#earthrunes

August frowns in his sleep, twitching fitfully. His movement jerks the covers off Coradel, exposing her deightfully bare skin to the room.

"He always do that at luncheons?" Siv says entertained

Vince nods. "It's our favorite picnic entertainment." He sips his cocktail.

********

Siv finishes "So that's what we know about centaurs. They seem to be strong, hardy and fast, but they do need space. "

"Well, I believe we should be able to provide...oh!" A shiver. "Did you feel a chill?"

"I thought i was my imagination?" She looks about Mm "Must be a crack in your fourth wall. Someone will fix it"

Several boggans appear and start repairs.

Coradel smiles graciously at the boggans, then pointedly turns her chair away so as not to witness them as they work. "Have you met this Daria? Your mother suggests she is fierce."

"I've met them all. She's unseelie, uncivilized and a bit uncouth, but she's also fierce and ready to throw down to defend herself and her friends. She can be impatient, but she also will give her all to reach a goal."

"Oh, she should do fine here. We have a good track record of training the uncivilized and uncouth," she says archly, sipping her tea with an air of innocence.

"Well I ..." Siv stops "Ouch. Let me just say 'ouch'" Then she chuckles

Coradel grins. "Oh, I'm teasing. But I like a foster with spirit. She sounds like she'll be a fine addition." Then something in her expression goes slightly wistful, but she simply sips her tea again.

"Trouble with one of the other fosters? "

"Oh, no. No trouble. Only...well...you have met Hume." As if that should explain everything.

"Ah" She sighs "yes. "

"He is doing good things and is contributing to the barony," she allows. And then a small shrug.

"He's unblooded, untested, and I'm guessing unwelcome"

Coradel doesn't answer right away. "He is what he is. Not what I would have chosen, but...well, I did not choose quickly enough to have my way, and that's a lesson learned about complacency."

"Never mind that. Tell me more of how the centaurs were liberated. And how dare you not invite me to help!" Mock offense.

A soft laugh, "Well... for once mom was the one who got a wee bit impatient, but she was right to do so"

"Oh? I don't know her well, but that seems a bit...out of character?"

"Mother is still a gwydion, and they are not to be discarded. I think she grows tired of trouble coming to her people, her vale, and is decidiing to make certain FIRM showings of why this is the mother of bad ideas"

Coradel grins. "I like the sound of that. She may not be the life of the party, but she is absolutely not one to cross."

"Ha. I like that. Good way to word it" A raise of her glass

She lifts her cup to toast in return.

"Baroness, may I make a suggestion to you? Bit presumptous, and it kind of goes back to the Hume thing... but I think it might help or sure couldn't hurt?"

A curious look...reluctantly curious. "Yes?"

"if the Duke and Duchess are making choices for your hold, which is to a large degree their right I suppose, it's in your own interest to send Innnish or another represenntivee there more oftenn than you do. To let them know your barony is an ACTIVE part of their land, and to give you eyes and ears for what politics are in play. Mom has Lucia go to Caer Falken on her behalf that, before that Nadeen. Worked pretty well. Gave some advanced warning"

Coradel frowns and sets down her cup. She thinks about this for a long moment. Then she sighs. "I see your point. That is certainly ...something I have overlooked. "

"No reason you wouldn't overlook it. The Count and Countess over you know you better, have contacts there that used to be of this hold . of course you might not think above that. If a Duke overstepped the Count Hemlock to take action in Riverrvale, I think my mother would be stunned"

"Yes, it certainly did come as a surprise," Coradel says in a clear tone of understatement. "And...well, it is too late to undo what they have already decided. But...a better presence may prevent future surprises."

"Thank you, Captain. That is fine advice."

"Thanks, this is fine tea," A look "Now, back to more pleasant stuff... is it true Dame Claire is with child?"

Coradel smiles and finishes her tea (rather than spilling it). "Perhaps you'd best ask Dame Claire herself."

"I'm a Fiona, and I'm STILL kind of afraid too " A grin "Will you protect me?"

She laughs merrily. "Oh, of course. Let's go see her together, shall we?" She rises.

"Let's..." And off they ggo

(And end scene in what Shalimar might call 'Whale Baiting' but he'd only do i from a great distance)