#darkgatefortress

Nadeen says "This place is ..secure. I'm surrpsied they didn't check my teeth when I entered"

"Well, for good reason," Sylvi says. "Yeah, this place is on the front lines. Security is important. Come on in."

She does "This is your office? " She looks about then sees "AND bed room? You must feel cramped in here"

"Actually, it's just what I wanted. Just a little spot that's mine when I need it. But...really, I'm in Colton's room most nights." She grins, blushing but only slightly.

The varich's smile is soft "That must be nice. Does that mean I won't see you at our House often?"

"Well, probably not? Then again, if things go the way you plan, you probably won't be there much often, either, right?" A curious look.

A frown "In truth, I may have a need for the house... it maybe a place where he can be himself. It's complicated. "

She blinks. "Oh. That doesn't sound good. I mean, I know you said you thought Calanthe was up to something...?"

"So much worse than that" She lowers her voice "The entire freehold is laced with.. pre set cantrips to suprress his grief. Who knows what else they do?" Nadeen says "I want him to.. I want him, I love him, but I don't want him as a puppet I want him as the man I know and care for. I think he knows about it, but he' using her like a crutch, and he's trusting too much of himself to her support"

"Um...Nadeen, if he's always surrounded by these cantrips, and they mess with him...how do you know that the man you know is the man he really is?"

Nadeen takes a breath "Because I've seen him when he's not so caught up in being strong that it kicks in. I ken the glamour when it does. Not always. But.. it's like watching someone you love have a string yank"

Sylvi frowns. "So, like, brief glimpses? Oof. And you think it's Calanthe doing it? Any chance it could be something bigger?"

"I'm pretty sure it's that woman" She frowns "But invesgitations continue" She says "But you see, she's anchoring the magic to objects. You see why trying to get him to break those barriers when he's in the stable or at some place besides the hold might serve better?"

"What kind of objects?"

"And yes, I totally get that."

"small objects de art" She says "But... I'm working on solutions. It may take time"

"Art? Huh. So...how precious are these things? And how breakable?"

"I'm really tempted to feed them to briar" She mutters darkly

"Well, that probably wouldn't end well for Briar," she mutters. Then a sigh. "Okay, so...the house. The thing is that I want to keep the bulk of my stuff there, and DarkGate would want to use the property as a sort of...kind of an embassy property, for visitors, if that makes sense. So I'd be there to maintain it. So we need to figure out a situation in this 50/50 deal that makes that possible."

"I see.. three bedrooms, one for you, one for me, one for a guest? I .. oh.. we could put up ssome sort of gate house maybe. "

"I was kind of thinking of that. I mean, there's plenty of land. But I don't know how much that would cost. I guess we should really see the place, right?"

"Yup." She says "Got time now?"

"I'm...not sure? I think so? I do need to talk with the Mountain soon, but...well, this is business the Chieftain wants me to settle, so....yeah. Let me just tell the Hearth. Come on." And she leads Nadeen to find Hearth Marseilles.

The Hearth is yelling to assistants "We have WHOLE SOME ingrediants... so I want to know who used this processed psuedo cheese?"

The assistants scurry, deny everything

"Mmmph" Marsellies says and throws it into the garbage before turning "Ah, Bridge.. and company? how can I Help you?"

"Hearth Marseilles, sorry to interrupt. This is Baroness Nadeen DancingSnow, recently from Rivervale, but moving to SilverWolf."

"Mmm yes, yes I know her. THe Silverwolf cook is almost as good as me" He says

Nadeen looks ready to protest that, but clamps down "Charmed"

Oh, Sylvi has to control that grin. She clears her throat. "We're about to head out on an errand, but I just wanted to check that I wasn't needed for anything here, first. I figured you'd be the one to ask?" As far as Sylvi understands the role, the Hearth is the one who figures out who's needed where and when.

"Point of fact your schedule is pretty light , on purpose for these first few days. Also to let word get out so you have folks coming to you. " The Hearth nods "Try to be back tonight, we're having a medly of sauces for dinner later this night that will be heavenly" A glare "And devoid of KRAFT cheese"

the glare is aimed at his helpers

Who keep working as if they can turn invisible if they just don't make eye contact

"Um...yes, great, thanks!" And she turns and ushers Nadeen towards the Lodge's exit. A little shake of her head as they leave the kitchen. "Oof."

"Oof is right. He's so full of himself" She mutters as they head out "And by the way, Marigold trained in France, instead of just having a french name. " Mmph

Sylvi grins gamely. "It's just...so different from Mom, you know?"

"You mean she has people skills and a touch of humility?" Nadeen smiles as they go and they get to a vehicle, lots of head room

"Well...yeah." Sylvi sounds half apologetic. "I mean, I shouldn't judge, but...well, no, I just shouldn't judge. This yours?" she indicates the car.

"Not exactly. It was mine, one of the two cars left from my folks" A sigh "But I've sold it recently"

"Wait...you sold this car? Then...why's it here?"

"I'm turning it over to the owner later. You want to drive it?" She offers the keys

"Sure. You've got the directions?" She takes the offered keys.

"Sure do" Sliding into the passenger side.

"Ooh...it's electric!" she says. "I've never driven an electric car. I've heard good things. And of course, y'know, the environment stuff. This is cool." She gets situated, checks the mirrors, and gets the car started. "Wow...so quiet." She is, of course, used to the vehicles at the Lodge, which are generally practical and unapologetic.

"Yeah, Dad was a big eco nut. Used to drive mom nuts.. 'plastics go here' 'alumium here' not everything in the 'other'" A wistful smile

Sylvi gives her a sympathetic smile. "I'm really sorry. They were good people." She pulls out of the parking area and drives toward the main road. "I remember when Bug Guy attacked the house, to get at Dagmar. Your Mom was being so nice, and I was trying to be nice back, and trying to keep her distracted from Big Bad Bug Battle that Dagmar was going through but that she just couldn't see."

"Yes. Thank you for that by the way" She says "And yes it's quiet so don't count on people to hear you coming"

"That can be handy."

They drive for a bit

And she follows Nadeen's directions to get to the property.