#anywhere

"You....... ok."

"Frank. I think Sparklypoo or whatever her name was.....might be the one who did this. And... she may have thought you gave her permission"

"That's a stretch, isn't it?" Deeply dubious.

"It explains the omen, doesn't it?" Not so Dubious.

A long pause.

"It... could." Grudging agreement.

"Okay, this could actually be good news. So far all seems harmless just embarrassing. Hell, the chief isn't even breaking stride"

A soft groan.

"She'll be fine, Frank. If nothing else our cantrips are still full power"

A pause "You want me to try to get a picture of olgar?"

Another pause. "Can you?"

"Yeah, I got one that can take chimerical as well as mortal ones, and to protect the escheat the chimerical come out looking like paintings"

"Not as good as Sparrow's paintings, but accurate"

"Can you.... try and get one of everyone? Not together, but.... you know. A picture of everyone?"

"Fine, but you have to rescue me if they try to string me up."

"Done." More firmly.

"Thanks. Anything else? And how long till you get back?"

"Another couple of days."

"So far, so good, though."

"Okay. I...." Frank sees a hitch hiker

Frank focuses, checking the hitchhiker approaching the stationary truck.

The woman comes up, she's got torn denim jeans sensible walking shoes and a tasseled leather jacket. To fae eyes it shifts a bit more exotically, and she is revealed to be an eshu

"...so we'll see what Tiffany thinks of that.. Frank? Are you still with me?" On the phone

"Yes....."

"Got a storyteller outside the rig."

"I think she's looking for a lift."

"I shall let you go then. Stay in touch"

She walks up and looks at the rig, obviously checking to see if he's had engine trouble or a flat or anything then she looks into the cab "Hello. You independent? I mean, not a corporate guy? You might be allowed to pick up a passenger?"

"Yep, I'll call."

Frank pops his door open and steps out.... and for him, the distance really is only a step. "Yep. Fair Highsummer to you."

"hey, true blue" she holds up a thumb. Now that he's closer she can see she has her hair adorned with colorful strands "No wonder my feet led me here. " She glances down at her stomping shoes "Good work girls"

He offers a massive hand. "Frank King."

"Suha Breeze" She takes his hand, "A troll in a truck, at least I know there's leg and head room. Happy High Summer to you too. "

He shakes carefully. "You want a ride?"

"Sure do, thanks." She says she appears to be a mix of heritages, and takes a passenger seat when allowed "Anywhere you're heading is fine for as long as you have me. You want some stories to pay for the trip maybe? "

Frank helps her up, politely, as needed.

As he settles into his seat.... "If you like, but no payment required. It's my honor and duty to help."

"Wow," She smiles "A real knight of the road." She says "Well, what do you want? something mythic, something personal, or something current?"

Frank starts the rig, goes through a quick checklist, and gets it rolling carefully back into traffic.

"Something current." Quietly.

"Squires are all the rage in a hold in Missouri. I ran into this kid, Orlando ...turns out there's a surge of commoner kids hoping to get squired....and lo and behold, a few made it. Apparently a Liam lothario seduced the local Fiona baroness.... wooing her with his bad boy pariah angle, and she pretty fresh on her throne. You know Fiona, they do love what and who they're not supossed to. Some say that was his mission, that he wasn't just trying to make her yield her most ardent embrace, but that he was supposed to establish Liam influence in the holding. All I've got to say is if he's pulled that off, I'd like to borrow a cup of smooth from him."

Frank frowns. "What?? -Where-??" As if such a place couldn't exist, really.

"Well, somewhere in Missouri, I keep meaning to go there, Kansas City is calling. " She taps her feet, "Maybe I'll find who I'm looking for there." Suha grins Pearly white, "But it wasn't KC... uhm further in more central...Jefferson I think? What was it... oh yes, story mode here..." she shifts to a more narrative tone, "Where once ancient city of Nunhei dreamers dwells, only the runes of earth remain, and now those runes burn with balefire, and a sidhe, of course, that place has claimed. Baron in SIlver, Silver and black, a spider as cunning as any. He died from wrestling with da'an, and a lioness a rose from the ashes of his victory. Battle tested, but ruling new, she was a flower yet full opened. Until Summer named Lordling of the Broken Oak, did whisper his wooing in her ear. And now lioness hangs pretty on oak tree limb, enraptured, emeshed, in love with him. And the LIam roots, once torn asunder, spread into the soil, to everyone's wonder"

Frank sighs, and shakes his head.

"Oh, come on, it's a good story, I just need to polish it up. Even satyrs don't belt out a song as soon as they get it"

Frank nods. "Well.... it has little to do with what the real situation there. Bear that in mind when you tell your story."

"Oh? You know the real deal? " Interested "Well darn. Now I am curious."

Frank shrugs, checks his mirrors. "The relationship is mutual; they seem deeply in love with each other. If she... hangs on him, rest assured, he supports her with all his strength."

"Wow, you're sticking up for a Liam, gutsy" She sounds almost as if she respects the ballsiness if not the house "I'll see if I can angle it more that way though I like mine better"

Frank drives in quiet for a moment, then sighs and asks "Why would I not stick up for a House brother?"