#rivervale_lodge

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Nadeen waits for the Chieftain to come back from her horse ride.

Which she does, both Brekke and Stormwake looking pleased with the excursion. She greets Nadeen as she dismounts and removes Stormwake's tack.

"Good ride, Chieftain?" She asks

"Very good, yes." She pats Stormwake's shoulder in praise.

Stormwake nickers happily thanking her

"Ah, well, I have news but I fear it may dim your enjoyment."

A sigh. "Well...a moment." She makes sure Stormwake is settled in the paddock and has access to water. "Thank you," she says to him with a respectful nod.

Tail swish and drinking. He is pleased by his friend and rider. She is ever a worthy warrior to share the wind with

A deep breath and she turns to Nadeen. "Now. News."

"I received this letter" She hands it over

"Baroness Dancingsnow, please accept my most gracious thanks for the gift of Snowfall.  She will be a marvelous addition to our aerie.  With your leave, I would bring her to visit, on a day when the weather shall not preclude a proper showing of the wings of Silver Wolf.  I understand that there is a new colt as well. Though horses are not my passion, I would welcome a look at the foal who is bound to be magnificent, given it's provenance.  As well, I will bring a small gift of my own for my nephew, if he may be present, as the earlier gift was deemed inappropriate.  Pray return suggested dates and I will endeavor to visit on your earliest convenience."

Lady Knight Calanthe Falkoner ap Ailil, (etc.) (edited)

A frown as she reads. "Snowfall?"

"A bird of prey I arranged for her to get as a gift. Not out of friendship, but to appease her wounded pride after I foiled her plan. Ailil are proud even by Sidhe standards, ever keeping a score in their head. By changing the pattern she expected, I threw that off... to keep the peace rather than invite escalation. Alas, with the knife returned she does insist on gifting Connor with something else...and the interest in the foal." A sigh

"Mm. I do not trust this," she says perhaps unnecessarily. "Nadeen, what are the chances you can get the Baron to visit? If he accompanies her, even briefly, he will either be witness to her actions, or she will not attempt what she had intended."

A sigh. "Whatever that might be."

She raises a brow. "I suppose, ideally, I would prefer to have him arrive, without her knowledge, while she is here."

"It maybe she will merely try to befriend me" Nadeen says the word befriend said like someone might say 'get one over on me' . A frown "Aiden is a hermit by nature, that is one reason I think we need to keep him in power. The disadvantage is he is harder to motivate. Further, there is something about his son that..pains him. I don't know what. it goes beyond embarrassment I think. It as if he feels the lad is..." She looks about to make sure Connor is NOT in earshot, then lowers her voice anyway "As if he blames him. I thought perhaps the baron's wife died in childbirth but no the timing is wrong. She lived years after that. "

A frown. "Madness, perhaps?"

"If you're asking if he's mad, No. He's quite in keeping with his senses. At worst fixated. If you mean did madness take Dahlia? I don't know, I don't think so, but it's possible. I need to learn more and it's a dangerous entry."

"But you think you can get into his good graces, or have already," Brekke surmises. "Is there a chance that whatever the resentment is has been planted by Calanthe?"

"Entirely possible, except Calanthe only now seems to be thinking Connor might be useful, as a tool. I can see her moving against Dahlia, but Connor would be an after thought... this IS all guess work. I'm not an investigator by nature. And I would say the Baron and I are quite amicable. I know Gerd resents him for his neglect of Connor, but in his way he has provided for Connor and in having him here, has ensured the boy can thrive. Connor is a near immortal you know this yes? No signs of aging even outside of holds. At this rate, Gerd will be an old crone by the time he's in the middle of his wildhood. This lodge may allow him to have as close to a 'normal ' life as possible for one who cannot fully hide his nature and lives so long"

A sigh and a nod. "It is strange to think of him outliving all of us. Little Connor..." she trails off and shakes her head. Then a sharper look at Nadeen. "If you are amicable with Aiden, you may become a target for Calanthe. Be cautious there."

Another brow furrow. "I recall now, the Hearth told me of whispering the picture she gave Connor. The picture spoke of his mother being 'swallowed by dreams.' So...there is that which we know, at least."

"Ffft," She says "I am not afraid of a challenge. Calanthe is more 'typically ' Ailil, but the High Winter House sometimes forgets it was ALLOWED that place by the other Unseelie Houses ,and Varich did what it wanted to anyway"

"Swallowed by Dreams?" Attentive "Maybe your theory on madness holds merit"

A brow at this unseelie pride.

"Mm. The Hearth also learned that she might have been mortal."

"She was. Kinian"

A blink. "Would they have to have kept her enchanted for the pregnancy to come to term?"

"Calanthe was her sister.. by blood it seems"

"And I suspect Calanthe ponders if she should replace Aiden, or wed him. He's not even considered the latter" A frown

She notes the frown. "You do not wish either of those."

"Aiden is the better lord to keep in place for Rivervale's needs" She says Truthfully "And Calanthe gaining even equal input will shift that dynamic and not for the better."

"I do not disagree." She hands the letter back. "I do not wish Calanthe here. She has proven untrustworthy to her own lord, and manipulative of Connor. Squire Connor," she corrects herself.

"You realize you make an enemy?" Nadeen says "I know, you have more enemies that you have fingers and toes already, what's one more? but I feel I must point it out. If I refuse her under your direction and am blunt about that, she will see you as insulting her."

A sigh, and she takes a moment to think it through. "Could we frame it that she is welcome only in the Baron's company? Given the 'error' with the previous gift, that is. This puts the burden upon her to do our work for us...if she wishes to see Connor, the Baron will see Connor as well."

"We could, but the Baron has no desire to visit" She says "maybe to see the Colt first hand, but he doesn't want to see..." A look around again "you know who"

A pause "oak!" She declares

A blink. "Oak?"

"Oak. I took him with me last trip as a guardian since everyone was fussing over my going without a guard. He's a good protector, and a subject of interest to the Baron... an ice breaker. He likes Oak, and might be considered using him to sire. A fate I dn't think Oak would mind. Between showing off the foal, and talking over Oak... he would have reason to visit here, and you"

Another blink. "You to Oak with you to Silverwolf?"

"You advised me to pick an escort. Dame Dagmar also voiced her concerns. Oak is a trained guardian who is smarter than ...well, Dirk, and his teeth are almost as good." A surprised look, "You're not about to chastise me for following a request in a way that served TWO purposes? "

A deep breath, and Nadeen may detect a slight grinding of teeth. "That was not what I meant by an escort...but your point is well-taken. I want to make it clear that Oak is not to be sired without my permission...and I have to discuss that with the DeBukes. But for now...Oak's potential has the baron's attention. Agree to nothing firm, but you may use that as a motivator to have him join her. She will also pressure him, if she wishes to influence Connor but cannot visit here without the baron."

"Baron Aiden is a responsible breeder," She assures "Say what you want of the man, but he cares for his animals properly. I had no intention of just letting Oak 'have at' and he wouldn't have allowed it either" Then a frown "The DeBukes? What.. oh. You think they'd fuss with what you do with your lodge's dogs just because they gifted them?"

A brow. "I value their opinion."

A frown "I'm.. a bit upset at myself. I forgot to take the DeBukes into account in this endeavor. I didn't see them as a factor," She paces "I need to not fall into the same trap others do and dismiss non nobles."

"That would be appreciated," says the commoner baroness.

"And wise," she adds.

The young woman says " I have grown used to troll nobles. They're my day to day existence, but a commoner hold.. yes, I may have erred. Unlike an Ailil I can admit it. ... but I don't have to be happy about it." She takes a breath "So, you want me to give them the message that Calanthe MAY accompany the Baron , preferably in a way that won't give offense. that's a tall order ..and I think SOME offense will be taken. But making sure I understand you?"