#anywhere

"It's all right. I imagine the sidhe court you're most used to is your count's, so it's only natural. Just thought you'd like to know about the slip."

"Hell, " he adds, "Better words than deeds go awry any day. "

"Yes, My Lord, and thank you for...for being so understanding. " She kind of wants to die right now.

A chuckle as if he can sense her embarrasment "Sidhe tend to have protections frm courtly slips, but if it helps, when I was about your age, I once told a young woman I was trying to impress that she was prettier than gun oil on a colt 45. A poet, I was not."

That gets an appropriately trollish chuckle. "Maybe it wasn't poetry...but did it work?"

"Nope...She smiled nervously and found an excuse to avoid my next date offer" A chuckle, "I know as an Emmisary your job is about diplomacy, and words are a bit part of that, but around here, there's a lot of work too. There was once twenty Kithain here... then, because of my foolishness, many sluagh were forced to flee. Numbers went down. If you don't count the Nunnehi, probalby only 14 of us on the island now. So I visit, makke my rounds, try to be hands on. If you want to be around me on these things you may end up with a weapon or a shovel in your hands a lot. "

"I'm used to fighting and to hard work, My Lord." She's proud that she can say both truly. "Fourteen fae...how many mortals or kinain?"

"Oh, bout a dozen more of kinian, and we're glad for them " He says "Plenty more mortals than'd youd'd think, particularly during tourist season on the island. Truth to tell, those we have to watch. Make sure to keep an eye out for banality spreading, warn folks away. Not too bad. This iss Kodiak Island, not Miami beach."

"It's beautiful, but not a place most might think of first as a vacation spot, I guess."

"Wait until you see..." pride "There are places here that take your heart away."

She's not sure what to say to that, so she settles on "Yes, My Lord."

A smile at something, "Speaking of which..." They ride on, he clearly wants to shower her something...

but what, well...that remains to be seen

(Pause)

As they ride, she says, "The Chieftain has shown me pictures of her home country. Norway. In some ways this island is kind of similar."

"oh, Norway is one I've never been too. Sounds grand. You have a camera?"

"Oh, I...ah...I have my phone if that's okay?"

"Sure....just thought' As they ride up a hill "You might want to take a picture. It's not norway, but your folks home might like it"

"Ohhh...." Movement as she gets out her phone, aims, and the click-click of pictures being taken. "That's beautiful."

It dimly registers how many times she's said beautiful...and she feels awkward again as she puts her phone away.

"It is... nature has a way of musing anyone with open eyes and a grateful soul" Proud look, "I know I didn't do this, but I can't help but be pleased as punch to show her off. Not that nature is always safe. You have bears in your area?"

"Well, we have a bear chimera who patrols the woods...I think he keeps the real ones from causing trouble near the Lodge or the mortal areas nearby."

"mmm well we have real bears and chimerial ones, and a court Jester. None of them are exactly safe, though each in their way. The bear is tied to this island...and I hope always will be but if you see a bear, you know to give it respectful distance"

"I will, Lord."

"Good," he says "We can work together then. I'm not a fan of putting up with morons and I suspect you feel similar and are too polite to say so" They ride along heading towards a cabin

"I will do my best, Lord. I'm here to learn. And I'll try not to make too many mistakes."

"yes I understand you hope to learn about the Nunehi in particular. " The cabin closer now, can be seen to have a small garden of flowers.

"Yes, Lord. I think it would be helpful."

"I commend you . Too many of we 'Western Kithian' never take a chance to know them. They're as varied as we, and while House Gwydion rarely apologizes for conquest, , it is shameful how many of us treat them or even ignore. '

"Well, I don't know if you know about the daughter of the Chieftain and the Mountain? Jessica King? She has a fief in Tijuana, and there are Nunnehi there...and I thought I might be able to help her if I knew more." Her voice goes quiet at the end as she realizes she's nearly babbling.

"I've heard of Freeholder King," He says a twitch of amusement, "Rumors are she'd been in House Gwwydion like that if she would accept. probably good for us for some folks to say no no and then again. The Flame free they call her...well, anyone who takes out a balor psychopath and saves her potential victims is worth helping in my book. I don't think the tribes up here can help you much with tribes in Mexico, but if theree's a chance surely worth pursuit"

"Well...still, learning is learning, Lord."

The cabin door opens, and a troll woman comes out, she's old maybe not as old as Chief Agnes, but old. a snow white braid, "Baron, " She starts to bow

"Good woman Ida, thought you might not mind me introducing you to the latest, if temporary, addition to the hold. This is Emmesary Sylvi of Rivervale. Sylvi, this is Ida Bloodcaller.'"

Sylvi nods respectfully from her seat atop the mammoth. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"And no need to bow, Ida. Your knee.." he starts to add

"Mmmph. I'll bow, thank you, and if my knee grumbles that's tween me and it" she finishes her bow then she turns her attention on the girl "Well, pleasure it might be or might not. I may yet get on your nerves, young lady. But you're mannerly, nice to see that. You're planning on picking some of my flowers are you?"

"I..." A baffled look between her and the Baron. "I don't know, Ma'am...?"

"Well, that's honest" She smiles "Some of them sing."

"They do?" Sylvi grins a bit. "We have roses at Rivervale that turn bloodthirsty sometimes. "

"She's not joking, she breeds fae flowers like some folks breed fae hounds"

"Not all of them, just some."

"oh? I don' suppose you have some stems from them with you?" Ida says interested

A little startled glance at the Baron at the comment on fae hounds, then looks back to Ida. "No, Ma'am, but maybe I could arrange to have a cutting sent, if you like?"

"I would love that, and you're welcome to come by and look over my flowers any time" Ida says, "here, I have one to show you now if you like?"

"Please, yes. But I..." She turns to the Baron. "How do I get down properly?"

"Ohh, Just tell him to set you down"

"Um...Heineken, I'd like to get down, please."