#earthrunes

"Damsels, yes."

"He knows the houses, I've made sure of that."

"Of course." She nods.

"Well...hm...we have a little time to figure out the details." A smile.

She sighs. "I'm going to miss him."

"What makes you certain he'll leave? I mean, beyond the quest itself, he may be happy to stay here."

"I guess we'll have to figure out other things, too - I'd keep him in the house, ideally, he's not got other family. But that's up to him, really."

"He's got school to finish, and maybe trade school even? We set up all the paperwork so I'm his legal guardian."

"Absolutely. If there's anything I can do to help arrange that, let me know."

"I'd like him to stay. I know he deserves the chance to prove himself... "

A smile. "I'm glad you're so fond of him. I think that's good for both of you."

"Arguably, as a baroness, I could have a knight..."

"Arguably? I'd say it were a given."

Her mouth twists. "I don't know. This is your hold."

"And I'd have even less to offer a knight than a squire."

"I don't think Colton would agree. But Deryn, once you finish your schooling...I'd love for you to stay, but I'd be equally happy if you wish to seek your own Barony."

"You..." Her wings flex, unsettled. "Well. You're thinking of elevating August?"

"That'll be good, I think."

A small nod. "He deserves it, whether he thinks so or not. And...you're thinking that would be one baronial body too many?"

"It might be, wouldn't you think?"

"I am happy to be your Regent, to step in when you need the help..."

"But you need your own demesne."

"I totally agree. You have a strong ability to lead, Deryn, and you should have the opportunity to do so when it's not just about filing in for me."

"I'm very lucky to have a place here, Cora."

"Lucky? If you were terrible at the job...well, you'd still have a place, but I'd have a different Regent."

"There aren't enough freeholds to just give them away. If anything, I wish I had more to do. I think I'm one of those useless sidhe, these days."

"Useless? Deryn...you've managed some of our greatest crises here! And..." she gestures to the painting. "I've wanted to give you time to attend to your studies. But if you want to do more, and if it won't make you overwhelmed, I'm happy to help you do so!"

Her feathers flatten. "And I appreciate that. My scholarship is just through this year... so... so there's a lot of questions about after that, I guess."

((Sorry, AFK))

"How far does that carry your studies?"

"Well, I can finish up an associates this year. But I'd need a BA to teach."

"But not to just be an artist. And I've been having good luck with painting kids' rooms..."

"And you want to teach. So you should get one. I'm certain we can find a way to arrange that, Deryn."

A tilt of her head. "Have you combined your painting with cantrips, ever?"

"I haven't. My only art is sovereign."

"Oh. Hmm. I wonder if there might be ways of blending them, somehow. Paintings that yield a sovereign effect, somehow...." she trails off.

She considers. "I've not done much with it. I have considered the potential of a geas - but there's also the ethics of it. It's a pretty weighty responsibility, not something to use capriciously...."

"Of course. You'd have to be careful who ended up with it...but, for example, a painting in a locket...?"

"Or you might even learn other arts, like Wayfare. Not that you need Windrunner," she grins.

She laughs. "Well, that would still help mundanely... you know I couldn't always fly."

"Well, true. So, possibilities!"

"I guess magic isn't much my thing."

"Lucky I'm not an EIluned."

"You'd be drummed out of the house." A grin. "Well...Deryn, we'll make sure you have the funds to finish your schooling, and we'll get Colton a-questing...and keep moving forward from there. I do want you to be able to spread those wings as much as you like, but I'm not interested in booting you off the branch any sooner than you're interested in. And we do need you."

"I ought to be able to get a loan... I think I need to do paperwork to prove that my parents have cut me off, though."

"Well...would you accept a...donation?"

She frowns. "Cora..."

"I know you have your pride, and I won't insist if it somehow would undermine anything, but...Oh, come on, Deryn. Chloe's parents are loaded, and their finances are actually getting better since they're recovering from that...incident. It's not like you're going to one of the truly expensive schools, as I understand it. You will have done two years on a scholarship...I'd love it if you'd let me help you the rest of the way?"

"Haven't you given enough charity?" Her cheeks flush. "Already, the only reason I'm still not living in that apartment... or, really, homeless... is because of you and August. Do you think I don't know that? Caesar doesn't charge us anything near what he should..."

"And here... I come here, and I have a suite, and the staff treat me like a princess..."