#anywhere

She fills a small flagon, her toes getting wet despite her efforts. A turn towards the voice and a wave - her whisper won't carry that far.

"Sorry, rude of me... " he slows his painting and puts his brushes carefully up, then approacches her, hand out "I'm Morgan. Welcome to the County of the Conch."

She takes the hand - her own as cold as the Pacific's waves. "Esther."

"Nice to meet you, Esther. If you need to find shells or the like, let me know. I know where you can find some. Or I can fetch them for you"

"I needed the water... for a working, aye? But I appreciate the offer. Your painting is lovely."

"Thank you. Nothing original for me, but sometimes we walk paths we've grown to love. A working? With sea water? I admit, the Selkie side of me is curious if it can be shared what working? "

"Experimenting with soothsay, really. Range."

"You picked the right material, if rules of connection apply then you're touching every shore when you hold a drop"

"That's the thought, yes!"

"My own soothsay is pretty weak, I can omen, but beyond that, no. I hpe this wworks for you"

"Well, thank you! And good luck with the painting, Morgan - it really is quite charming."

"Appreciated. I'll leave you be for your working then. I understand a bit of quiet works best, well, as much quiet as you can get with the splash of the sea"

"I like the sound of the sea. Though, truth, I prefer rivers..."

"They always seemed to confined for me" he says "But to each their own. And every bit of nature holds a magic"

"oh, not confined! Living, wandering things that dance!"

"Always in a rush, Rivers" A smile though

"The sea has nothing to prove"

"I admire the sea. Respect it. But my heart?" A smile, a shrug.

"Your heart is with the dancing river. Mmm a poem in that somewhere"

"Well, dream upon it - a poem is not a far road from a painting."

"Words are not my colors" He admits

"Yet your colors are your words, nu?"

"I suppose they are..." Someone approaches

Dark eyes flick to the distant figure, wary.

"Aye, and is that not a poem forming now on your canvas?"

"One of siren songs and crashing surf and cold, cold water..."

A thane, not one she's met yet, coming towards them. She sees him before he sees her.

She keeps an eye, but doesn't react much to the approach.

"Morgan, have yo useen a girl named Esther? The Count wants to talk to her?" the thane yells from a distance.

Morgan pauses, then whispers "have I seen a girl named Esther? Artists are flakes"

Offering her an out?

A sigh. "I suppose I must needs deal with it."

"She's with me. Nice lady."

The thane closes "Oh she's with you? Oh good." the fellow appears to be a gawky looking Eshu, it's almost as if all the cool has been siphoned out of that normally stylish kith

He presses his glassees up to his srawny face "I'm Thane Kek. Would you please join me?"

"Kek? Aye, a moment." She offers her hand to the selkie once more. "Again, a pleasure. May fate leads us together in the future."

He shakes the hand "May your river welcome you home when it's time for you"

A soft smile, and she turns to the eshu. "Alright then. I did tell the Count I sought seawater..."

"Yes, miss. Glad you got it." Kek says and starts t lead her along

Zara glides along, head held high - a princess.

"oh you know, there are a lot of stories about the sea.... but everyone hears knows them. Sometime I'd like to to tell you about them..." he rambles a bit, too eager to please. Oh lord, Kek has no cool. They return to the Rath and he makes a "He's waiting for you inside" A geeeky bow and inward she goes.

The interior is shadowy, not bright. That might be a good sign.

Zara approaches, and takes no haste, nor does she lag.

Rather, much like a wizard, she arrives precisely when she means to.

"Ah, thank goodness. Forgive me, but your little friend has been rather dramatic about his situation." The Count smiles "Apprently he has requested a cigarette and blindfold, or a chance to fight his way free. He's quite the admirable and loyal little fellow"

Her expression is mostly neutral - but her eyes blaze! "Return him!"

"He's not a prisoner, Zara. I am not in the habit of keeping hostages or the like. Good lord, what exactly have your heard of me that has you thinking I would?" Appalled "I punish Ravagers and criminals, not small chimera smaller than my palm"

"He's with me" Another voice from around the corner, younger.

"He is my responsibility..."

Tierone enters in, a spider on his shoulder