#earthrunes

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There is so a joke to be made about getting into the Baroness's bush....

That's how Pooka's get spanked

Oh, no, not the spanking, anything but the spanking! :face_with_rolling_eyes:

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Regent Truthbranch sits upon the throne, going over paper after paper as Inish and Delores hand over one then another. A thought occurs to her that matricide might be understandable, in certain circumstances. Of course, it's not like Coradel knew there would be a Ducal inventory 'request' coming out. No, this news came to them hours after she left. But as Regent, Sparrow finds herself dealing with it. She's also got a meeting with the Countess later.

She tries not to yawn, but she does flex and stretch her wings as she sits.

"And this, of course, is a copy of the aforementioned list, that as a courtesy is being sent to the Bes Din headquarters so they know those who are paying dross or cash dues for their own numbers. the Duke and Duchess expect it as a courtesy to the nockers...also said nockers raise hell otherwise..." Inish says

"Do I need to sign this one?"

"I'm afraid so,here and here" Inish says "Good news I made a copy of a copy so next time this will be even easier."

"Joy."

Inish 's eyes sparkle, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown, Baroness. But you are making progress, and there's no other matter more important at this moment else...."

"Movement on the trods" One Thane comes in "Something big in the garden trod coming in!"

"And let it not be said I neglect my..." She stops, wings lifting a bit. "Something on the trods?"

"Yes, Baroness... the others sent me to tell you, any second now. They're armed and ready but thought you should know."

"Well, surely they could use a greeting..." She rises.

"Yes, well, this can wait" the herald admits

A grin at Inish. "Right?"

"Of course," And with that, Sparrow is FREE!

She bounces-slash-floats towards the trods, gleeful for the respite.

Maybe a monster is about to blaze through, but at least she's allowed to stab the monster. Paperwork not so much.

She makes her way to the garden, the trod rathe has opened wide as if expecting something BIG! Two troll thanes have polearms ready

"Any idea what's coming?" She places herself beside the thanes, hand on her hilt.

"No, Baroness, but there was a surge so it's possible something came not from Firnost, but from the far or even deep Dreaming. " One answers "Tha'ts why we thought it best to be ready for the worst"

"The Dreaming? Surely Cora can't be back yet..."

And then, a gryphon! But not like anyone she's ever eveen heard of before- comes through! It's every feather is crafted of metal-Brass and Bronze works of art. the lion parts seem rather to be golden! Yet not soft for all that... and and there are clicking gears at each joint! Steam rises out of it's beak as it hisses and roars a greeting and staggers in .

"Oh!"

And riding it, is a woman about 18 summers of age, with streaming hair soaked in sweat and steam who looks oddly familiar. She struggls to guide the crash. Behind her, lashed down forh is own safety, is a blue wilder troll not yet full grown Sparrow DOES know! Squire Colton!

"Colton!" A blink. "...Honoria?"

It Is Honoria! Where the added years came from, one cannot be sure, but one can see how the beauty of her Kith manifested in a woman's form. Her gear is changed somewhat, a breast plate with a hole for her key to her heart is there, and her old mace is gone, a new one in it's place of fine craftsman ship and glowing like an ember.

The Thanes were ready to attack or defend, but hearing the name, put their weapons at rest and move to assist. The Gryphon creation collapses but not as bad as it would have been if Honoria hadn't guided it. Colton groans

Sparrow nods at the thanes. "Friends, help me with the Squire..." She crouches by the troll, checking him for wounds. "Honoria... I expect we're about to hear one hell of a report."

"What I can remember of it, Regent. Colton's wounded and..." But as Honoria talks, Sparrow is already glancing over. Colton is bandaged, but it must be a truly ugly wound under that wrapping . the Thick cloth expertly tied maybe all that's holding his insides and keeping them from being his outsides

"And I hope Delores has some of those healing cookies" She finishes' "the Gryphon is mine. Please don't think it's a threat" to the THanes "It served well. "

She frowns, lightly placing a hand on Colton's dressings. "Feel no pain. We'll take care of you." A gentle stress of a dictum.

"You've been gone a week...."

A gasp as the glamour takes effect then in a clear , well, clearer, voice he says "My liege? I.. I'm sorry I.. she slipped. I found her again but.."

Honoria says "He's nothing to apologize for, no one can hold onto someone when someone else is attacking them like he did, not for long. He's a hero." She seems more confident, her eagerness to please may still be there, maybe not, but right now it is lost under priorites such as helping her fellow squire. "A week?"

"Less, actually. It's only Friday..."

"Good, the Baroness didn't have to wait too long"

"But time is funny in the Dreaming. You look... " She gauges the pair - Honoria seems to have gained four years, easily...

"The Sea of Ages" Honorai says "I ..fell overboard"

"It's complicated"

"I heard something of that from the trolls... Thane Nuri, get Delores? Ask if she has any of those cookies..."

The thanes are helping with Colton. but Nuri nods and leaves it to the other as orders are obeyed.

"I'll be fine" Colton says , the dictum helping "I just need a little bit by the balefire"

She rolls her eyes. "You'll be fine with proper healing. Just because you don't feel it doesn't mean you get to move."

"Honoria, are you okay? Do you need tending?"

"My left shoulder is... hurting a lot. Nothing lethal but I wouldn't want to leave it be. " she answers// Delores comes raising up with cookies "Oh my goodness!"

"Our squires had an adventure, Steward!"