#elsewhere

Danica grins, and gets the sparring weapons ready. She is ruthless without being merciless, but Gwen does get several good hits in. Soon they've both worked up a sweat.

"You've improved since Saining. Have memories of battles returned?" Impressed after a particularly deft spear move that disarmed Danica, popping the axe neatly from her hands with a twist. This may be the first time that Gwen has bested the Thane.

"Somewhat, yes" She says trying not to look as surprised as she feels "But also I.. I feel more confident as a warrior. Like I have been good before, so I do not doubt I can be again"

She steps over to pick up her weapon, nodding.

A stretch, some clicks and pops.

She has a good sweat going herself, "Also I have ..hey..what was that?"

"Stiff shoulders." A rueful look. "We're not all Bluebell, flexible as a pipe-cleaner and with a live-in masseuse."

"Mmm" A nod "If you wish, I could try to massage them, it ah, helps the horses" While not the best rider, she has tended horses "there's a liniment... not that I'm comparing you to a horse"

This gets a chuckle from the Thane. "I'd say that sort of work would be better delegated to a fledge, but I'm glad that you're still grounded despite being elevated, Dame."

"Then again, Art is so thin I could crush him between my shoulder blades, and Trina might invent some back-rubbing golem that goes rogue takes out half the town."

"I wish she'd invent ANYTHING" mmph "She'll fix, but she won't create, and she so wants to. THAT is the real waste." There are poisons that one can 'accidentally' ingest "But I need to stop dwelling on that. I'll see her at school and things will be on the mend. " A smile though, rallying "I'm trying not to get my ego too full, yes. As for Art? " Less of a smile "Ah, his lack of physicality is not lostt on him either. I wish he'd stop lookinng at Art like a luxury car he was about to buy but then someone drove off with before the ink on the sale could dry. He knows, at least in part, that I foiled his arrival. And... I can't say I'm sorry. Chuck is my boyfriend AND was my guest. "

"He was under your protection." A nod, understanding.

"that said.. I want to help Arthur. For all his futzing with stuff he does, he's not a bad man. He does care about Thistle, and wants to do right. Apparently his family can be jerks"

"He's a fledge, they have a lot of learning to do. One might also say the same for teenagers. Bluebell scouted out his family. They may be dismissive, but he is in no danger there. It will be up to him if he decides to leave them." A nod. "We will support him if so, though it generally is easier for new chrysalids if they can remain home. Less upheaval in all areas of their lives at once."

"Also, less paperwork for Marigold" She adds, with a bit of a smile.

"Ha" A smile "True. " She is cheering a bit, time with Dancia is doing that "Can I ask you a question about something mentioned earlier? Do you think I SHOULD go to College?"

She considers this. "I didn't, but I chose to go into the force. My sister did not, either. She did a few semesters, but it was not for her."

Looking over Gwen thoughtfully. "Some go to college to find their paths. Others go to college because they know what they want to be, and see further schooling as a way to reach that goal. Think about what you wish to become, and it should come clear to you."

A nod "Thank you. I know tthe Baroness has already signed up for some online courses"

"She has?" A touch of surprise there, and she looks thoughtful. "Do you know in what area?"

"Communicattions major, I think. Which makes sense"

"Does it?" Danica looks a little blank on that. "Does she wish to be a.. journalist?"

"Well, okay, I THOUGHT it made sense. I think she wants to use to augment her skills as a ruler of the people, and maybe so she can parley it into respect among mortal kind"

Danica nods slowly. "She's clever, that Varich. If she is taking those classes, she has a goal in mind, even if it's not clear to me."

Cleaning up the practice weapons as they talk. "Next Monday, I plan on traveling to EarthRunes. I have messages to deliver. I believe there was some mention of taking the new fledges there as well. Was this something you had planned, or do you wish for me to escort them?"

"Blossom wants to see Calanthe.. as a fledge she's nnot protectted on the trods so onne of us needs to take her. I've done so once. But she will want to see her again. "

She frowns. "I do not know if it is healthy for her to dwell on the chancellor as such." Danica sighs. "I offered to take letters for her."

"Well, I agree, but I told her I would take her tto visit nnow and then if she insisted. She's holding me to it. you don't have to take her. She does appreciate the letters." A sigh "I really disliked that woman"

Silence, as Danica wipes down a practice blade.

"Apologies. I know not all feel the same as I do."

"Most do." She nods. "Her actions have left behind few allies."

"How many allies DID she have, you think? "

"I could not say." She says, frowning as she reaches for the next piece to be cleaned. After a moment, she clarifies. "I was not in her confidence for such matters."

She looks up at Gwen. "Whether anyone chooses to believe it or not, Calanthe was not, at heart, a villain. She made her choices, and did many villainous acts... but in the end, she sought to protect and preserve this hold."

Gwen ponders "I guess we're all the villain in someone else's story... and the hero in our own. All I know is that, whatever good she intended, in the end, her results did more harm than could be endured. For someone like her who thought the ends justified the means, in the end, her ends came short. The Dreaming's judgment proved that I think. She'll learn, or she'll stay a bird, but... I know one thing, she'll never have my trust. I'm sorry if tha.. offends, but that's the truth"

Scrub scrub. "So it seems."

"You do not offend me."

"Good. Because , i hope to have your respect, to earn it and keep it. And your sister's as well. You've both born the weight of honor in your own way, and taught me a lot of what it means to be a troll. I am forever grateful for that"

"I hope, if nothing else, my experience has taught you to take care and be wary before granting your allegiance. To swear an oath is the act of a few seconds but the impact on a lifetime, or longer."

"It has, you were put in a difficult situation, but it also taught me that if I ever should be in such a situation, it can at least be born with dignity"

She looks up at Gwen, a flicker of emotion in her normally stonelike expression. "I... appreciate that."

A nod "Well, that too is just the truth." She gives a troll salute

She salutes back, and then dumps a handful of practice gear into Gwen's arms. "Here, we can take this back into storage." Good honest work, the best counter to pesky emoting.

"Yes, Thane," then a beat and a smile "At this rate, I don't think I need to worry about getting a swelled head. I'm cleaning stables later" Smirk

"At least the stables produce useful manure. I'll take that on over the kennels any day."

"Oh now as a dog lover I... no, you got me there" She smiles and heads towards storage

Danica gathers up her own equipment, and heads over as well. "Thank you for speaking with me."

Perhaps a bit more to that simple statement than the gratitude for this specific conversation itself.

"No problem"

Danica heads out, duty calls.

For them both.

************

"Well, the Kiln is a disaster" Nadeen huffs "Oh, it's put up fine, beautifully, but Thistle has fled, Gwen is SOMEHOW blaming herself, and I'm short a mushroom ceramic"

Vespa grooms at a loose feather imperiously. See, this is why raptors are wise and choose only the company of themselves, and perhaps a mate.

"Yes yes, you're right as usual" She says