#earthrunes

"I...didn't say it was a quest." Slight sigh. "Fine...I'm not quite sure exactly where I'll be, Deryn. It is a quest, for something precious that was lost. Beyond that, all is up in the air."

"Dreaming?"

"Because you know time is funny there - I had a few days turn out to be several months."

"Yes." A sigh. "But...well, I'm sure it won't be that. Deryn, you've served as Regent before, and done so very, very well."

and footsteps

"Sure..."

Coradel looks around at the sound of the footsteps.

Sir Neachdainn is dressed in coal black armor with a high shine and silver highlights, the symbol of Ailil embossed. A cloak of dark purple flutters behind him. He looks nicely dressed.

She smiles. "Sir Neachdainn! Hello!"

Coradel, wearing a simple and informal slate blue dress, rises fluidly from the ground and offers Sir Neachdainn a hand in greeting. "Sir Neachdainn, thank you for coming."

"Regent," A grin, "you look well. The countess and count send their continued gratitude for your recommendations."

And a bow to both, as he answers, "You do still out rank me, Baroness Coradel. I may not be your knight, but never let it be said House Ailil has rude knights. How can I aid? "

She smiles, and curtsies in response. "Very well, no rude knights here. I hope you were not under the impression we are under attack." She nods to the armor.

"Well, some of my last, albeit oddly fond memories of this place were of a siege" Neachdainn chuckles, "But in truth, I'm indulging a bit of vanity. Newly made armor needs stretching out and shown off. The purple cloak is to show respect to both my lieges."

"It is very fine work, indeed," Coradel smiles and nods in approval.

Coradel indicates the ground she was just sitting on. "I am not sure you could get comfortable here...let us find a place to sit properly. And Derynwydd...you should be part of this conversation, if you don't mind?"

"A pleasure" He makes a lead on motion

"Very handsome voile - I trust you and your sister are doing well?"

A smallish garden table and chairs under the branches of a willow tree. Coradel asks a boggan to bring refreshments.

"Sister is less happy than I. Some days I don't know what will satisfy her," He says with a frown of concern, then "I'm prospering, though the Countess rules now and I suspect will favor Seelier knights than I she still listens to my advice now and then."

"I'm sorry to hear that about Nansaidh. If she chose to return, she would be welcome. Very welcome. And I am glad you have found a satisfactory place to grow."

"One tries" He says "Now, how can I help you?"

Refreshments are brought - not by a boggan, surprisingly, but by a pooka. A cloth napkin over one arm, his outfit trim and appropriate as befitting one in service, as he delicately places plates of cucumber sandwiches, fresh fruits, and other light fares appropriate for a summer repast upon the table.

"Well..." Coradel begins, but then looks up and smiles at Vince. "Sir Neachdainn, I don't believe you have met Vince. Vince, this is Sir Neachdainn ap Ailil, formerly of this household."

He bows quite courteously to the knight. "Sir Neachdainn, I am pleased to say that making your acquaintance is only all the more pleasant, having heard only good things from the other staff who were lucky enough to be employed during your tenure."

Plates set before the visiting Knight, and before Deryn, and then, to glasses - one set before the knight again, and the second - a pause, and buffing out a water spot, before Deryn as well.

"I had hoped she would prosper there..." Feathers wilt slightly. "Hello Vince, thank you..."

"Thank you, Vince. I see the host here grows with talent" a nod

Coradel pauses as Vince serves, but then continues, "Sir Neachdainn, have you heard of our recent round of squire placements?"

A sparkling wine present to the knight, showing the label (quite a decent vintage) for his approval, before pouring glasses for the Ailil and for Deryn.

"I try to keep track of my house sisters and brothers in the immediate duchy" he takes a sip, "Refreshing. " A look to Sparrow, "You are kind to my sister. She thought well of you, and of the Baroness. I shall pass on your hopes for her in a way she'll not take for sympathy over done. she's prickly, you know?" Then to Coradel "I understand an Ailil squire is just one of many?"

Coradel does note that she herself doesn't seem to be getting served. She gives him a surprised look.

He catches it, and holds up a finger as he reaches back onto the service cart. "Let no one ever say I have neglected our liege..." As he sets before her a nicely packed lunchbox, appropriate for a meal on the go (perhaps for a 2nd grader?) as well as a canteen that sloshes promisingly with what is sure to be her favorite drink. "Though, having heard, quite thirdhand, mind you, that you were heading out on a journey, this seemed perhaps, more appropriate?" A hint of injury to his tone.

A sigh. "I was going to tell you, Vince. I promise." She regards the lunchbox skeptically.

The Ailil raises a brow but says nothing and takes another sip

"Perhaps this could be saved for my actual departure?"

"I think all sidhe can prickle, sometimes." A soft aside to the Ailil as Vince & Cora spar.

"It does seem to be in the nature of the Shining Host," Neachdainn concedes with a bit of a smile.

"Hem, hem, of course, of course." And he opens the lunch box to serve Coradel the same delicate face offered the others, and the canteen is given a good shake (aha, it is also a cocktail shaker!) and a martini poured into a glass that he whisks from somewhere. His nose wrinkles up in a feline smile showing he's not truly upset. "I'll be sure to pack accordingly."

A warm smile for the pooka. "My deepest appreciation."

He steps back, having served, and murmurs, "I can stay to serve refills, or if this is a privy conversation, take my leave to the nearest copse to attend to the butterflies until needed?"

"Now, as we were saying...yes, Sir Neachdainn, we have an Ailil squire. She was assigned to Dame Claire directly by...well, some element within House Ailil."

"Yes, yes she was," He says "You seem almost surprised by that notion. I'm not sure how it's anything but inevitable that it would occur"

"Vince, thank you, but...yes, I think we might need a bit of privacy." Gentle apology in her tone.

"indubitably." He remarks agreeably, and, setting the wine into an ice bucket at hand, withdraws to ponder the nature of swallowtails on tiger lilies.

A fond smile as he goes, then she refocuses on the Ailil. "Well, I suppose that was a novice oversight of mine. No, I did not see it coming."

"Ah, I suspect you hope for me to divulge house machinations?" A sip, "Baroness, It's not any one thing that lead to squire Lesleah in your holding, but a mix of things. "

Sparrow, for her part, listens quietly.

"Well...let me see the elements that I do know already." Coradel counts off on her fingers. "Dame Claire was not already in charge of a squire. Squire Lesleah was sained at a station lower than anticipated. Ailil would very much like an informant about what goes on within this Barony. What else?" She sips her drink.

"Ah, Dame Clair was rather forthright about all that wasn't she?" A sip of his own