#earthrunes

Delores fills the Baroness in with yet more details, "Emma is tending to Dame Claire but says, in her way, she'll be fine. Woerd has gotten out that you and your Valkryies or is it amazons rescued numerous innocents and almost all consider it yet another triumph. Gideon and Stevi are working on a new song"

"Oh, I can't wait to hear it! And...I suppose 'Vamazons' is a tad tacky." A pause. "You said 'almost all'...what do you mean?"

"There are some who think you over stepped your reach, that you rely on being the favorite of the Countess but go into territory that is NOT your barony" a snort "As if you abandoned your right to adventure of quest when you took up the barony. Nonsense really"

"Hmph." A pout. "Well, somebody needed to do something, and I happened to be the best someone in the area."

"At the risk of buttering my friend and baroness up, you're the best in MANY areas," Delores says "It's ridiculous for anyone to think you were going to sit on the sidelines and let your husband do all the work"

"Hardly. I could demand that you share the identity of these detractors with me...but I'll ask nicely first."

"I'm making a list for you actually, not just of those carrying such concerns but the ones I suspect who might be planting it" She says "The prisoners are going to the Countess, which is her due but SHe at least has nothing but praise for BannerHouse Truthbranch in this."

"As is right. Thank you, Delores. Have we heard from our neighbor?" She clearly means the nobility of the barony in which the raid happened.

"No, but Innish believes we may get a visit from their herald soon."

"What fun that will be," she says dryly.

"I can run interference for hours if need be" She offers

"No, no, I..." She pauses. "Hmmmm. Delores, what do you think would be the better strategy to remind them that they did not achieve what I did...see them immediately, or let them cool their heels for a bit first?"

"In truth? I think this is a chance to give them an opportunity to act as if they were in on it. Get their approval by allowing them a share of the credit"

"See if they're smart enoug hto go 'of course we ALLOWED this and it worked so well'" She nods

"Ahhh...." She smiles. "That's deliciously devious. Thank you."

"I find that if you tell most nobles how wonderful they are , they'll agree with you, add in that compliment a small permision and you can get away with that too while they're busy agreeing" Delores says

A beat "Not that I mean any nobles HERE" Dimple to her friend

"Delores, are you suggesting that you manage nobles?" Mock offense.

"I accommodate them" Primly but humor

"And you do it very well," Coradel relents. "Fine. In anticipation of a disgruntled visitor, please have some refreshment ready to bring to the audience chamber."

"Of course" She gives a curtsy, "Is there anything else?"

"At the moment? Not really. I'm going to luxuriate in the knowledge of a task victorious for as long as I can."

"Well earned" A nod "I'll get the greeting prepared, Baroness" And she withdraws

Coradel sighs and enjoys a stroll through the hallways, the art galleries...

The galleries are rich and vibrant, she's worked hard to make it so.

Paintings, multi-media, sculpture...pleased sigh.

And something new!

Something...new? She examines this surprise.

A clay display, figurines of bright clay colors, but as this is the fae world, the clay.. moves, like old claymation art as it plays out a nymph of the water appearing in one part of a flowing stream topless and alluring, then vanishing as the two hunters turn to see her... gah! She's gone... (Behind them, Checking THEM out)

A delighted laugh. "Now, where did you come from?"

She did not order this. And Delores is busy though she's know. Mmm A look around. She does see Charity working

"Charity, come look at this, please." She indicates the display.

Charity comes over "Oh yes, this." She nods "Playful isn't it?"

"It is!" The Baroness is clearly amused. "This isn't one of my finds. Who brought it?"

"Not one thing was paid for it, " Charity says "it was offered up to you as a tribute."

"Oh? By whom?"

"I don't know, I was changing linens, but I do know second hand that the fellow came up, and offered it as a gift to the 'beautiful and fair baroness of these lands' ,an d that he was a boggan. It's all he asked for to see if you'd like it, but you weren't here. Delores took it as a gift, checked it for dark glamour and the like.. and it seemed to be safe as houses"

"She didn't mention it to me. Ah, well...it's delightful! I'll have to see if I can get his name from her and send him something by way of thanks."

"It's possible he's hoping for a patron or sponsor" Charity says

"Hmm." She tilts her head to one side to look at it from another angle. "I'd like to see more of his work, too."

"I'll see waht I can learn about if you like, Baroness"

"Please do, and let me know." She watches the scene play out another time or two, noting more little details in the clay...a flicker of a leaf here, the shading of the clay changing to suggest dappled sunlight, a little bird fluttering its wings on a branch.

She bows and moves off

A pleased sigh, and she resumes strolling, enjoying the afterglow of a job well done.

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