Since I got the jaw-droping out of my system before writing this post, I'll get right to the point:

1. Concerning the Dreen and the Baron you all assume he was controling them, while it might not have been so. Maybe they simply lent Baron a hand in serious cases and if he tried to use them in trivial (at least from their perspective) situations, they would refuse.

2. I think Du Pree has aquired an aversion to pastry for a completly unknown reason.