The Mid Day meal is nothing like the feast of the night before, rather most of the covenfolk come in, grab a bowl of stew, some bread and cheese, and go out and sit under the trees nearby, since the day has turned out to be a fine one, indeed.
It doesn't take long for Diedre to dry herself out, muttering and grumbling as she does. Her scowl works wonders on groups of people, who part like the Red Sea before Moses. "I'll join you presently, I wish to drop these off first," she says, indicating the volumes from Glendower's lab that she carries.
Off in one corner are some new faces;3 women and a man. 2 of the women are tall, one extraordinarily so, the man is of normal height( but of exceptional good looks), and the last, wearing a nun's whimple (but not a habit), is the shortest. However, it appears that she has eaten as much as the extra-ordinarily large woman has, and that they might have been making a contest out of it.
Diedre soon rejoins the group, having had a quick change of clothes, and having gotten rid of the books she carried.
"You can handle your own introductions. I'm Diedre, maga ex Flambeau, and like it or not, Praeco of this covenant. Mab should come skipping along at any moment, she went to have lunch in her lab, which she normally does."
"The matter that I have to discuss is the treatment of the covenfolk; There was an incident this morning with a Custos and Magus Corvus, in which he provoked the custos to strike him, on a whim." She sighs, mightily. "Basically, this has gone a fair way to undo a lot of work that had been done to insure the covenfolk that they were not the playthings of the magi, but rather, valued servants or freemen. I had it easy with your predecessors, since 3 of them were gently gifted. Most of you are not. And Corvus' actions had brought out that spectre to deal with again, because the first grumblings that the old rules may not apply anymore are starting to make the rounds."
"Corvus' membership is now probationary; He has to earn it, in a year's worth of service, with whatever resources the council will decide he needs. I told him that the penalty for covenfolk striking a magus is death. I was not bluffing. However, I am feeling merciful today, so there will be no executions. However, the pair of them should have all the fun they want in mucking out the cesspools..."
"Don't go and make trouble with the covenfolk. That's what I had to say to the lot of you." She turns to the Nun, setting down her fifth tankard of cider. "So you're sister Priere. I wish I could have provided you with a more formal welcome, but it looks like this did the job. If you are going to report anything to your superiors, please note that we do try to treat our people fairly, and with mercy."
The little nun gets up, and bows politely. "Father Brendan sends his greetings, and regrets that he could not deliver this in person, having to consecrate ground in Galway for a church," she says, her latin flawless. "In keeping with old friendships and agreements, he said, From Brendan the Wanderer to Diedre, Leana Flambonis." With that, she hands over a velvet bag to Diedre. When opened, it reveals a crystal that glows with the light of dawn.
"Seen people treated worse by the church, 'In the name of God.' So, I'm not saying anything about what you just talked about."
Diedre nods. "Magus Gaeth O'Connor, magus ex Mercere, and our normal route rider, has the mail and deliveries in the council chamber. I'll pick mine up later. You lot," she says, indicating the assmebled group, "can do what you like afterwards. however, make any more trouble, and I shall be most upset."