#elsewhere

Art gets a thoughtful look. "It's... hard to tell? Things are awful vague a lot of the time. I'm glad to compare notes though, as you say."

"Much appreciated, is now a good time?"

Art gives one longing look at the stack of books he had piled up... but he knows duty, and straightens up. "Certainly. They have some private desks over there, or we can step out if you prefer, though the fall weather is getting a bit... nippy."

"Private desk should do it," they take some books with them to 'call dibs' and Vali and he take one of the remote back of the way desks, "Okay. Let me tell you what images I recall: Two dragons fighting, one silver, one bronze. Around them are three birds; a hawk up high, a raven in a tree watching from cover, and a songbird crying an alarm. The sky is oddly red, like a sunset or sunrise but i don't see a sun."

Art might just be stunned at some of the imagery, for he had recently had a very similar dream, one he thought might be just a dream dream, look, visions are visions but the extra spicy food he got that night could have been to blame instead and then he got distracted by a fascinating bit of news about Earth having a Quasi Moon and he just... prioritized a bit differently is all:

Anyway, Arthur recalled almost the same dream but with even more details... for example, there was blood on the hawk's talons. The bronze dragon's horns were bigger than the silver one's, though both were fierce, and the redsky was caused neither by dawn nor dusk, but by a great wildfire. There were also sounds Vali either didn't recall or didn't mention, at least in Arthur's vision: Horns were blasting in the background, low and looming.

His eyes get a bit distant as he slowly speaks. "Two fierce dragons, the bronze wielding larger horns... the bloody hawk and the heat of flames. Horns again, but this time the kind you blow, echoing... it was an ominous dream. I had hoped... it was only from eating too much cake for Briar's birthday."

"Did you know you can put hot pepper in sweets? It was... weird - not bad - but she insisted we all had to eat it." Slightly distracted for a moment at the memory.

A small wince as he rubs his stomach. "Thistle liked it, but I'm no good with spicy stuff."

Vali writes down some notes then blinks "Hot Pepper in sweets? Not brave enough myself. Happy Belated Birthday to Brian though. How old is he?"

"Briar, like the rose, though she prefers the thorns. She's 11, and a real hellion."

Even as they talk of trivial matters, it's clear Art is deep in contemplation.

"Briar, oh, her I know. Last Pennons we had a whole boar vanish from the grill." Vali arches a brow "No offense, every redcap was on the usual suspect list."

"She has a bit of a taste for pork. Ah, neither confirming nor denying, as there are no Gwdions present."

A bit of a sheepish grin.

"Oddly, I completely understand," He nods and lets that go with a smile, then says "Okay, the Silver Dragon I was thinking was Ailil and yes i thought of your baron. After that I'm a bit unsure."

A sigh. "I was hoping that wasn't the case. It was quite an ominous sending."

If this is between nobles, the greater horns on the Bronze one indicate it has the higher title, or so Arthur might surmise. His teachings upstate under other mentors for that summer have honed some puzzle solving, and omens can be a type of that. The bloody Hawk means likely a lesser warrior is involved, a knight or thane? Wildfires indicate something is out of control. Chaos and destruction - a bit on the nose but you can't ignore the obvious.

Vali nods "It was, and it's why I came here. Silverwolf and RIvervale are unlikely allies perhaps but we still are that."

"I would wonder if it could indicate some other Ailil lord or lady..." he says, hopeful but doubtful.

"I suppose it could, one has to be careful when one goes too quickly with the gut, but then ask yourself, why would you or I dream of any other Ailil when that's the main Ailil we have in common as a contact?"

"Now, while some might vary their house's blazon, no house actually uses Bronze in their colors officially. I suppose Dougal and Balor both could have theirs tweaked that way but it doesn't fit. Of ccourse, PERSONALLY Heraldry could also be a factor. or maybe the bronze denotes a baser sort which would normally be gold?" Vali susses it out softly.

"The obvious suggestion would be that Gwydion opposes Ailil, but then why a dragon and not a falcon?" He continues pondering.

"If not a House," He wonders, with the Capital H, "Then it could be an individual emblem..." but he looks uncertain on this.

He recalls three possible lords who use bronze in their symbol, a Balor Countess, and a Aesin Earl, and a Gwydion Viscount. That's in the Kingdom of Apples area, mind you. He isn't as versed on other kingdoms.

He hones in mentally on the Gwydion, what was their emblem? ANd name?

Viscount Branward Shadowbane ap Gwydion. He recalls Branward was a wilder, currently without a hold but said to have influence and pull in certain minority factions of Gwydion, though exactly what faction that is he doesn't know. Branward DOES have a flaming sword, but that might be just coincidence instead of leading to the fire in the dream. Or it might not be. IF that's the right subject. Mmm