"Ah... yes. So. From what I can recall... we attempted to yoke the unicorn to the Iron Guard wagon that was out front. Apparently while Rinel was trying to takes its mane for study..." Swift offers with a wince and a shake of her head. She clears her throat and glances towards Mirk, "We owe that poor creature a huge debt."

Oh what things can happen when you consumre too much alcohol. Maybe. Who knows. But the group after being told to get out by Brigida, grabbing that very baby goat, head back to the Gilded Page to regroup, lick more wounds and discuss the next steps. The mystery of the unicorn hair has been solved, but there's still the sheer love shown to Duke Ansel to resolve. A baby goat to return to it's proper owner. An Iron guard wagon and some angry looks from Guardsmen. And Mirk Halfshav seems to have now been roped in. Even if he wasn't party to the original... what -did- happen?

Mirk holds a finger to his lips, at Sebastian's question, as if urging him to be silent, but there's a quick nod of his head. "It was my guess, and my failure. You have my apologies, Lady Monique," he was saying. "The trouble with knowledge is that sometimes you have just enough of it to dig yourself a hole." To Swift, he looks like he might say something comforting for a moment, then only nods his head. He's sitting down, one hand still cradling his wounded side, though it seems to be more out of irritation than true worry at this point.

Sebastian holds up a hand. "Let me get this straight. Both the idea for tattoos, and the idea to want to shave a unicorn came from one Rinel Tern?" He /looks/ at her. Accusingly, even.

Poor rinel doesn't hear, for she's passed out in the chair. Snoring away.

Swift clears her throat and murmurs, "I believe the idea for the one may have spawned the idea for the other... as in, she declared we should get tattoos.. and then while getting tattoos, she decided we should go see the -actual- unicorns." She lifts a shrug, "But that is simply a guess based on the fact that Lady Greenmarch's tattoo is.. incomplete." Digging around in her bag again, she's able to come up with one of the other wines from the auction, this one from the Northlands! The bottle is offered to Sebastian.

The bleats are softer from the little goat, and she looks to the group, so impossibly tiny, and tired, and hungry.

Swift checked perception + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Monique glances aside to the goat, noticeable because it's /so/ quiet, and something softens in her hard Minxish heart. "We should take it back," she announces. "To Keaton. It has to be Keaton. Reigna is going to murder me. She scares me worse than Archlector Brigida. It's that slow, cold burn. Do you think the goat is injured?"

Mirk checked perception + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

Swift manages to distract Sebastian from his death-stare at the sleeping and oblivious Rinel by offering a bottle of wine. He looks at it warily -- an expression he's never in his life worn around a bottle of wine. "Maybe... tomorrow. Next week," he demurs. It's from the Northlands, but one /never knows/. He makes a sound that seems almost like an echo of the goat's, before he pushes to his feet with a visible grimace of discomfort. "Gods. Let's offload this goat already. Anyone have any ideas where to start?" As Monique suggests Keaton he snaps his fingers. "Good idea. Someone... who's good with animals?" he waves vaguely in the direction of the goat as if to offer it up.

Mirk leans in to look at the goat. He reaches into a pouch, and produces a few grains, holding them out for a moment, then closes a hand. "Faster is better," he says to Monique. "We can't do anything for this one. He needs his mother. So. Marquessa Keaton?" He raises an eyebrow at Monique to prompt her to action.

Tsking softly, Swift tucks it away with a murmured, "You've already drunk from this bottle, my lord. If you were going to suffer from it, you would have already." But she moves along and pulls out a shawl from her bag, wrapping up the tiny goat to help keep it warm as she nods agreement with Mirk's assessment. "Keaton Hall then. And not to worry, my lady. I will take the brunt of it. If the Duchess hates me for the goat, well.. its easy enough to avoid her. Less so for the nobility." Her eyes jump around to.. literally every other awake person in the room. Hefting up the tiny goat in a careful hold, she smiles, "Well then. Lets get this underway."

Listening to the conversation at hand, Ansel is giving a slight little shake of his head, "Keaton Hall is as good as place as any to begin. Let us see what type of mood the Marquessa is in when we arrive."

Monique rises, stretching her body and then reaching down for that awful sling. "Someone help me with the goat?" she asks, resignedly. "Let's face even more music. Gods, we paid almost three million silver for this," she grouses to Swift, fingers massaging at her temple.

Kit, the grey fox, Primus, First of Monique's Assistants, 1 Greenmarch Guard, Tertius, Third of Monique's Assistants, a nameless overwrought highstrung pygmy goat leave, following Monique.

2 Pravus Honor Guard, Briar, a quiet young woman leave, following Sebastian.

1 Crimson Blades Sergeant, Aegis, a large red Oakhaven bloodhound, Rurik, a prodigal assistant leave, following Mirk.

Maxene, the steadfast ladies maid, Monique, Swift, Sebastian, Ansel, Mirk leave, following Alarissa.

And so, they trudge. There's no aeterna anymore and they've gained a Mirk. From the gilded page they come, a baby goat that's far more softly bleating now in the sling around Monique, through the Valardin ward till they come to the Keaton residence. There's hesitation of course, when still outside the grounds. As Monique said, she was far more afraid of Reigna than she was of Brigida. But the goat is not Brigida's beloved Daisy. And so, girding loins, strengthening steel in their spines, the Very Sorry People and Mirk, forge forth in the chaos that is the Keaton grounds. The massive bleating from the barn of trapped goats, the servants who work to try and fix the fence that looks to have been broken. That nanny goat that refuses to move and has been butting everyone who comes near, and makes a racket. Chaos and disorder.

Kael and Reigna are standing near the goat pen, out of the way of those making the repairs, discussing things in serious tones. There is a general look of irritation on Reigna's face, her complexion a touch on the pale side, but she shakes her head as she looks up to Kael, "I really wish that I knew what exactly happened. I just -- why would anyone steal one of our goats? And they are popular, Kael because they are *adorable*." This last bit is clearly a tease.

"I've changed my mind," Monique mutters aside to Mirk, trying to turn around as she sees the extent of the carnage. "I can't do it. Someone else do it." Despite the fact that there's a goat in a sling across her chest like some weird parody of a baby.

Sighing softly, Swift steps forward and murmurs, "I can carry the goat but you cannot run from this, my lady. Best we take the medicine now, however bitter. Get it done with." She nods towards the carnage, "We can return the goat, cover the costs of the repairs, and ask how to make amends to the House." She flickers a brief smile, "Besides, where's that infamous courage, hm?"

"Perhaps they are adorable with limited exposure," grumbles Kael - who, to be fair, does not look to be particularly pleased as he eyes the goat pen, which happens to be in the process of repair. Still, his arm is wrapped around his wife's middle by way of support and he sets his jaw. There's a sidelong look, a sharp thing, cast to one of the guards that happens to wander across the grounds by way of normal patrol. Somehow he refrains from actual commentary there. When he spies the incoming group, his brows raise and he chins toward them to indicate them to his wife. Spying little goat legs? That has his eyes narrow.

Sebastian keeps a bit of a distance from Monique, solely because she's carrying the goat again. Admittedly, it's not quite as loud and therefore not quite as annoying to his hungover brain, but he's not taking any chances with losing another set of clothing. Those borrowed pants though, they must be tight, because he starts itching... subtly, for the most part. In fact, all of his clothes look distinctly borrowed, shirt too-big, and he has the red-eyed look of the recently hung over.

Reigna checked perception + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 43 higher.

Ansel is walking along with the rest of the ground, not really trailing behind or ahead, but just moving at the same pace. He does stand on the opposite side of the group from Monique and the goat, though. There's obviously reasons there. Like Sebastian, he has the look of someone who indulged far too much the night before and when he spies the destruction that has been wrought in the area, a hand lifts to rub across his face.

Mirk has seen better days, a bloodied hole in the side of his shirt and dirt still clinging to his umbra. He stands slightly apart from the others, maintaining a small separation. He seems pleased by Swift's answer, nodding his head. "She's right, you know. Be earnest and sincere, and it might build bridges. Run from your problems, and they fester." With that helpful piece of advice, he falls silent, content to let one of them step forwards.

With a loud and aggressive -HONK- a truly awful goose arrives, delivering a message to Swift before departing.

Cithria of Cloudspine, a Gold Order page arrives, following Baelor.

Monique glares at Mirk sidelong. "I've been running from my problems for /ages/ and it's worked out just fine so far," the Minx grumbles, but she does, in fact, turn around, scratching idly at her hands as she does. There's a deep breath sucked in as she approaches Kael and Reigna, looking as if she'd much rather be rolled into the Abyss than do this. "Erm. I seem to have acquired a goat, and I thought, perhaps, it might be yours?" She half-bows, because there's a goat swaddled to her chest and a curtsey is impossible.

Reigna turns when Kael indicates the incoming group and her eyes widen, brows lifting as she takes in the state of those incoming. She seems to take in the appearance of each of them, wincing when she notes Swift's missing tooth. She calls to one of the guards by the Hall and says, "Have Marie fetch some milk, hurry please, and bring back my medical kit." Once she's certain she's been heard she walks towards the group incoming, looking last at Mirk, "Well at least you are here to watch over them. Thank you, Lord Halfshav." She looks the others over, a classic look of mother-disappointed. Disregard the fact that she is likely younger than most of them, she's got the maternal thing down solid. "Welcome to Keaton Hall. Or... should I say welcome back?"

Sebastian squares his shoulders, though he manages to look both sheepish and wry, in amongst his hungover-in-ill-fitting clothes look he has going on. Red-shot eyes fix on Kael and Regina as he adds on the heels of Monique's words, "Marquis. Marquessa. I know this looks bad, but... look. There was Setarco Fire, and Cardian Wine and whiskey, Gods-forbid, and /several/ bad decisions. Unicorn tattoos, and an actual unicorn," he glances at Mirk, kind of apologetically. He heaves a breath. "Mistakes were made, and trust me, we are very sorry." It might be an impressive speech, even, if the prince weren't carefully shifting about as if finding it impossible to keep still, looking vaguely discomforted.

Cithria of Cloudspine, a Gold Order page leaves, following Baelor.

Swift offers a quick curtsy towards the pair and a sheepish smile, "We are trying to piece together what precisely happened last night, along with making right the many wrongs that occurred. One of which is your baby goat. We are terribly sorry that we found ourselves with her. We still aren't quite sure -how- any of this part of last night took place. We will, of course, be happy to pay for the repairs." She glances between the others before quickly adding, "Lord Halfshav was not party to it. We picked him up at the Lodge where he aided us and has been kind enough to stay with the group."

Turning his attention over towards Reigna and Kael, Ansel is offering a slight incline of his head to each, followed it up with, "Marquessa. Marquis." There's a pause and then he's following that up with, "As Prince Sebastian has said, it would seem that several bad decisions were made, though no excuse can be offered for them, regardless of what transpired to bring them to bare." His gaze plays about his companions, ending with Swift before he looks back to the Keaton pair, giving another nod of his head, "As it has been said, we will, of course, pay for the repairs and the like."

When the group is getting closer, Kael surveys the group as a whole and takes stock of them. There might be an incredulous sort of look to go along with it, particularly amongst those party members that he knows better (Hi Monique), and maybe Ansel gets a little side eye. While Reigna has the mother-disappointed look down pat, Kael is her paternal counterpart. Maybe a little wry though, once Sebastian offers forth that explanation. "I would ask *why*," and he is once more eyeing Monique, "but the liquor's likely taken that knowledge from you."

Mirk smiles, just slightly, at Reigna's reaction. "I'm afraid I didn't accomplish much besides getting body checked by a unicorn," he admits with a self-deprecating chuckle. "Is the goat's mother on hand? The kid looking a little hungry," he suggests, once Monique mentions the goat. It's a gentle suggestion, but one with perhaps a touch of urgency behind it. Then, his piece said, he clasps his hands in front of him, remaining silent through the rest of the party's statements, rather than distract from them.

Monique doesn't meet Kael's eyes. It's just impossible. She can't do it. Can't even bring herself to look at Reigna's feet. Instead, her hands fiddle with the knot tying the sling that holds up the goat kid. "In my defense," the Minx mumbles, "I... erm. I blame Rinel."

"The Marquis is very astute," comes Sebastian's rueful response to Kael. "We're still not sure why Duke Ansel has won the love of half the lowers, nor whose idea the goat was--" he grimaces, shaking his head, and them seeming to regret that, too. "And now is probably the worst time to ask for a favor, but Marquessa, if I may--" he steps closer to ask her something in low tones.

The nanny that had been bleating has set sights on the kid and is trying to find a way towards Monique, warbling. The kid in the sling is kicking, clearly recognizing its momma. When it is let go, it hauls over to the corral and is helped to its mom by one of the hands. A guard comes running trying not to slosh a cup of milk, a medical kit bouncing on his thigh. He hands both to Reigna and the Marquessa thanks him. She looks to Swift and asks, "Do you still have the tooth?" She looks to Ansel and asks, "And what wound do you have? Do you need stitches?" She glances to Sebastian and says, "I do not know what Setarco Fire is, your highness, but I hope you had a good time. I will have a willowbark draught made for you and the others. It will help with the headache. I suggest you all get some water in you immediately." She looks to Monique and says, "Did someone feed the kid gold or gems?"

Ansel is giving a shake of his head in the direction of Reigna, only to follow that up with, "My wound has already been dealt with. Thank you, though, Marquessa." Then he's quiet a moment, simply looking amongst the others as they get offered to be tended to.

Reigna checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

"One of them, yes. But I actually have.. plans. For the replacements. I plan to use the tooth to create a mold for the one and I will use a mold of another for the one that's fully missing. But truly, I thank you. If you've a supply of herbs and roots, though, I would greatly appreciate a new numbing plug," Swift covers her mouth with her ohand and pulls out a small 'plug' of mixed herbs. "They've started losing their potency." GLancing to Sebastian, she chuckles and offers, "Please.. assist His Highness first. I will be fine."

"Rinel? As in Rinel *Tern*?" asks Kael, rather confused. There is a neat little sidestep with the incoming mama goat though and a sidelong look that is joined with a shake of his head. Goats. One thing that evidently Kael Keaton still does not understand. That incredulous look though still pales in comparison to the incredulous nature of his repeated query. "Rinel Tern?"

Family reunited. The little tired bleats turn to happy loving bleats as mother and daughter, yes, daughter, are reunited. That, is another question solved, right there. Indeed, the little goat belonged to the Keatons, not to Blessed Brigida.

His whispered request complete, Sebastian nods his head gratefully to Reigna. "I don't know if I'd use the term 'good', Marquessa. But we certainly had 'a' time." He glances towards the baby goat, with another kind of wince, and shakes his head. Of the many things he doesn't remember, /what did they feed the goat/ is definitely amongst them. He gives Swift a grateful look, even as he shifts his weight back and forward uncomfortably, mouth flexing. "She suggested the tattoos," he supplies to Kael. The Pravus dutifully drinks and eats whatever he's bidden to do, with a resignation that suggests long familiarity from having a twin as a physician -- no protest.

Mirk glances aside at the others. "Rinel Tern was involved, though she's since passed out," he confirms for Kael. "But anything she did besides stitch me up," he indicates the hole in his shirt, running along the ribs, "Was before I became involved." He asks Swift idly, "How did you lose the tooth, anyways? Or is that one of the things you haven't quite pieced together yet?"

Monique scratches at her hands, which are slowly turning a most unbecoming shade of pink, with red hues. And scratches. "I think it had... well, we woke up in the Ungulate Fields and it was there with me. It probably ate of the field. Some aeterna, from the dresses we were all wearing. Silk. Rug. Some wood. Possibly a bit of unicorn hair," Monique lists the goat's diet, without daring to look up, still scratching, this time at her arms. "Gods, did it have fleas?"

As questions become answered, Ansel doesn't feel the need to re-ask them and so he's quiet for the moment, hands shifting to clasp idly behind his back as he turns his attention amongst his companions and then towards the 'hosts', though he does give a little nod towards Kael, "The one and same. She was in the same boat as the rest of us .. though we're not entirely sure how it is that we got there."

"You will need to put the tooth back into the socket soon if you hope to keep it." Reigna warns Swift, offering her the milk. "Put the tooth in the milk. It will keep it alive." She rummages through her medical kit, glancing to Sebastian with a look of empathy before she begins mixing several different ground powders and tinctures, creating a mildly fragrant salve. This is bottled and offered to the Pravus prince. "Apply this three or four times a day. Take baths with oatmeal." She looks uncertainly to Ansel, but accepts his words. "I will be giving you all some willow bark. If you all need a place to rest, the treehouse there," she points to the ground-levelish treehouse, "It is well appointed with cushions if you need a rest."

"Unicorn. During the misadventure there, I think I got knocked into the wagon and it broke one tooth and knocked the other clean out," Swift asides to Mirk with a small shrug and a shake of her head. She looks towards Sebastian and gives a faint smile and nod, then adds, "Probably Lady Monique's hands, too. They look awfully discolored." She looks to Monique, "When did they start to itch? Can you recall?" Looking briefly to Kael, she offers, "To be fair, we'd already found ourselves at the Murder by then and I.. don't know that we had the goat then..."

Ansel checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

Sebastian checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 12 higher.

"I can--what, no, I can walk by mysel--put me down!"

There is a clamour at the front gates. Rinel is marched-dragged-carried by two very severe looking guards, who plop her down at Kael's feet. She lands on her backside with an audible "oof."

"...hello, Lord Keaton," she offers hopefully.

Swift checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Rinel checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 12 higher.

Kael's still looking altogether too flabbergasted, because really. It seems this particular point strikes him as far more peculiar than any peculiar commentary regarding unicorns or such things. Yet, with Duke Telmar's commentary as such, he nods slowly back to the man. "Do you all..." starts Kael, pausing when Rinel is thusly escorted in. In fact, he just looks bemused by the time Rinel's speaking. "Hello, Rinel Tern," he greets the woman, just so. After a remark, he adds, "I know that we said for you to come make yourself at home, but really?" That question? Absolute deadpan. Kael cuts a look toward the goat pen before back, and it is so terribly hard to tell if he's joking or not.

With a nod of his head, Sebastian takes the bottle of salve from the Marquessa, naturally lifting it to his nose. It's actually surprisingly pleasant, go figure. "Thank you, Marquessa. I might just--" he huffs out a breath, glances pointedly at Swift when she makes her addition, and steps away to find somewhere private to apply the salve.

Monique checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 21 higher.

For a moment, for a very brief moment, surfacing in the minds eye though it sinks back away into the ehther just as fast, there is the voice of one Monique Greenmarch, drunk as a skunk, slightly slurrings "They'll come with us! They'll come with us if we are wearing aeterna dresses and if we have a baby goat! I know this. I am as beautiful as I am smart and I am -very- beautiful!" That voice filled to the brim and overflowing with self righteousness. Drunken self righteousness. "-I am THE Min-" The sounds of nature around them. Then, what could have come next is gone, no matter how hard they grasp at it.

Reigna blinks at the unceremonious arrival of Rinel Tern. She starts to make another batch, eyeing Monique's hands. The salve is offered to the redhead and she looks briefly aghast. "Did you... nothing happened to the unicorns, right? They are such gorgeous creatures and they have such a unique form of travel."

A momentary flashback of events that transpired has Ansel turning his attention to Monique, regarding her a moment only to then give a little groan and a shake of his head. A hand lifts to rub lightly at his face again and then he's taking a step back, gaze then drifting over towards Rinel, "Mm. Welcome back, Rinel." He glances to Reigna, a soft cough coming to be offered, "The Unicorn gave very better then he got, I can assure you of that."

Rinel opens her mouth, then closes it. "I... I wanted to procure a sample of unicorn hair," she says, abashed, looking down at the ground. "That is the only sensible explanation. But Blessed Brigida has made sure the creature is not injured. But--but I did not take the goats, Marquessa!"

Mirk nods his head to Swift. "Nasty all around, it seems. Only one that came out of that looking good was the Archlector." He makes a slight scoffing sound. "I think the worst of it is that one of them is missing a tuft of hair and is still somewhat upset with them. And me, for trying to talk it down." He shrugs a shoulder. "Not ideal, but not too bad, I think. Plus, I think Archlector Brigida will be having very harsh words with most of them soon."

There might be distant, soft-voice swearing from wherever the Pravus prince disappeared to. Also, aggrieved: "MINX!"

"Nothing -permanent- happened to the unicorn. Perhaps a bald patch in its mane that will grow back in a matter of months. Some dirt smudges. It was absolutely none the worse for wear as Lord Halfshav unfortunately found out." Swift is quick to assure that there has been no lasting damage to anything that's occurred thus far. At least not for anyone but themselves. And now, Mirk. She blinks as something hits her, and she groans, and she looks to Monique, "Did you... I think.." She pauses at the cry from Sebastian and looks quickly away, having nothing at all to do with that one! Nopenopenope! She turns to Mirk instead and gives a nod, "We are getting better at the fixing part, though. And I imagine there will be much harsh penance."

To Swift, Monique answers, "Not so long ago. Maybe a half an hour?" And then she's hit with the remembrance too, and it coincides with Sebastian's grievance and... unbelievably, in the midst of it all, Monique smiles. It's a bright, vain, proud thing, before she realizes she probably ought not. And then the Minx schools her appearance back to penant. Finally, she lifts her eyes to Kael and Reigna. "Might we question some of your stablehands?" Pause. "Please?"

Reigna listens to the story and her eyes narrow just a little. "I see. Well. I cannot say I approve of harassing those glorious creatures. But it is not my place to do aught be be sure you are all healed to the best of my ability. So. I am going to go and make those draughts. You may speak to the stablehands, yes. If you will all excuse me?" Reigna is clearly not pleased, but her care is more than perfunctory, she demonstrates genuine care for everyone present.

Conveniently, those stablehands are patching up the fence, those same ones who were muttering about fancy clothed theives.

a nameless overwrought highstrung pygmy goat have been dismissed.

With his wife thus departing, and in a foul mood at that, Kael is just shaking his head before looking across the lot of them. "Yes," he says, evidently by way of agreement to his wife's words. "Go right on ahead." He's still looking more confounded more than anything, his head shaking. Then, with a glance cast toward Ansel, he asks the other man, "Do you all typically keep to one another's company?" That's probably the question he had prior to Rinel's arrival.

"Thank you Marquessa!" Swift is quick to offer towards Reigna before she starts to tend to the group, instead looking to Ansel and Rinel and lifting a shrug, "Should we then... speak with the stablehands? While Lady Monique and His Highness take care of that salve?" She looks to Mirk and smiles briefly, "Would you like to join us? I understand you're quite the speaker. We could certainly use someone with a silver tongue that isn't.. itching.. right now."

"Fancy clothed thieves, huh?" Mirk comments, eyeing Monique. "This is my first time meeting several of them, my lord," he replies to Kael, shaking his head. "And my first time meeting you, I believe. Mirk Halfshav." After that brief, informal introduction, he nods his head to Swift and moves to accompany her. "I can try, but I don't have a good record today."

There's an incline of Ansel's head in the direction of Reigna before he's looking back over towards Kael, "Some of us, yes. Others, not so much. I suppose each person in the group would have a different answer to that, Marquis." A very small hint of a smile and he's looking towards Swift and then Mirk, only to then look back over towards Kael.

Rinel wrings her hands a little anxiously. "Lord Halfshav was not part of this, my lord. He--he is accompanying us out of a spirit of charity."

Monique turns her attention to the salve, though her eyes linger on Reigna as the Keaton walks away. There's a deep expression there, and unpacked it would reveal any number of things, but Monique turns her gaze down to her hands quickly and begins to liberally apply the unguent to them, sighing as the coolness relieves the immediate burn. "I keep company with all of them," she adds to Kael, with the quick flicker of a grin. "So perhaps I am where the blame should rest."

"You're still doing better than we are, overall, my lord. It at least paused to listen to you, it wanted nothing at all to do with what we had to say to it." Swift responds to Mirk with a lift of one shoulder and an upward quirk of one half of her mouth, trying to keep the broken teeth covered as much as possible. Glancing back to Kael, she offers a quick curtsy, "Swift Grayhope. I have had dealings with everyone but Miss Tern. Lord Halfshav I believe we met once briefly at a Salon discussion, but otherwise had been unacquainted until today. Much as with yourself, my lord." Turning her gaze towards Monique, she calls back, "I will still forever place the blame on the wine! It wasn't until that bottle was opened that things went south!"

Whereever he is, Sebastian is certainly distracted. By the time he reappears, he's looking a little less discomforted, but also a little more awkwardly aware of his body in a way that seems odd for a man with usually effortless grace. He makes sure to button up the top button of his shirt, though not before angry red marks that look a lot like fingermarks can be briefly seen. He starts to fold his arms across his chest as if to display discontent, but even that's uncomfortable, so he just kind of stands there and looks folorn while the others question the stable hands.

Kael's dipping his head toward Ansel and, with a glance toward Rinel, there is another nod of his head provided. For all that solemn expression of his, perhaps the laugh is out of place. It's an abrupt thing, brief, when Monique is taking the blame. "Careful, you might have to be gifted a goat." Yes, that's evidently punishment where Kael is concerned. Then, a look across all those in attendance, as though they all needed to be gifted thusly. Swift's introduction has him nod and respond, "Kael Keaton, Marquis of Oakhaven, Sword of Sanctum. I - well," and he fumbles slightly before finally finishing, "...well met." With a shake of his head, he gestures toward the pen and adds, "But do not let me distract you. Question away, I -- just do not let it happen again, mm?"

"Rest assured, Marquis, that I'm fairly certain you needn't worry about this happening again." A little shake of Ansel's head and then he's offering a slight incline of his head to Kael, only to turn so that he can make his way over towards the stablehands, no doubt quite interested to hear just what they have to say about the group of well dressed bandits.

"If it helps, the bottle of Cardian red that we think did this is empty. Of course, we're not entirely sure that was the whole of it. There might have been more. We /were/ at the /Murder/," Monique intones to Kael, as if that should explain everything. "But I, for one, would die happy if I never had to relive this day. I'm not good at repenting." In case he couldn't tell, didn't know that already from years of knowing her. She murmurs something softly aside to Sebastian.

Rinel walks near Monique. Her face is a bit flushed. "Is that a poison ivy rash?" she asks the noblewoman. "How did you get it on your hands?"

And so, with the goat and mother mostly secure, the one now feeding the other, when the group approaches, the stablehands turn and eye the group. "So. You'd the ones then hmm? Couldn't have come sooner and fixed it instead of us." The taller one sasses a little, though an elbow jab from the second and a jut of the chin to Ansel, there's proper formality due to the man, and a reminder that they serve the Keatons. "Duke Telmar."

Reigna returns from the Hall, a tray of steaming mugs on it. She begins moving around to each of the afflicted. "Willowbark tea. This will aid with the head and body aches." She offers each of them a mug. "Healer's recommendation is a day of bed rest, cold compresses on your brows. Those with the posion oak should bathe with ground oats in the water. Allow yourself to air dry then apply the lotion. Try not to scratch. Wear mittens if you must."

Approaching the stablehands, Swift offers a sheepish shrug and repsonds, "Apologies, we have been trying to unravel the night prior and were hoping you could help. I would, of course, be happy to see a good bonus make its way into your pockets for any assistance you can offer." She glances to the fence and back to them with a chuckle, "And believe me, you wouldn't have wanted us fixing the fence or you'd have been chasing pygmy goats til the next day." She glances to first Ansel, then Mirk, this is now offocially out of her forte.

Monique chokes on laughter, for some reason, and she looks to Rinel while accepting the willowbark tea. "I think it must be, but I've no idea where it came from. The woods? Weren't our belongings in the woods by the lodge? And none of the rest of you affected? Just mine? I have the /worst/ luck," the Minx bemoans, watching a moment as the others approach the workers, before turning back to Reigna. "Erm. So. Well."

"Here," Mirk says, reaching out a hand for a tool or a post. "I know a little of this kind of work. Why don't I help you finish up and you tell us exactly what happened? My friends," he nods his head to the others, "got a little too drunk last night and don't remember a damn thing about what they actually did." There's an easy air about it, trying to build rapport with them in the fastest way he knows how.

Kael's head shakes slightly as he walks along with the group as a whole. Of note, earlier to Monique in turn to that comment about repenting? He says so very quietly, "Except I think you might be." So quiet, in fact, it might be lost. He's drawing away though upon spying his wife, assisting her with her tray as though she had difficulty balancing it. Once she's attended to the task of mug distribution, he just settles in at her side.

Whatever the Minx says to him, Sebastian reacts with stiffened shoulders. "Mittens," he says, flatly, "Hear that, Monique? /Mittens,/" he bites off, while vaguely watching the others with the stablehands, probably as an excuse not to look at Monique.

The greeting from the stablehand has Ansel giving a nod of his head towards them, along with the hint of a smile, "Thank you. But, as Lord Halfsav said, we got a little.. beyond ourselvs last night and I fear that it created unnecessary work for you. I do apologize for that." There's a pause and then, "And I'm quite curious what it is that you actually saw. Please, don't hold back in the least."

Rinel smiles slightly. "I'm not allergic," she says, with a slight shrug. "Maman nearly had apoplexy when she saw me wearing a wreath of poison oak in the autumn. I thought the colours were beautiful."

Mirk checked charm + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 71 higher. Mirk rolled a critical!

Monique chokes on her laughter further at Sebastian's comment, and almost, /almost/ doesn't catch Kael's comment. But she does, and she gives the Keaton Marquis a deep bow of her crimson head. "Well." It's a single word that encompasses the whole of his quiet statement, along with the ghost of a smile upon the Minx's lips, a smile that stretches further at Rinel's admission. "Oh, careful, Rinel Tern, or you'll have Prince Sebastian trying to strangle you in a moment. With his mittens."

Both men look at one another and then to Reigna when they are offered assistance from Mirk, and financial incentive from Swift. While Sebastian and Monique deal with their... oak issue.

"Well, see, we were sleeping. Really, who is going to break into the Keatons goat pen. I mean, if someone wants a goat they only have to ask. Not like they don't hand them out fast as they get birthed." There's shy looks given to Kael and Reigna, deference in their tone." Mirk is handed the tools to finish the rest, hesitant but he's so convincing, that smile and they -have- been herding goats all day. All day. The racket from the barn is annoying. It's like the little baby goat, but... a multitude. Maybe they just need to send the Keatons goats to the Eurusi...

"When we heard the racket, we came running. The mother goat was screaming her fool head off and someone-"

"You" The taller stablehand points to Ansel.

"The Duke, had the goat tucked under his arm and you's was all in white dresses."

'And then her" There's a gesture to swift. "You was telling him to run faster. And then I think it was you"

"Yeah, her." There's a gesture to Monique. "Your hair is pretty red. But you were telling them that they needed three of them. But the goats were getting everywhere and the momma was real mighty mad, so you all just ran. Ran faster than we could catch up. And we had goats going everywhere."

Right now, Sebastian definitely looks distinctly envious of Rinel's immunity to poison ivy. He lifts his hands -- not marked up by the redness of poison ivy. "My /hands/ are fine," he shoots acerbically in Monique's direction. When Reigna comes around with a mug full of tea and things he knows better than to ask about -- he gives her a faint smile, grateful, as he gulps it down wordlessly, regardless of the taste. He can just about overhear the explanation of the stablehands, and he coughs briefly to cover a laugh when Ansel is pointed at, as culprit number one, and then Swift, number two. When it comes to Monique's part in the whole affair, his brow lifts. "/Three/? Really, Monique. Did you mean for the unicorns to eat them or something?"

Mirk doesn't seem like an expert, but he doesn't seem clueless, either, setting to work on following through with his promise: Helping finish up in repairing the fence. Carefully, given that there are stitches in his side. He listens to them speak with an air of detached amusement, as if fighting the urge to smirk at their misadventures.

Mirk checked luck + woodworking at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Mirk should pay attention in full to the fence. If he had been paying -enough- attention, that hammer mint have hit the right nail, not his thumb nail. And just like that, Mirk adds more to his list of bodily grievences.

Swift checked luck + woodworking at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Mirk checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

As the explaination comes to light, Ansel is groaning softly and then lifting a hand to rub at his face again, accompanying that motion with a shake of his head. A soft sigh follows suit and then his hand falls away, "You have my sincere thanks for that explaination." His gaze does shift to Swift and then over towards Monique, just as Sebastian calls out to her and he can't help but offer up an echoed, "Three!? What /did/ you have planned?" A look back to the stablehands, "Again. My apologies." When Mirk then hits his hand, there's a groan and a little shake of his head, "Don't lose focus there, Lord Halfshav."

Reigna snuggles in against Kael as she listens to them all speak, her gaze looking back and forth to each face. She holds her tongue for now, a slight furrow to her brow as she listens to the stablehand speak about the deeds done in the night. She leans in and murmurs something to Kael, her eyes closing briefly.

While the explanation is coming to light and Swift clears her throat and offers, "I make a good lookout at least?" Then she spots Mirk about to have a REALLY BAD DAY. She can't prevent him from hitting his thumb, but she's right there to step in smoothly and take the tool from his hand to finish the job. Giving Mirk space to deal with the aching digit while she hammers home the nails and proves that she apaprently -is- pretty good at 'this sort of work' after all. Get your all-new multipurpose Swift! Stock is low so get your order in now!

Rinel sits down awkwardly next to Sebastian and Monique. "Are you two courting?" she blurts out, suddenly. This isn't drunken Rinel behaviour. She's sobered up. No, this is genuine, socially hapless Rinel.

Mirk grimaces and lets out a slight grunt of pain, but he manages to avoid complaining about the thumb or overtly worrying over it. Instead, he gives the thumb a glance and offers slight support to Swift here and there, which consists largely of holding something for her while she does the real work. With one uninjured hand, if possible. He is, it would seem, determined to make it look like he didn't just screw up, helped out by the fireweave gloves concealing any redness or swelling. "I'll keep that under advisement," he replies in a strained tone to Ansel.

Kael's just shaking his head and, when Reigna is murmuring to him, he lowers his voice substantially and offers a few words back in response to her. There's a general survey of the group as a whole, but to be fair, most of his attention is on his wife at this point.

"Well," Monique surmises, "you can hardly get a proper sample with only one unicorn, now can you? Empirical science would demand a control group, no? Three goats, three unicorns. It makes perfect sense and-" and anything else she might have said is forestalled by Rinel's impromptu question. It startles a laugh from her. "No, Rinel. I'm all yours, darling," she adds, shooting a bone-melting smile towards the other woman. "Well, yours, and the Archlector of Gild's. But you like him, don't you?" she adds, teasing mercilessly.

The stablehands seem to frown at Mirks job, as if he was undoing hard work. But the semi toothless Swift to the rescue and just like that, the pen is worthy of holding more than a reunited mother and daughter. The stablehands look to Kael as if asking to be dismissed. Sooner the better, to get away from this... well... strange bunch.

"It looks like you all have things under control, so I believe that Kael and I will be heading back inside." Reigna says to the others, offering a faint smile. "I appreciate the return of the goat, but please do try not to steal from House Keaton again? Even in jest it is..." Reigna shakes her head, "I hope you all feel better soon."

Rinel flushes brilliant crimson. "Blessed Etienne is a good man," she mumbles, picking at her simple dress. "He's always been kind to me." She looks away. "What happened with the Iron Guard?"

Sebastian's still looking kind of discomforted, but some of that salve must be working, because he's stopped visibly itching... for now. That or he's got an iron will. He glances towards Rinel, then shakes his head with a brief quirk of his mouth as Monique answers. "Thank you, Marquis, Marqussa. I assure you have no intention of stealing from House Keaton... again. Even for unicorns." Because they are scary and clearly don't appreciate the efforts! "Have a good evening."

Lifting a hand in a little sort-of wave, Kael is offering forth his free arm to his wife, so that he might properly escort her inside. The only further commentary from him is a simple, "A good evening to you all as well."

"That you will have to figure out without me," Mirk says, answering Rinel's question. "Someone might need to track that horse down again. After all the trouble I went to to return it." There's a disapproving sound. "Here is where I think I'll be taking my leave, as well. A pleasure, Marquis, Marquessa. And the rest of you...I intend to visit the unicorn pasture in the near future with a talented equerry, regardless, so I'll see if I can check on your unfortunate acquaintance."

"I'll bring the candlesticks back," Monique replies to Kael and Reigna as they depart, a solemn vow.

Vern, Devo, an extraordinary Oakhaven bloodhound, 2 Keaton Huntsmen leave, following Kael.

Sir Pupsalot, a polite, tri-color corgi, Oaken, an Oakhaven bloodhound, Marie, chef of Keaton Hall, 2 Keaton Huntsmen, Gigi, an apprentice physician with attitude problems, Fidelity, a white-tailed eagle, 1 Healer Guardian, Kael leave, following Reigna.

Swift offers a quick curtsy to the departing nobles before turning to look at Mirk, "My lord, thank you again for all of your assistance. I don't know that we'd have made it this far without it. I would like to reach out and speak with you later on about something you'd mentioned earlier, if you don't mind? Independent of all this, I mean." She flashes a brief smile, then clears her throat, "I should have my teeth fixed by then too, so as not to appear so.. ah, out of sorts."