#anywhere

Zara sees her half brother. He is not comfortable here , despite his sidhe blood. Oh he's better than he knows, but Ivory has been on hsi guard so long he may never trust a room that has balor in it

"Here, I cannot challenge. We need a noble, and that you are. This fraud has no claim, and they already sense he is illegitimate. Call him out, stop his petition in its tracks. Speak of the Pale Witch if you must, I may be a boogieman. I will gladly reinforce that idea if they pursue."

"You're the rightful heir, in every sense that matters," Ivory frowns "Why don't I challenge on your behalf?"

"Challenge on behalf of the White Raven, on Manynames, on the Krofter-bourne. That is I, but... use not my name yet. No. Let his own House see what he provokes."

"They are no fools."

"I suppose not. What if they challenge me to a duel and I lose?"

He frowns "I'm good, but I am still new"

"Then you select a champion. THAT need not be settled here."

"You, of course, do no dishonor - you are simply bringing up a point of order. He has no standing before the Paler heirs."

"I'm exactly thrilled to claim relation" He sighs "But it has to be done, doesn't it?"

"Aye. It must."

"But... he is dead. And must stay dead."

"I would love to piss on his grave"

He takes a breath, and nods "Best not be seen with me when I do this"

Zara nods, and fades into the shadows.

And the young man turns.

...................

Vashti for her part is trembling..her wings a quiver with silent rage

She was Paler's toy, tool, and victim for most of her life. To have him, even indirectly raised from the dead? is enough to send the normally serene pooka into a seizure of reopened hatred

But Zara is there, a cool hand on her sister's shoulder, reassuring.

The trembling eases somewhat, but does not cease, Vashti whispers "he's ash, and smoke and filth cast aside...why do they try to scuplt from this lie?"

"Grubby, grasping greed. They wish power and influence, and meddle with what they do not understand."

"I thought his words were slain with his wagging tongue, even the records were scratched"

"Aye. My hex went far, and may yet rebound upon this imposter."

"and curdle his blood?" a bit of hope

"One can hope."

"thou art the worst sister, with thy bellowings and ravings" A smile

"Aye. A terrible sturm and drang."

"aye, like being a sibling to Keith Moon"

"Oh, a moon for us both, nu?"

"I am a little bit country, thou art a little bit rock and roll?"

her tremors have stopped entirely as a smile slips out

"Certainly." She strikes a rock-star pose, a toss of her bangs.

Okay, that gets a full blown giggle, and then a hug "to rob a moth's dignity so"

"Aye. Most terrible."

"Sister, Phobos and Demos are strong in thier grips...I suspect I may not be alone in that clasp, but wriggling some.. I name no one mind... some slip from and then take others on their journey to the frailest virtue"

"Ah... but I am a dream of fear... I shall be thy shield."

"You shield venom" She reminds "I had thought I could make honey but perhaps threads and weavings of joyful decor are not my fate? "

She turns Vashti's chin so the pooka may see the gleaming Truthbranch delegation, bedecked in her creations.

"Not honey, but wondrous webs of silk."

A smile, "Bah. Sidhe could catwalk in a barrel and it would seem shapelely"

She scoffs!

"take fleeting sparrow there.. I fear covering any part of her is considered a crime by half the men here, and a third of the women... I shall be strung up for my duties upon her form"

(At about this time, they can see August join Ivory?)

"Ah, but the frame can make what is revealed more enticing?"

(Sure)

"truth... " She agrees, a giggle, "Perhaps Yule is my holy day... wrapping gifts"

August glares definitely at the Balor beside Ivory.

And then Vashti goes serious again as August unites with Ivory

"I merely wrap toes for yule... oh, but thine shalt be most toasty!"