#earthrunes

"True enough... nobody wants to feel useless."

"And she's... I know she will prove true. She must."

"No indeed."

"What do you remember of her before, Deryn?"

"It is fuzzy - more from my quest than that life."

"She was one of my steadfast. When I was hurt, she healed me...."

Coradel nods.

"Jennette... reminds me, somehow. Not of Caitir. Of another."

"How so?"

"Something in... her voice, her hair. Her eyes are wrong."

"Wrong? You mean a different color?"

"Yes."

"Not that they are.... they are lovely, Jennette is lovely...."

"And Sassy is so busy with Carmen and the tragos....."

A nod, then a grin. "She is lovely, indeed."

The grin falters a bit. "Do you think Sassy would...begrudge you time with Jennette?"

"I don't know. She is a satyr, and we weren't ever officially a thing...."

"And would it hurt Jennette if I am fond of both?"

She doesn't answer right away, and then only quietly. "I hope not. But you should speak with her."

There is a figure at the entrance of the throne room

She notes the figure with a lift of her chin. "Who is there?"

Her wings mantle slightly, hand drifting to her hilt.

"Apologies if this is a bad time, Baroness Coradel? It's me.." The figure takes a step forward into the light , blue skin revealed, "Earl, Sir Earl Here I suppose?"

"Earl!" A flick of her wings and a sunny grin.

A smile, "Hi, Sparrow. Or uhm Baroness? Whatever you like here."

"Sorry, don't mind me...."

She relaxes a bit. "Sir Earl, please, come in. It's not a bad time...well, yes, it is, but not a bad time for you to come speak with us."

"Well, I know it's a bad time. I fought in it too," He says, "Mind you, I was a very scrawny afternote compared to the Rivervale crew, but I did get a few licks in. And I kept some straggling Thallian from hurting some of the locals outside of the castle. "

Coradel shakes her head in wonder. "When I think of all the many who came to help us....Sir Earl, thank you for being part of that number, for coming to our aid. EarthRunes is deeply grateful."

"It is that gratitude that I count on," He says, "If I may explain?"

She raises an eyebrow,

Her expression turns curious. "Please do."

"Increasingly, the fae world grows to know of my family farm, not just that it is a large family of trolls, but it is also a powerful bale. We have been working on securing our right to it in various ways. Secrecy eroded, we have turned to building alliances among other troll lodges. Yes, the sidhe have power and influence. My elders might resent any help from nobles, and they would be offended if they knew I were a knight- but I am still sworn to my farm. And I must help it even when they wouldn't like it. As your influence grows in the future, could you help further cement official recogniztion of our Farmhold's autonomy? I do not ask for alliance, just a recognition for our right to exist free of outside dominion. It carries. Other sidhe will hear."

That eyebrow drifts higher. Brekke would be proud.

Coradel listens seriously, and doesn't answer right away. "What you ask, Sir Earl, is difficult. I can see the potential for serious problems should a powerful Bale fall into the hands of those who would use it to topple other, more traditional holdings."

She frowns. "Baron Nemausus was skilled at seeing all the puzzle pieces and how they might fit. I am not so good at that. I would like to bring your request to my advisors."

"Your farm is in Iowa, is it not?"

"Yes. But you must understand,from our perspective, we are the traditional holding. Our fire was going long before the bulk of sidhe returned. We have not bowed , as a clan, to any noble, and we have our own means of governing it based on the ancient troll ways. Is it not better to encourage us to be ourselves rather than seizing our hold and scattering us where angry young troll blood might be recruited out of revenge and with a new hatred for all nobles, though not all nobles would deserve it? "

"And yes, Lady, it is. What you'd call the Duchy of the Hawk"

She nods. "Thank you."

Both of her eyebrows follow the path that Sparrow's have already taken. "That is quite an image to put forth, Sir."