#anywhere

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February had a rather full plate for the County. New Agengard and Talon both have holidays.. Imbolc is essential for any hold hoping to renew balefire, and while not a holiday of fae sort, one must put down the swarm of Cupids that bombard the areas come Valentine's day. Adelaide very nearly got shot with her first crush, and she still a childling. She was deeply offended by this treacherous attempt and attempted to dictum the chimera to go get eatten by the dragon. Exactly how Thea felt about that, well, that's the Eiluned's business. Then there was Tiffany...a very useful Thane, who took time off, came back a day later than expected, with numerous disenchanted kithian and some heroes from that farm and a young redcap who looked freaked out to be in New Agengard

Something familiar bout this...dirk?

".... and then you brought them all here?" With some polite disbelief "That is, the ones that didn't fit available space elsewhere?"

"Whoops?" A wounded thane says , her tail not wagging no, "It's constipated ... we tried to take a trod, but picked up one of these.." She grabs her tail, "And I thought you know, I'll follow my nose and I forgot I eat all my cereal here. Also some of them are a weee bit messed up"

Gunshot wounds, cold iron cuts...though nothing lethal thank goodness and rather minor at that, and of course, chimerical wounds are on the rescuers.

The Countess nods. "Guards, heavier security at all the raths, immediately. Lady Sage, bring our healers. Call them in from Talon's Rest if needed."

The former prisoners? One 16 year old troll girl seems almost timid and too scared to look at any men. A scared troll. Lord what did they, well, one can guess what she was put through. She's hardly alone. A 10 year old boy, a satyr he maybe, but he was far too young to be used in such a fashion.

Another teenage girl seems of angrier tougher stuff... her kith a Wichtel, how rare, or at least, it was rare. Germanic. Said to hold a grudge. And with good reason.

She pauses and murmurs "Were they all this young?"

The guards are , of course, prompt to move and obey. At the question, Tiffany glances over at a slim troll who appears to be wearing both light chimerical leathers and bullet proof armor. There is a short sword by his side. Tiffany looks at him "I'm going to throw my voice..catch"//"Catch?" Earl says then..he inclines his head "I think she wants me to explain with less..pooka, your ladyship. To answer your question...not all. THere are two grumps... but they were the exceptions and not terribly old grumps at that. It was...incredibly ugly. We meant to rescue them all, and we believe we did, but even familiar with similar operations, some of the things going on were...very unpleasant and I would not speak them in front of a lady of any kith."

A thin smile. "You might be surprised as what I, myself, have seen and survived, young.....?" She pauses for a name.

"Sir Earl," he says a more formal bow. Though the bow itself is not natural to him, and the style is more of one who studies ballroom dancing than attends court. "And yes, I apologize. I was presumptive. I'm an artist by trade not a warrior, but I can cast a portal passage when I need to. It opened the way while Thane Tiffany blew their door up and then started firing. She didn't violate the Escheat, though we were all tempted."

Indeed the Thane gives a low growl at some memory, then wags "What the short guy said, your excellency"

"Sir -Earl-, indeed; a surfeit of titles." Lady Sage brings healers and Thea instructs her to tend to the young troll girl. She approaches the wounded, meeting their eyes and, if the rumors are true, seeing into their souls. She pauses by the satyr boy. "Frith?" with a tilt of her head.

"They said my name is supposed to be ..whatever others tell me it is" the satyr says with eyes a bit too dead for one his age "Should I...did you want me to be Frith? did you want me to go somewhere and take my clothes off?"

"No, Child." Softly. "I wish you to be healed. Will you let one of my servants tend you?"

"yes? I.. before the balor came. my name was Harrow. Can.. can I be harrow again? It's been so long"

for a moment, the boys eyes flicker with..well, hope.

"Welcome to the County of Charm, Harrow, and my court of New Agengard." She gestures a healer over. "Be at peace."

The 16 year old troll girl, still scared, relaxes a little as she is lead off by another servant

a female one, of course.

"Heal them all, use the 'Fire if needed, and see them fed, clean, and changed. I want a status report hourly."

"Can I have a weapon?" A voice speaks out of turn. One of the prisoners. The Witchtel girl. They do have a reputation as being rather plain spoken she hears "I'm grateful for all this... I am...but I'd like a weapon so if anyone tries anything I can break their damn skulls." Then as an after thought "your excellency" Wichtel tend to be short, wiry individuals built out of solid muscle. The girl is all this, but pretty as well in an athletic girl next door way.

Another curious head tilt and her walking stick tap tap taps on the dark marble as she approaches the girl. "What is your name?"

Harrow has been lead off. One of the older gentler healers taking care of him. Adelaide watches these commoners curiously, betraying nothing yet. No fear of them, but also not betraying too much sympathy. She is in learning mode.

"Evi" The young wilder says "It's like Eve, but with an I at the end isntead of a second E." Heres' one who has no trouble asserting her identity

Her Excellency nods. "Evi, I'm not in the habit of arming injured guests, but I do understand your concern. I will assign a bodyguard to you immediately, if you wish, and I will arm you as soon as it's feasible. Will that suit you?"

"Well, yeah. Better deal than I had, obviously. But no need for the body guard. He'd be one of the ones I was on watch against anyway, no offense. I just.. got trust issues right now." She shrugs "But weapon after I get out of here? That's.. yeah. I'd walk the street better, and I could defend myself against any other snake. " At the word 'snake' her face hardens a bit. Yes, odd kith, nockerish in some ways but not in others. "I want some payback on them, but that's not your problem. So.. thanks, your excellency. You've been very cool about this so far."

Earl raises a brow. He thought trolls were direct.

"No need for a bodyguard to be male, but as you wish. Do let us know if you change your mind."

She continues making the rounds of the room.

'We had janes too, your excellency, and some of the damned balor were women..though that's not the term I'd use for them" But she shushes

Another troll, male, his skin more greenish than blue, asign some see as unseelie ..ogreish, thouh no Thallian. He his hair is long and scraggly, unkempt. He smells of unpleasant things done to him. He is muscled, quite fit..as most trolls are. Unlike Evi, he does not speak out loud, but he's not flinching either

Truth, he looks close to Earls' age, maybe a bit younger

making him 19 or 18?

Akanthea looks up at him, dark glasses steady.

BOW your heads, Peasants!

Again, he doesn't flinch, but nor does he pose or front. A stoic unseelie? mm

"I must insist you have any wounds tended and that you are cleaned up. You're free to go afterwards, or you may stay here in Charm."

"Thank you. " He says simply, then adds "Your excellency, is that right? I don't know the noble titles well. "

She nods. "That is correct." She moves along to the next.

A female Nocker girl, not so certain as Evi, not so broken as that older troll. She looks about 14 or 15, still way too damn young. She is also, for her kith, a rather surprising beauty. Many often assume that since they cannnot be matched, sidhe do not often notice other kithain who are lovely by mortal standards. Obviously any time around Fiona would prove that a lie. High cheekbones, developing hour glass figure, even the swirls of her kith are more flattering than garish.

She looks like she wants to ask something but isn't sure she should.

The Countess pauses by her and invites the question with a raised eyebrow.

"Your excellency, my name's Charna. I.. I'm not sfurking sure how to ask this, but are there jobs open at your court? "

"There are; we will see to it. First, heal and rest."

"Thanks, your excellency" A look of relief. It's not hard to guess that the girl is thinking that she has few contacts. She too is taken away

The Countess continues, pausing to look up at Earl.

Some of the others are not as note worthy and Thea passes by them but one catches her attention instantly...