#debukefarmhold

The short sidhe with mussed hair doesn't look especially imposing, as he offers candy to a pair of slightly fretted Nevers sitting on his shoulders. "There now, Bluey, Buttercup."

"That was pretty cool. Was it magic? Getting them to listen? The Baroness has done something like that..."

"Hey, Rock-star." A hand raised to greet Gwen.

Art glances up and waves at Gwen, and farmer brown alongside her.

"I don't think so? Gee, I don't know. I thought I was just loud. Not sure why Mini got spooked, though..."

"Mini saw this? " The big grump asks "Pardon me, Art is it? Someone cast a soveriegn spell here. Was that you?"

He notices the chimera being well behaved

"Sovereign's the do-stuff one, yeah!"

"Arty, sir." He pipes up politely. "And if I did, I didn't do so intentionally. I'm a scholar, not a sorcerer, I haven't figured out any arts that resonate yet. All I did was shout at those pesky crows there, the colorful ones? They were mobbing Thistle and her friends."

Gladiola rubs at her brow.

A nod, and he moves to a crow and begins to whisper.... the crow whispers back, a conversation "i see.." "You don't say?" "What do you mean she's shiney?"

Then finally, he turns "Young man, if I found out you had dictumed or even protocolled a DeBuke... you'd be asked to leave. However, as it iwas on chimera that were harrassing your friend there, well, we'll let it slide. Congratulations on casting I suppose though we do frown on that brand of magic around here"

"Nevers aren't food."

"Around here, sometimes, Chimera eat other chimera. We protect the ones that help the farm. Truth to tell, we often have nevers that do some good about here." He admits

"Oh, yeah - that viridian one and the apricot-ish one are from here."

"The greeny-blue and the orange." He adds helpfully, with a bit of a boyish grin over at Thistle. "I am sorry if I offended. We were told - I was told specifically... to be on our best behavior."

"I was! I was gonna check out this smoking shed, but then those (^*$^& rag-birds descended..."

Gladiola covers her worry and says "Mountain, they're both good kids. Arty is a gentle soul, and Thistle is a darn hard worker. She just ..seems to attract nevers"

"More than that , I suspect" The Mountain looks intrigued at Thistle "Chimera like you, don't they? Being around you I mean?"

"They love her. It's like moths to a lamp."

"Some seem to, I guess?"

"Mmm I've heard of this sort of thing, yours is... lower key than one poor bastard I knew. If there was a chimera monster in the area, it wanted him first. Yours seems more gentle but still hitting pest level. Let us know if they pester you again. I can veil you from just Chimera"

"It's usually fine? I like the Nevers."

"I'll have our hawker handle the calicrows for a bit" The Mountain says to her then turns to the sidhe "Arty, You must understand. Almost every time we've seen soveriegn used here, it's been for an attempt to enslave us, or take over our hold. It's a magic prone to abuse and we are justly disapproving of it here. Please don't practice it on our grounds now that you know that you did. You seem an honest boy so I'm taking you at your word. But some of us have... old wounds of the soul that make it worriesome"

"Art wouldn't hurt a fly."

"You're a good friend to him" The old man observes "What about you, Thistle. You wanting to see anything at this farm? I know Gladiola is seeing the dogs"

"It's all... like.. farm stuff?"

A pause.

"...Do you have clay?"

"In the soil, I mean."

"Sure do... want me to show it to you?"

Art was taken aback. "I would never..." He stops, and frowns. "But others would, and did. I understand. You have my word."

"Good man" The MOuntain says

And Gwen shoots Art a grateful nod

A thumbs up to Gwen.

"Oh, that nice girl who showed me the library - she looked spooked. I should go apologize."

"Be nice if you would, but don't beat yourself up if she's skittish" The Mountain says "We teach our young ones to be on guard. Maybe a bit too much at times. We're tryigng to get better"

"She was really nice to me, so it's the least I can do. Also, she has that book on the viking star patterns..."

A sheepish grin.

"Orry's Road? Good volume. Not as current as Astromagical Observations of the Return, but good volume. I'll leave you to it"

"Wait, wait! What that other one?"

"When the Arcadian sidhe reutrned, the moon landing, all the changelings were eager for the glamour of the event but many didn't realize how big it would be. However, one commoner astronomer decided to observe not the moonlanding, but the chimerical aspects around it, the dreaming effects... used some fancy telescope that could see the Dreaming... what he learned was astounding , a brief opening into the Deeper Dreaming. The trods, the deeper realms and kingdoms. And how the stars were aligned at the moment. It's an amazing read "

"That sounds fantastic! Do you have a copy? Do you know who the astronomer was? Where can I find a telescope like that?"

"It is. Not anymore I traded it. Yes. Only three like them I know of. Scuse me , I should take your friend to that clay" he says "if you want more detailed answers, well young man, that's often a matter of barter" his eyes glimmer with amusement "Maybe ask for another dog or something"

"Oh. The dogs are not mine to offer, I am afraid." He says honestly, but wistfully.

"Art doesn't speak for Silverwolf in Canine capacity" The Kennelmistress nods and looks relieved Art admits it first

"Yes, let's see the clay." A smile over to Thistle.

"Art's super book smart." Helpfully.

They move to the edge of the farm, near a creek. Even now, Chimera follow along, but the calicrows are more distant. A cheshire cat appears on branches, vanishes save for a smile and then is gone entirely.

"And Thistle can make anything. You should see the mug I got for Yule... and her Spriggan sensor was grade A. Even if in hindsight a trap might have been better than just an alert, it worked and saved her brother." Clearly proud of his friend.