#earthrunes

She came in on Yule

"Minerva, it seems like you will have company in your ceremony."

"Well, it would be childish of me to protest they get to have less time waiting." She admits

"Well good. We can do it tonight"

"Tonight! Glorious!"

"Minerva, you should tell your fellow sain-ees. Invitations must happen immediately if they're to happen at all!"

She pops up "And I have to get the dress. Oh I wonder if I'm a baroness too? Maybe even a Duchess? "

"Tonight?" another frown.

"August?"

"I don't promise the title is a high one..." Rosco sips his whisky "But at least you'll know"

"Ah. Nothing, sorry."

"No, August, say what you're thinking," Coradel encourages him.

"Please, let's hear it" THe namerr says

"It .... seems very sudden, to me. But I'm not knowledgeable in these matters, at all. My apologies."

"Well, Minerva certainly has been waiting past her date. As to the others...well, they're technically due next week, come to think of it, and it would be a shame if we could not obtain Baron Rosco's services again at that time."

"Yes, of course."

"And I'm certain the Namer knows his business. After all, he's done this many times before, correct?" she asks Rosco the last part.

"Oh this is a one time visit..." Rosco says "Bachdion took advantage of my weaknesses. Drinking contest wager.. and hmm? " A look "oh yes I've sained over 75 people in my life time."

"And it doesn't HAVE to be fancy"

"Of course he does." August insists "My apologies."

"Oh you have reason to ask, I mean, I'm a drinker, a gambler, and I dodge taxes.. all self admited...you're just looking out for people here to make sure I don't screw this up, for their sake... good reason"

"You're a ne'er-do-well and a scoundrel," Coradel says with a smile. "Then I think we should move forward, IF Zing and Kylie are ready. Minerva, I'll come with you to tell them. Gentlemen, will you excuse us?"

"We'll she's got me figured out" He grins and salutes with his drink "Of course, Ladies"

Coradel ushers Minerva out the door, leaving August with Rosco.

Minerva is gone out the door annd five steps down the hall, then she lets a delighted giggle

Coradel is happily keeping up with the excited fledge, dignity-be-damned. "What will you wear?"

"Vashti made it long ago, it's a backless black dress with silver trim of occult patterns"

"Oh, that sounds absolutely dramatic! But...Minerva, wait, please..." She draws the girl to a stop with one hand on her shoulder. "Countess Derynwydd was certain she knew her House before her saining, and yet she was mistaken. You must be prepared to be surprised. Da'an's will is often a mystery, after all."

"What?" A stop "I suppose I COULD Be Ailil..."

But she looks very doubtful

"You might be Gwydion, for all you know. I had the benefit of knowing, with great certainty, of my Arcadian nature before my saining. You do not. And if you try to force Da'an to fit your desires...well, that seldom ends well, Minerva. All I ask of you is to be prepared to be flexible should something unexpected happen."

"You're worried something might go wrong. again, aren't you?"

A frown. "Wrong? Nothing will go wrong. I just want you to be prepared that the outcome might not be what you expect."

"I don' want to be a Gwydion" She sighs "My sword play is... mediocre"

"Da'an does not always give us what we want. The puzzle..." she leans a bit on the word, "...is to decipher what we're to do with what we're given."

"I want to pry open the secret paths to power with my fingers, I want to be feared and worshipped and beloved. And if I could strike terrible curses on those who offend me, would that be too much to ask?"

"And it may yet happen! Just...be flexible," she says again.

"Fine... I suppose every house somethin to offer, and if I'm merely a knight that's fine"

Coradel draws her into a quick, impulsive hug. "If you need to talk about it afterwards, come talk to me, sweetheart. Now..." letting go "...let's go find those others."

Minerva DOES hug back, "thank you " And off they go

"About time" Kylie says

"I mean, thank you Baroness"

Zing looks nervous "So soon? But mother won't come until two weeks"

"She's fine" Kylie says

"Lovely! Now, there isn't time to prepare new gowns, so go and get on the clothes you'd most like to wear."

Zing nods "Something with pockets"

"Of course! Pockets are power," she confides with a smile.

And both fledges to be race off to raid their closetts

Coradel assists with selection of accessories.

In fact, Kylie has a classy begemmed dress.