#earthrunes

"Miss, are you all right?" Oswald asks the woman who stumbles through the garden

"Pardon me, Lady" He corrects himself as he sees her kith

The old sidhe woman is NOT Bondraste, who Oswald had thought she might be. No, she looks a bit panicky. Definitely not a Fiona.

She looks up, and has a surprised look, as if not used to looking up then says "This.. this isn't a lodge, is it?"

"A lodge?" He says surprised, then shakes his head, "No, this is the Hold of Baroness Coradel Truthbranch ap Fiona, dedicated to the banner house Truthbranch."

"Good," She says "I won't be a danger here." A slow breath

"Are you in danger?" He says, unsure he heard that right

"No, Thane" She fusses then smooths her hair, unaware of how she looks mattering more now, and yet easier "I said I was a danger, but not here. I don't often say what I don't mean." An arched brow

"My apologizes, Lady" A pause "I apologize, I don't know your name or your title"

"Thane? Is there a problem?" Lady Sparrow calls. She has a daub of green paint on her nose.

"Of course, how improper of me I..." the elderly Sidhe tries to find the right words, but...

Thane Oswald turns "Lady Sparrow, we have a guest. She seems a bit shaken and..." He doesn't want to say confused but his expression might relay it

"The Dreaming can disorient, especially if something happened. Granddame, please, you are safe now."

"Oh my" The older woman says, "Quite fetching" She has met Sidhe before, but few are as..grand as this one.

"The Regent is the great beauty of the Duchy," Thane Oswald says

"Oswald." Gently chiding.

A light blush "Pardon me, Lady Sparrow"

"I am sure some time by the fire and some refreshment will help. Thank you, Thane, for greeting our guest. I am, as Oswald indicated, Sparrow - of Liam, yes."

"Yes, I could feel that," She says, though she seems rather Autumn herself. "Please, call me Agnethe." She straightens her outfit.

"Lady Agnethe. Would you like tea? Coffee?"

"A cup of coffee would do me fine, Lady Sparrow" She says and looks to the Thane, "You're a fine young man. Thank you for looking after folks what visit"

"Oswald is great. He's been with us for... two years, now?"

"Three?" Feather fluff. "Well, he's great. Takes his duty very seriously."

"Thank you, Ladies" He bows to them both.

Agnethe inclines hers in return

Sparrow finds one of the boggans, to request a coffee service.

And a place is arranged. Agnethe looks about the hold as they walk to it "This lo.. hold is lovely. Very elegant. But, is it self sufficient?"

"Well, we pay our bills. I work with our Steward on the books. Our garden supplies some of our needs, but we are more urban than we look from inside."

"I actually meant food stuffs and.. oh nevermind I must seem a bit daft to you" Almost embarrassed

ALMOST

A dark-haired Sidhe young man crosses their passage, nose in a book.

Lady Agnethe stares at the young man. He looks familiar to her.

(At least, what she can see of him. Maybe it's his graceful motion, his elegant posture....)

"August, come join us. We have a guest."

She clears her head then the name "Oh, Sir August" She curtseys

"I can certainly show you our gardens later - I'm afraid our gardener is rather shy, though if we are lucky we'll hear him sing."

He looks up. "Oh, Derynwydd." A smile. "And....." He bows. "Madam. I'm Baron August Truthbranch, House Liam, bannerhouse Truthbranch."

"Oh, a strong voice can make the time pass," She says ,then says "My apologies, Baron. I thought you were a knight. Please, call me Lady Agnenthe. I'm just looking for a little haven for a , hopefully short time"

She again gives a curtsey this time to the young man

"You do seem in distress - do you remember what befell you on the trod?"

He rises as the Grand Dame does, and listens curiously.

"A blur, I fear, much of it" she says "I do not believe I am a danger to any here though. "

"I am glad to hear that at least."

"I cannot see how so lovely a lady would be a danger here." gallantly.

She laughs softly for a moment, sounding like a woman who does not let herself laugh often and that makes it all the more precious.

"Flattery young man, does not turn my head like it used to," A smile "But I thank you." A pause "You're both Liam you say?" A pause "might I, over coffee, ask you... some questions?"

"I would be honored. Deryn, are you at liberty?"

"Well, certainly. I'm afraid that as a whole we're far more boring than the more salacious stories would tell of us."

"Oh, I was painting - but oils, they'll keep."

"Oh you paint? I have a .. nephew who paints," She says to Sparrow, "Wonderful young man, I'm afraid we didn't recognize his talent for the longest time" A sip "House Liam was neutral, yes? In the Accordance War?"