#brightwindsbarony

The sluagh Rep inclines his head "As the baroness approves. I merely sought to introduce a few more facts. Is there anything else either of you would know?"

"I would wish, as it pleases, to have tea with Ded Romeo and yourself?"

"I imagine there is more to be learned of our Count."

"Ah, with that you understand we were hoping our traditions of.... information exchange would be honored there? I can suggest the ... price remain reasonable but Ded will likely encourage reciprocity for additional details?"

She nods. "I am no sluagh, but I do try to exercise proper etiquette."

"Most kind, I shall let him know that a tea will be needed ," He bows hand over heart like a spider pondering a drink

and, unless told to stay, he withdraws

"Nessa..." She reaches a hand towards the centaur, and it hovers, uncertain.

She looks up at Sparrow. "I will understand if you are angry with me."

Sparrow purses her lips and shakes her head.

"No. I am angry that you were put in a situation where you were given little choice - to allow suffering, or to do something which might bring down harsh consequences."

"I could have spoken with you. I could have asked your guidance." She says, belatedly. "In the moment, I was just so upset with how the wounded were ignored."

"My mother is Fiona, you know."

"We are not always logical, controlled, rational, rigid creatures. If we were, we wouldn't be dreams."

"My Lady?" She says, uncertain if she should agree with that, though a tentative smile tugs at her lips.

A small smile. "Nessa, I can't be mad."

"I think I would have tried to do the same thing."

A look of relief. "Thank you for understanding. I promise I won't... that is.. I mean, I'll try to ask first if the situation allows." A sigh. "I do feel badly for those common folk, though." Tentatively, "Is that more common of how high Lords and Ladies treat their people?"

The sidhe's mouth narrows. A nod.

"Not all. But too many."

"Are things going well here? I hope our leaving didn't mean any at home did without."

It is possible that the other Centaurs found their tails braided , covertly if neeeded, to make up for Irene's usual outlet of Nessa being gone

"Well, your father was sporting a braided tail with purple bows yesterday..."

She can't help a laugh! "He is such a good sport. Oh! I must find Lady Otha. Have you seen her?"

"She was inside the great hall, last I saw her."

Nessa smiles. "I wanted to tell her... but I'll tell you first, I've managed to cast my first true healing cantrip."

Sparrow claps. "Wonderful!"

A shy smile, "If I may be excused?"

Sparrow reaches out again, briefly touching Nessa's arm. "Yes. I am glad you made it home safely."

She catches the hand and gives it a squeeze. "I am glad to be home."

A small flash of a smile.

She hesitates, holding the hand for just a moment more, then heads to find Otha... and probably, once the Noble sniffs at her, a bath and rest.

A gentle sigh after Nessa goes, and the Baroness returns to work.

It is a bit later, when Gerd asks for an audiance

Sparrow takes a minute to wash up before meeting with Gerd.

Gerd has done like wise, and is wearing that dress. No point in letting it go to waste

Gerd finds Sparrow - the throne is nearby, but the sidhe is sitting off the dais.

Gerd gives a courtsey "If this is a bad time, I can ask for another meeting later, Baroness"

She shakes her head. "Now is fine. Do you really need me in the big chair, Gerd?"

"No, not really, just a ... Nessa brought up something while we were at the County and I thought maybe I should inform you of something."

"And that was not diplomatically or eloquently put" She considers "It's regarding my mission as an Emissary"

"Okay?"

Seeing they are alone, or at least they appear to be she says "Rivervale has interest in opening it's doors to more trolls. My main mission is good relations with Brightwinds, but I was also asked to keep an eye on any trolls that I thought might be a good fit for the Rivervale area." She moves on "While it might sound like I was trying to pinch my own kith from your lovely hold, I disregarded any such notion up front. It would be terribly rude, and it would sour not help our relations if you took offense. Lastly, your Barony seems to have a.. I don't want to say a dearth, but i understand you had to recruit from abroad to get the ones you had mostly. "

She nods. "And most of the trolls you see aren't 'mine' per se - most are Rovers who come here to get time away from their Dreaming stronghold."

"Nevertheless, i wouldn't dream of trying to pinch LIttle Joe or Pepper or Redfang." She says then a beat "Okay, Redfang is something of a legend, Joe looks like he could make the Chief look short, and Pepper is an old friend of Siv's, so yes, the idea did enter but never took it seriously. However," She frowns "Among the Count's land? I did look about. Found two good candiates. Not sworn to the Count, but chipping in. One a decent healer, the other a strong enough fellow with good dross foraging skills. And, I invited them. This...troubled Nessa"

"Did she say why?"

"She seemed to think I was taking away good people from an area that needed them. I told her there was merit to that, but also that I still had my duty to Rivervale. I am, for all my witchy ways, a troll. I also said it was their choice. That I did not wish to see my kith mistreated, taken for granted, or worse yet tricked into oaths by a selfish lord. I'm not sure what she thinks of that"

Sparrow mulls it over.

"I can see both sides, really. Nessa is allowed to be worried for the commoners under the Count - to take away strong folk who are defending those weaker than them. But... those strong folk should be there by choice."

"I can respect that too, but, when it bothered her, it occured to me I should come forward with you to be honest. I didn't want any sense of skulldugery"