#earthrunes

"The Chieftain did not intent to call you out, Sparrow. Just to speak her mind, respectfully, to a peer." Gentle.

"I did him a disservice, still. I can rectify it, yes."

Frank's beard moves. "I would chide you for being too hard on yourself.... but I do it too."

"I know you do, my mentor."

That makes him chuckle.

"I don't know if he's ready to be out on his own. He's not done with school yet."

"You may knight him and offer him haven here until he is ready." Frank says, "I agree it would not be wise for him to face the world alone just yet."

"He likes his school." A frown.

"That is good."

"I wouldn't kick him out of the house, of course... oath or no oath." Her feathers rumple. "I do not think I could afford a new arm. I don't know if that one could be replicated..."

"I think Rivervale would be honored to help with that. We understand abput limb loss."

"Welll.. true."

"I would recommend knighting him and keeping him with you, in your service, with duties commiserate to his rank, until he is ready to step out into the world."

"He has sworn fealty as a squire - I just..." A worried look and her wings fidget.

"Tell me, My Lady." Gently.

"What can I offer a knight?"

Frank offers no platitudes.... He thinks.

"Would EarthRunes be willing to establish a liasion with Rivervale? Formally? We have aided each other before....."

"We have. And he is already serving that purpose in many ways..."

The troll nods.

"As Regent, I could do that much."

"Does he have an interest you are aware of in Dreamcraft, or the Trod system?"

"Or your new banner house?"

"Some, yes. You think... a Rover?"

She shakes her head. "I do not think he will join Liam."

"Perhaps an introduction to the Rovers to explore the idea, then."

"Maybe."

"What -are- his interests? Other than our Sylvi. " Some amusement there.

"He works with Sergei, and the hounds..." Ladybird lifts her head, ears cocked. "Oh, yes, you too..."

"He's started to show some interest in craft. He's doing very well in his vocational classes..."

"The Aesin are not friends to our House, but your Count might consider mentoring him?"

"The Count and I have each other's respect, I think."

"Colton might wish to join Fiona."

"Then that is another opportunity for you to offer him."

She nods.

Frank's blue eyes are kind. "And, you can always offer a boon."

A grimace.

"Sparrow?"

"I want to be able to give him the damn world."

Frank chuckles. "I understand."

"Is this what having kids is like?"

"Absolutely."

"I felt the same way with both my girls. Jessica's a -Countess- now, and all on her own. Siv....." A sigh "Who knows?"

"Siv is adventuring."

"Yes."

"Well, why not?"

Frank nods. "It is her season. And yours."

Her feathers flatten and she shrugs.

An eyebrow.

"I have another year, at least, in school. I'm trying to graduate in three..."