#elsewhere

At Silverwolf, downstairs.

Flo is escorted to the door, and dropped off by Linnea - a sleepy toddler on her arm. "It will be better to keep all our people in one place, where we can watch over them. At least until we have discovered the end goal of our assailant."

Rochallor and Blossom, cutting out sugar cookies in the kitchen, are joined by Rian under Marigold's watchful eye.... making sure that the toddler doesn't eat too much dough.

Flo looks around - she may not be skilled in tracking or guarding, but what she can do is helping clean up! Somehow the kinain manages to coax Bluebell down and back into upright shape, and works on tidying the mess from the mysteriously destroyed art.

Blossom looks scared "is it Leech? Is he. .are his people back?"

Marigold tuts. "Perish the thought. That nasty bit of business was well put away and dealt with. You're safe here as a plum in a pudding, Blossom my dear."

"And if you have any worries? Why, we have TWO mighty warriors here - no, no, three, when Gwen returns. And four, counting Lavender, she is a Knight, you know. No one will hurt any of you wee ones on Marigold's watch."

"Pudding?" Rochalor asks?

"Oh, yes. We have some late summer plums here, would you like to help me put one together, Rochy?" Marigold encourages the pooka to help, even as she watches over the ingredients. If he wants to sneak in extra nutmeg or an apple, no worries. Substituting salt for sugar though would be a disaster of a prank.

"Joe says you're trying to trick me into working so I forget I'm scared, but Joe's not as hungry as I am" He smiles "May I, please?"

"Of course." She even puts on her little TV to a child friendly station, letting the kids watch cartoons as they play in the kitchen. The mess is no matter, not for a boggan who can clean up later.

Blossom wants to watch my litle pony

My little Pony it is! With a promise to Rochallor that he can choose the next episode.

Midway through cleaning, Flo stands abruptly, leaving Bluebell still holding a dustpan, and walks to the kitchen. "My son." She says, beckoning to Rian. "I will take him now."

Rochalor blinks "But it's not safe to ggo no where onna account of the couldas"

Flo looks at Rochalor and her mouth turns into a small sneer. She walks past him and scoops up Rian, who fusses in her arms a bit.

Marigold raises a brow, but... it is her child. "Please stay within the hold, Flo. For safety." An oven dinging grabs her attention, and Flo strides back out of the room.

Rocholar tugs Flo's clothing and... pooks her "Who are you and why are you goinng?"

His hand is slapped away sharply. The quick glare down at him reveals eyes that glimmer verdant green, much more vivid and glowing than the kinain's normal soft hazel.

Marigold stands, "Now you wait just a tetch, miss Flo-" But she's already through the kitchen door.

"WELL." Marigold exclaims, hands on her hip. "Let's just let her walk that off, and I promise she'll hear about it from me later. Rochy, let's make that pie you wanted."

"But... " he looks at his hand

"Green eyes in Mourning, Sailor take warnning" And he follows after the kinian

In his head, the boy has surprisingly honest thoughts Blossom got stolen because I did't do something. This time it's like a baby. And if I don't do anything that'll be on me too! Green eyes, not hazel. My fault. WIth great horse power comes great horse responsibility

She walks through the hallway, and up the stairs. A pause before the Lord's door - soft conversation within - but she continues, on down the hallway past the occupied chambers, and to a door that has not been opened... at least, Rochallor's never seen anyone go in here. Then again, he's not really supposed to be up here. The door opens before Flo, and she walks in as though she owns the place.

Ad he follows gulping, but nina gulps. QUIET gulps

The room is dark, and quiet, everything within covered in dust cloths, the window shuttered. Flo stops a few steps in, and turns, gazing back at Rochallor.

"I do not need you." She says. Glamour whips around the kinain like an unpleasant aura.

Okay. He's not the best ninja

"But who will serve you?" He asks wondering "Since you arenn't a servant nomore?"

That takes her aback - stopping for a long moment, she seems frozen, not even blinking, though the gleam in her eyes flashes slowly.

"I do not have servants."

"I hear they're very useful" he recounts "Baron Aiden has lots but mostly he likes his horses and dogs but I like the servants here. There's Joe, he's a bit snarky, and Flo, she's a good mom who would never risk her son Rian... and there's Dancia and Linnylass.... " remembering whatt the chief called the other thane

"Oh, I know Aiden. Go. You will bring him to me."

"You know Aiden?" Curious and trying his boon connfidant "how? Is he nice?"

She leans in, reaching a hand to cup under Rochallor's chin. Her hand is cold as ice, and as she touches him, it feels like something is slowly crawling, creeping, slinking onto him.

"I am all he knew. Every moment that our lives intertwined, every step. The child... the magic... the curses. From our first touch... to our last. From the moment he saw me, to the moment he killed me. Would you hear more, little Pooka?"

Something tickles the back of his head, winding through his hair.

A swallow. This is definitely not Flo, "Joe says ignorance is blitzed. Uhm.. he killed you? "

Behind her, Rian start to hiccup, the first shaky gasps before a true cry from where he sits on the floor.

"Yes.... he loved me so, don't you know? What is love, if not pain? One cannot tear out their heart to give to another and expect it to forever beat... And then? He left me behind... trapped me, in the cold. It was so very cold, little one. Can you imagine, year after year, month after month, day after day... bound up and frozen, nothing new, never to be known again... while HE stumbles on?"

The cold is spreading, and the winding, trailing sensation prickles along his neck, down his shoulders... if he glances down, he can see that from the hand under his chin have grown long, thin vines, dark, pulsing green, and they are starting to twine around his neck now.

The baby is crying. Rochalor swallows again, this time he feels the claw like hands, "Rian Rian, stop your crying, come to me and let's go flying...." A bunk and he tries to gimmix the boy to his arms and retreat!

He pulls away, and feels resistance... the vines are wrapping around him! Something... sucking, tugging at him, pulling... But when the spell is cast and the toddler flies to his arms, Flo is startled!

As she moves to try to snatch the Toddler from the air, the vine tendrils rip free, leaving scratches from thorns... and he he can escape!

Even if he feels... weak, drained... within a freehold, but... why do his ears feel so wobbling, and he can hardly even see his own horsetail?

He runs carrying the baby and calling out "FLO IS DEAD! HELP!"

He feels strange, like he's numb... why aren't his hooves clattering?

"The BARON KILLED FLO AND SHE's AFTER RIEN!"

....................(TBC)