#brightwindsbarony

The boggan kicks his cowboy boots and looks up at the tower hold crafted into the mountain, his plain brown doublet with cupid design in the corner might give clue to where this messenger comes from.

Troll Thanes? WOnder if the only thing that's changed is clothing?

"Can I help you?" Pepper says

"I'm a Messenger from Cupid's Wing" He says, removing his hat "If it's no trouble?"

"Already? Huh, well, come on in" She says "I'll escort you to where you can get a drink and a meal while we see if the baroness is available" SHe motions

"Much obliged, neighbor" And he follows her in

Hazel eyes peering.

"Do you need me to find her, Pepper? She was painting!"

"If you could, Page Irene" She says

"You got pages now? Hmmm" The messanger smiles

"Got it! Hey, you have wings, too!" She points at his doublet, then to the heraldry on her tabard.

"Loooks like, the baron calls his barony Cupid's wing barony because the mortal town is Valentine. We get a lot of cherubs and cupids, and we send out a lot of love letters. " He observes "Like the colors on yours though. Very vibrant"

Pepper smiles "Vibrant is a good word for both it and our page here. Irene's full of energy"

"Yeah, I like the rainbows! I'll find Lady Sparrow! You should try Mary Ellen's cocoa while you're waiting." And the childing zooms off.

He watches her zoom off and says "Cocoa then is fine"

She pops her head back in. "I mean Baroness Derynwydd! It's official business!" Annnd... zoom again.

When looked for, the messanger is sipping Coco.

He's a grump, but a young one

Sparrow does find him in relatively short order. She took a moment to clean up, and did get most of the paint (save a spot on one ear). The baroness is, as always, strikingly lovely. She wears on of her flowy silk chitons, and her rank is represented by a slim silver circlet holding back her auburn waves.

He rises and bows low "Baroness, I am here to deliver a message from Baron Buck Heart-Bottle, if it pleases you?"

She smiles, like the sun breaking through clouds. "I wasn't expecting to hear back so soon! It does please me, thank you. Whom am I addressing?"

"Hardy," he bows again "A pleasure then your ladyship. Should I kiss the ring?"

Irene, having acquired her own cocoa, is watching.

Sparrow blinks. "Ah - no? You are a guest, and representing my peer. Even then..." Her feathers rumple. "Well. Welcome to Bright Winds, Hardy."

"Ah, thank you. Didn't khow how formal you all were here. Last lord was a right bas-" He sees the childling is watching "An unpleasant fellow. Glad to see management has changed. Would you like me to recite the message now?"

"Well, best to get all the formalities seen to. I am at your disposal."

He straightens himself up "This says my baron- To the baroness of Brightwinds, thank you for your kindly and assuring words of peace between our baronies. In years past, we had closed off Dry tears from Cupid's Wing for reasons that are clearly known to you. I do not think for one moment, you alike to that dark hearted balor, may he never ride the wheel again, but my first care must be my people and our duties to love's messages. We're a plain spoken people who deliver poetry and fancy verse for others, and the irony is not lost on us, so please forgive if we are plain spoken now. The proof is in the pudding as they say, but a closed hand too strongly resembles a fist, and a closed mind is the death of creation so I will not swat away your olive branch. Rather I shall , if you please, study it for a bit, and hope. Liam are not an honored House but the battered oak is wise and I would be foolish to not realize a trade up when one occurs. We will watch your barony's growth with great delight and wishes for joy for formerly hard treated people, and gentler visions such as the ones you propose for you, Baroness. You owe us nothing, and we owe you nothing, but a gift of friendship blooming may yet arise as Spring comes it's way. Sincerely, Buck Hard-Bottle, Baron of Cupid's Wing"

She listens and slowly nods. "That is a fair message."

A pause, then an eyebrow. "Hardy?" He can hear the quotation marks.

"Thank you" he says "I worked hard to memorize it" A smile, "And aye, Hardy , tis a silly nick name but for some it sticks and it serves me"

That eyebrow stays. "As you say. So! Send word back that the message is warmly received, and I hope to prove my intentions through actions. Perhaps after your cocoa, I could give you the tour?"

"Oh you'd be most kind" Hardy says "And the coco is delicious"

"That would be Mary Ellen. Now, Hope is a barista, and a great one, but Mary Ellen is very creative with beverages."

"Ah, my kith is well represented here I see" A smile "I'm not supposed to show a kith bias as a messanger but I confess there's a pride involved"

"Well, you should have met Clarence at Cupid's Wing. He's Hope's right hand, and Hope is my right hand - she's the Steward, keeps everything running."

A nod "SO you've got a firm chain of command"

"Well... we're not the most formal, really. The previous administration was very into strict hierarchy, very top down, and that's not how we run things now. I mean, I am the Baroness, I hold the fire, I am responsible... but I'm not one to micro-manage. I would much rather see what my people need and work with them. I have a kith council of advisors, and they find their own methods of choosing representatives... "

"A council of advisors? With representives?" He seems surprised

"I am firm about ravaging - that is unwelcome in my lands."

"From each kith, yes. I've found it very helpful to gain a broader perspective."

"We don't have all kiths seated yet - no Eshu, really, and a few of the reps are the only members of their kith here."

"Well, still, A for effort there. Why Cupid's Wing is full of commoners and we didn't think of that. Some say the baron there is a bit too focused and lord knows it's true when they say he does think he knows best," a chuckle "Good thing there's an heir to fuss"

"In my experience, boggans do like to manage people. But, well, I'm a sidhe - so what leg do I have to stand on?" A self-deprecating smile.

Hardy chuckles at that, "Call of the Nettling, some call it. We boggans mean well- ain't that the vexing thing?" A Slip of Texan twang "And I have met good sidhe before, we even have some. But with them controling the trods near our area, it does isolate us. I think that was Harkson's plan."

A frown. "Still issues that way? I will talk to the Rovers. They have an outpost in the Dreaming, and they are dedicated to the safe travel for all fae."

"I know of them, good folk, good folk, but did not know they were in the area again. You have been plumb busy, Baroness for the better clearly. Now, is it my imaginagion, or has this hold gotten better light?"

"Oh, quite. Freeholds have their own magic... now, here, see this mural? The childlings are helping me. Grete, of course, has been in charge of the rocks..."

"Grete?" he asks

"Grete is a witchel."

"One of my wards."