#odyssey

Saoirse glances back over. "You fought for her - yourself more literally, but he as well. You both risked much."

"I shall tell you now, Chieftess, it is Arthur who advised me to let my foe pick first. He did not go into details so he'd not risk breaking the rules... but I am aware how it came to the good. Yes, Arthur can be brilliant. He is flawed as all of us are, but he is also a genius, and I have watched his empathy for others grow from a callow lad who wanted what he wanted now to someone far more sensitive and in the best way. "

She nods, slowly, thinking. "And of yourself. You helped us see the... motivation, behind this entire plot. I have spoken with Aoife, and Tonia, and Omario. I know, judgement must be made. You, Gladiola, are a Knight. You understand justice. But he is my Son. I erred terribly once in punishing my daughter. I would not repeat my same mistakes."

"My House is one known for Hospitality, Personal Honor, and Vengeance, my lady. And I know that Vengeance is NOT Justice, thus it is well I am not his judge" She admits, "I cannot blame a mother for showing some mercy to her son however odious I find him. May I ask what punishment you are considering? And... if you have not yet decided for certain, perhaps Janice as the wronged party should be consulted? Not only was she robbed of her daughter coming into her arms upon her birth, her mind and the minds of others were twisted to forget. Her own husband rendered an unwitting pawn in Omario's treachery. She is thus twice or even thrice wronged. She would have a right to revenge, but I suspect she might seek justice instead if you asked."

Saoirse gives her an appraisingly look. "I will do so. ...I am of the mind to offer you a Boon, Dame Gladiola. As you have said, I will consult Sine on the case of her brother's trespasses. For yourself? Is there something we can offer in return for the hardships you have undergone, for the discourtesy we have presented, and for the gift of insight your motley has provided us?"

"I will speak likewise to Thistle, and to Art." She adds.

"Think on it. You need not decide immediately."

The idea of something for HER surprises her, "I fear I must think on it. There are many here I am fond of and would help, but, and please do not think this a boast, I'm having trouble of thinking of a truly selfish boon"

"Would I accuse a Dairrean of a boast?" Amused.

A sheepish look "Some of us are prone to it. I've been told I'm too hard on myself as a reversal."

"Mother Saoirse?" Ciaran interrupts. "We have a cake on order, for this afternoon."

She nods to him, then to Gwen. "I have a bit more planning to do, if you might excuse me?"

"Of course, and I will consider your kind offer." A nod "Cakes are important" A smile

The Chieftess nods, "I have been told it is so," and steps out to speak with Janice and the others. Much to do.

And Gwen returns to get more coffee and ponder a boon

The coffee, even after sitting for a while, is delicious.

She ponders a shipment as a boon . Shallow, but hey

At $50 or more a pound, it may not be a bad investment!

Even Julius might raise a brow at that line item in the ledgers on the regular.

She decides to researcy another area. They don't have many dogs here, no doubt they don't have horses. but.. maybe?

Actually, she does remember seeing something about trail rides on the mountain sides.

She finishes her second cup. She has local equines to check

Gwen finds herself down in Salem town, looking at a sign for Zekie's Horseback Riding tours!

She's a big girl, tall if not obese, so she expects anyone with sense will steer her away from the puny horses

Mostly, she kens, looking for that trace of liniage that shows horses that are.. essentially, kinian to long lost fae steeds

In her mortal form, at least, she's not much heavier, if at all, than an adult male, even if dense with muscle.

Zekie is a short man with an easy smile. "Come, I show you around." He welcomes the tourist easily and walks through the open air stables. "The weather here is good for horses. They don't need much, fresh grass, good oats, sunshine."

Overall, a mixture of animals. Some greyish white, some brown and with splotches, tan and red, speckled.

One large pasture catches her eye, the horses there seem more lively, spirited, though they frisk away from the fence, rather than coming up for nose pets and sugar like the others.

"Them are what used to run free on the island, but they were rounded up when La Soufrieire blew her top." He advises. "Pretty things, but wild."

SHe looks over the wild ones "I thought they'd be relocated by now"

"They b'long to the island. We had them brought back." He chuckles. "Plus, they still breed fair, and the young ones, I can tame."

"Ah" A nod Might be wrong to take from the island. Stil... She kens them

There is at least a dozen - their enclosure actually stretches back and encompasses a piece of the shore, and many of them frisk in the waves

She ratther likes the coat of the one with White save at the head and end.

There is nothing inherently fae about them - but... watching wild horses run and play, there is something magical about that. They are beautiful, strong and well proportioned - at least, from her experience with horses, Gwen can tell.

The brown 'bookend's stand out

"Beautiful horses" She tells the man, "Do you have a horse among the tamed ones that can handle a big girl like me? I don't pretend to be svelte"

"Ya sure we do." He agrees, and she's led to a placid tan mare with a white mark on her forehead. "You want to see the wild 'uns up close? If you've riding experience, you can go in, they don't mind you s'long as you're on hooves."

"I woudl love to" She says "And yes, I've been trained. I'm better with dogs, but I'm an animal trainer where i work"

"Saddle and mount up?" He watches her do so, using this as a bit of a test - one that Gladiola can pass easily, after a couple years at Silverwolf.

She pats and checks the mare with expertise to prove her point

And yes, saddles and mounts easily

"Oh, you're a zen girl aren't you? Very at peace"

"Sure enough. Now, don't you spook 'em none." He opens the gate, and Gladiola is free to ride down to where the horses cavort on the sand.

She nods to the man, and coaxes her mare closer to the wild ones. SHe's glad to see no signs of abuse on the horse she's riding. THat would bring a whole nother side project that they might not have time for. Then again, how long would it really take to evoke the wyrd and shove a riding crop up a horse abuser's ass? Still, good thing that's not the case here.

She closes on the feral horses at an easy pace.

A few of the older, wiser horses kick up their heels and gallop off, but the younger - the yearlings, the curious teenagers, stick around, or come closer to sniff at the visiting mare.

Among them are a sandy reddish colored colt with a white muzzle, the 'bookend' brown and white horse, and a mostly white/grey horse with darker mane.

She whispers "Wish you guy were fae touched, the baron would plotz if I got such a boon, but I Guess you do belong to the island" If she has a carrot or fruit safe for horses on her, or for that matter, a sugar cube from the coffee earlier, she offers one to the horse she rides, then one to the others to see which of the wild ones might try it. She keeps her fingers flat as taught

She does have sugar cubes! Citrine seems to have hidden some in her pockets and forgotten about them.