There was little in that tale that could surprise the baroness, herself born between two cultures, two races. For every half elf that led a happy, or at least somewhat content, life there seemed to be one who decided to find a place of their own, away from their birthplace. "You were lucky," she stated. "Other parents might well have killed the child and claimed it was a stillbirth or killed the child and procured a human replacement, either the child of a loyal servant or one abducted from some innocent family. It's said to have happened now and then, even if nothing has ever been proven."<br/><br/>She got up, but only to place the pitcher of wine next to the fireplace where it would keep warm. Or perhaps she had also done it so she could look at Mialla from her full height of about five feet and five inches as she proclaimed the conditions she had to put on the bard's stay in the castle.<br/><br/>"If you like to spend the winter here, you can. Until we think of something better you can sleep in a hayloft. It's not much, but it is warm and dry and you'll have some privacy. In return I ask you to entertain during meals in the hall, or sing for me here in my quarters when I ask you to, and perhaps help around the house, lend a hand in the kitchen. But, as I said, there are a few conditions...<br/><br/>"I hold this land for the king of Lancrest, therefore the law of Lancrest holds sway here. It goes without saying that I expect you to follow the law; if you are unfamiliar with it, ask. Second..."<br/><br/>The baroness Waldgreen flashed Mialla a quirky smile, almost a grin, expecting her second condition to come as something of a surprise to her guest. "Second, no proselytizing." After allowing a second for that to sink in she explained herself: "Many of us here pay our respects to the gods of Asgard. We even have a small temple on the grounds. You are welcome to pray to whatever gods you believe in in private, but keep in mind that those here who believe in the gods of the North may enjoy a little friendly discourse about religion now and then, but, by and large, we don't appreciate uninvited lectures."<br/><br/>She picked up her cup, sipped the wine, and, sitting down behind her desk again added: "And that is pretty much it for now. As long as you use a little common sense you shouldn't run into any trouble here. Now, you mentioned Scarborough? What is new there? We don't often get news from Lancrest, this late in the year."<br/><hr/><em>OOC: We can skip over the Scarborough part. It's nothing worth making up any details for. I'll leave it to you if you want to continue the conversation with the baroness for a little while longer, or move Mialla back to the kitchen, where she might spend most of the afternoon, till she's called to perform during supper in the hall.</em>