Exploring Corcra with Cardea
February 16, 2007"Are you sure that I'll be able to find a place?" I asked Cardea as we prepared to head into the center of town.
"Of course. Do you think you are the first person to decide that you needed a town home as well as your country estate?"
I ponder Cardea's comment for a moment. I had never really thought of my cottage in Nglas as an estate. The house has significant acreage, because everyone in Nglas grows something and or raises livestock, but there are only 4 bedrooms and I'm sure there's a rule somewhere that a house has to have at least 8 or 10 bedrooms before it can be an estate. So no I don't have an estate but I do need to have a town home. I'm not exactly sure what made this need so urgent. After all I've always been able to get by with the conference room or my office in Dubh if I wanted to meet someone someplace other than my house, but so some reason it just doesn't feel appropriate. I decided this morning that I needed to invite both Lady Gendenwith and Earraigh to a meeting with me to discuss the future and I realized I didn't have any place that was exactly the right mix of formal and casual. I had never appreciated until this moment that a suite in a hotel might not be an extravagance depending on whether or not you need to do business in town on a more intimate basis. What's nice about otherworld is that I don't need to worry about money in order to be heading out to find another place to live. Simply realizing that I'd like it and that it fits me new lifestyle is all that it requires to go looking for someplace to call my own.
"So where are we going to look first?" I asked Cardea.
"I'm thinking of #29 Goldcrest Square. I'm not sure if you know it. It's generally called the Mardöll House It's close to the park and it's not a modern high-rise and it's run by a friend of mine.
"I like the sound of that. Do they have an opening?"
"They do, though you might find it a bit small. It's on the third floor. It has a large living room, a reasonably sized kitchen, a large dining room, and 2 baths and only one bedroom. There is also a small study in in the loft off the living room and a very large deck."
"That doesn't sound small to me. In fact I was thinking something closer to 1,200 square feet myself. Something cozy."
"I understand but you need to be able to entertain and that takes room. If you decide you like this place than you'll probably have to finally breakdown and join a club." Cardea said as she opened the portal door and walked me into the small lobby. Across the lobby and slight to our left was a rather large glass walled office. A elderly gentleman sat at the desk working on some papers. As we headed toward him, he rose and came out to great us.
"My Queen", he said as he bowed slightly over Cardea's hand.
Cardea placed her hand over his and smiled. "Francklin when did you become so formal, and especially in front of family?"
"Family? Ah that's where I've seen you before", he said turning toward me. You're part of the Archmage's clan as I remember. Freya isn't it?"
I nod my head and offer my hand. "And family with Cardea because she is somehow related to my Aunt Nimue, though I've never been sure quite how."
Cardea gives me one of those you'll never understand looks and proceeds to bring the conversation back to the task at hand.
"Freya is on the council and commuting between Dubh and Nglas and Corcra is wearing her out. She's stayed with me up till now but I think it's time to shove her out of the nest and I couldn't think of a safer place for her to be than here with you."
I feel a blush start color my cheeks. "Cardea you sound like you sending a child off to college. I'm just looking for an apartment. I don't need a babysitter"
She shakes her head with some level of dismay. "Freya don't be silly. You need someplace to live with an excellent full time staff to handle things. You are going to be very busy and you will find that having Franklin to call to arrange things will be an absolute life saver."
I slowly begin to understand some of what Cardea is saying to me. Part of the choice of this building is Francklin. Evangeline handles the household in Nglas, Molly keeps the office running and if I'm going to live in Corcra I will need someone here. I isn't that I'm not self-sufficient -- it's just that's how things work here in Magh Ildathach.
"Well I guess the real question then is whether or not Francklin wants me."
"Lady Freya, I've actually served your direct family for many years. You see Francklin is spelled with a c."
I try not to let my jaw hit the floor. It never ceases to amaze me. I wander around this world and am constantly struck by the level of hidden knowledge. I wanted to look for an apartment. I didn't have the slightest conscious knowledge that part of the reason I wanted to look for an apartment was so that I could meet Francklin. I also realized that Francklin means a landed free man. Not titled but someone of local consequence and dignity, also the family crest contains the motto "for king and country". An additional insight that comes to me is that Francklin is a follower of Norse Gods, possible of Freyja herself.
Since now most certainly isn't the time or place to discuss these insights I content myself by saying "If you'd like to show me the apartment, I'm sure it will be exactly what I'm looking for." We walk up two flights of stairs and Francklin opens the right side of a set of double doors. The apartment has a formal entry way with another inner staircase off to the left. The living room is to the right. The room is quite large but not so large as to be cold. The furniture is fashionable but not fussy and there are couches, chairs, a game table in one corner and a baby grand in another. Two large glassed double doors open up to the dining room. The kitchen is a little sterile for my tastes but I understand to Cardea's point it's designed to be a catering kitchen not a family kitchen. The living room has French door's that lead out to a large deck (a roof top of a lower floor). We go upstairs and the bedroom has a bath and closet that is equal to my entire bedroom/bath in the real world. Behind the bedroom is a study/loft that opens out to the living room. Additionally the bedroom has it's own small patio.
I turn to Francklin and ask when I can move in. The place would be a million dollars in any downtown at a minimum. "So if I'm going to live here I need to have an address. What would you recommend I use?"
Francklin smiled at Cardea. "She is a fast learner about Corcra society. You are right, you will use #10 Mardöll House on your cards. 29 Goldcrest Square is the trade address."
"And since #10 Mardöll House exists on no map privacy is assured. Though I can't imagine who would trouble me. Will I need an office here in Corcra? I'm not at all sure of what I'm actually suppose to be doing. I guess I assumed I'd be out in the field most of the time."
"I don't think you'll need an office at the moment. I will arrange for you to join the Feather Club. It's one of the older clubs and I think you'll feel quite comfortable there. As to the furnishing in the apartment we can redecorate anytime you are ready or simply replace a piece here or there as you decide. If you are agreeable I will have Evangeline send over some of your things for tonight and you can move in after dinner. "
"I assume you are leopard and owl friendly? Fin, Nel and Syn all come and go as they please but it would be nice to be sure they are welcome. "
"Of course and the deck is just big enough for a dragon to land if he's careful." With only the hint of a smile, he continued "There are also stables attached to the Feather club and the park is wonderful to go riding in. Let me know what time you want breakfast. Pamila is an outstanding cook and it shouldn't take her very long to make sure you have what you like around the house. Kaede will handle your personal appointments for now. I know Molly has a number of other individuals she supports in Dubh so depending on the demands on your time we might need to find someone for you full time. Please view me as your chief of staff. I'm sure you'll do fine but things are often a little more complex than you might assume. Also whenever you are ready Camilla is available to help you with a new wardrobe. I know it gets a little troublesome to have all the appropriate attire for each event."
Cooks, secretaries, personal shoppers? What have I gotten myself into? I look over at Cardea, with a feeling of overwhelm rapidly overtaking me.
"Francklin, we're losing her. I'm going to take her home and feed her a quiet dinner and then I'll send her back. Is Haldora still with you?"
"She jokingly tells me we are just aging in place. I'll ask Hali to help you settle in tonight Lady Freya. Have no fear everything will be fine."
"I'm sure it will -- it's just more than I expected. Which reminds me the reason for the apartment in the first place was to invite Lady Gendenwith and Master Earraigh over so that we might discuss some items we've left open. Could you as Kaede to set it up if that would be considered too presumptuous?"
"I will ask Kaede tomorrow. Now please enjoy your dinner and I will see you tonight."