Ashlee's mom at all. I wasn't allowed to go over, before."

"She's not a problem anymore, Ashlee's mother that is"

"Yeah. Ashlee's much better here."

"Maybe an older troll will adopt her by oath. It is their way at times"

"Maybe! I think she'd like that. Though the Baroness seems to have taken on her and Grete and Caitir."

Wistful sigh. "Do you have family, Sir Dubh?"

"If I do, they're long lost to me. The Ayrie was my family... and many still are but by blood? Arcadian Scathach are rare. I am one."

"And Caitir and Lady Sparrow were in the Aerie, too?"

"They were... though Catir wasn't a child in that life" He looks amused at the notion "Ah well. I think she's doing fine as a childling. Don't you?"

"Oh, totally!:

"I like her. And I think Felicity wants to have fun, but she's trying to be so serious."

"Felicty wants to be seen as mysterious and smart- but she does so much better when she doesn't try too hard. Don't worry, Sir Mortwyl is showing her that you can't always tell who is smart and who is dumb easily"

"That's good. And Sir Morthwyl made Rhonda!"

"Yes, that WAS surprising" An admission "And now a lot of locals are taking the patterns and spreading them. Of course, there is only one TRUE rhonda the rhino"

She nods. "Other people can have rhinos, too. That's okay."

"Yes, I bet Rhonda would like cousins and sisters and brothers"

"Yes!"

"Rhinos everywhere!"

"What's a group of Rhinoceros called I wonder?"

That's when Stew Crashes into the door frame "ow. Sorry, I ran too fast"

"Stew, are you okay?" the Chancellior moves to the boy who looks dizzy

"Stew!" Worried, and following.

The boy doesn't seem too badly hurt. Guess he didn't go that quickly after all "The lights are dimming" he says

"Stew, that's because I'm blocking the light as I lean over you" The Scathach says

"Oooo" He says and lets himself get helped up and redireced INTO the light so his eyes can be checked

"Hard to tell with your eyes, but no sign of a concussion" The Chancellor says "he's fine, Irene"

Irene gives Stew a squeeze. "Don't SCARE us!"

Stew says "But I'm a creature of the night, like Batman" He says then adds "Nummny tasty batman"

But he gives a hug back

"So what is news?"

"Oh.. the Chancanselior is wanted by Def Gang" He says

"Redfang?" A surprised look from the Scathach

"What I said" Stew insists

Dubh nods "I lost track of time. Thank you, Stew. Thank you, Irene. Pardon" He inclines hish ead and heads out

Irene waves!

Stew nods "My work here is done... now I must fade into the .. oh wait, no place to fade really. How are you doing Irene?"

"Good!"

"EXCELLENT. Now, when Carnivale comes up... Remember the grape flavored soft serve ice cream is mine"

Wait.. there's going to be soft serve? And there is GRAPE Flavored Soft Serve? Pooka speak is hard, but if true...

She squints. "Kay..."

He motions her to follow

"Secret?" And she follows.