#earthrunes

Coradel blinks, and looks up and down the quiet corridors. "Oh, Baron, if you find this lively, I hesitate to invite you to one of our celebrations. You may be quite overwhelmed!" A laugh, but one of good humor, not mockery. "I hope you do not regret Miss Gwen's presence? We can welcome her back if she is too disruptive for your home."

A small smile, acknowledging the game. He may not often dabble in social intercourse, but dragons are born to it. "Who am I to say no to Da'an? No, my people have grown already quite fond of her. She has been...not a disruption, no. More, say a breath of fresh air."

"Though, I may need to see about a sturdier steed to carry her. Trolls are one thing, but with skin of stone, I would not want to tax a lesser mount."

"Yes, the stone skin...quite remarkable. She seems comfortable in it. She'll need a fae steed, certainly. I'm aware of one that is able to alter size to suit the rider, but that's part of the Rivervale stable, and I don't know if the ability breeds true. Now, here..." she leads him into the stables. "Here are my lovelies." And she gives him the tour, showing off a couple of the horses before getting to the Tauntaun...and she hasn't introduced Samson yet.

He does seem a excellent judge of horses, commenting favorably on the steeds shown - though the Tauntaun definitely throws him for a loop. "An interesting mount. Perhaps useful for trod travel?" He comments, breathing through his mouth.

"Oh, you know, we haven't tried him for that! Not that I know of, at any rate. Quite the idea!"

"Now, come and see...this is my beloved Samson." She makes no attempt to conceal her affection for this horse.

They continue on without Vince, the Lion having peeled off earlier as they head into the Stables. A sigh as he watches his lady wander on, but he knows better than to spook her horses with his glory.

"I have seen a marvelous steed at Rivervale - Stormwake, they call him. His foal is winged. A magnificent specimen." And he takes in Samson, admiringly. "Oh, now THIS is a stallion." A low whistle. "Even without seeing him in action, I'd venture that he'd be a fine warrior. Does he ride to battle with his lady? Or to the joust? Not that he wouldn't cut a fine figure as a pleasure-mount, but he seems worthy of much more."

"He has done all of the above!" she declares proudly. "He was with me as I woke into this world, and has carried me against fierce foes."

Samson clearly knows when he's being praised...and seems a bit dubious about this stranger.

"Samson, this is Baron Aiden, and he is our guest."

And he bows to the steed. "You are fortunate to have such a stalwart companion." Speaking to the horse, or to the lady, or both.

Samson snorts, but gives a courteous bow of his head.

"You ride, certainly, Baron. Do you have a prized steed?"

He looks to the Baroness for permission before extending a hand to the steed to let him sniff. And gives her a small smile. "All of them. My joy is in not only riding, but also bloodlines, and breeding."

A nod of permission. "Tell me of one of your favorites, then," she says.

Samson sniffs (not snuffles) with great dignity, and he gives a snort of some approval.

"Thúl-o-mithril." He says, with a lilt to his voice as he speaks the name. "He was the founding stallion of my current lines, and the first horse I raised. They said that he was too wild to be studded, let alone ridden - but he didn't need to be broken, nor tamed. He needed to be understood. He was never meant to be merely a mount, but... a partner, none the less. He has his own pastures and trails to run as he wishes, and the stable awaits his pleasure. Black as midnight and with a mane of spun silver."

Coradel is clearly taken with the description. "He sounds stunning. Perhaps I shall have a chance to see him someday."

"I would welcome your visit, Lady Coradel. Your Varich Knight has seen our mews, but we also have stables and kennels - Our manor may be more provincial, but we have miles of woodland trails and magnificent hunting, riding and hawking."

"Very tempting indeed, Lord Aiden! Oh, but you mention the mews. Sir Sergei would be most upset if I did not bring you to see our feathered ones, and our kennels as well...though perhaps we should wait for those until your Shieldmaiden returns with her pup to introduce around."

"Indeed, she does enjoy the hounds. Though, I wonder if it's working with them, or playing with puppies. She is new yet - plenty of time to learn where her talents may lie." A brief glance about the stable to see if anyone else is in earshot, before venturing, "I am organizing - or rather, in the initial stages of planning, a venture to look into what I believe may be a lost line of fae steeds. I've heard that you have quite a library, and that your own husband is a scholar of note. I was curious to ask if you, Sir Sergei, or your people may have any texts that relate back to these lines."

"Oh! Oh, indeed, we have a library, and I've asked our librarian to begin expanding on our texts regarding equine arts. I'm studying as well, you see, for a mortal degree. Perhaps she has something along the lines of what you seek. Would you wish to go there before the mews?"

"I would welcome that. And Gwen may enjoy seeing your mews. She is a bit intimidated by my Chancellor, I am afraid, and has not made much of a study of our own as of yet."

(pause)