#anywhere

they head to the car, and it is once more just the three of them, "Well done, Adam."

"Thanks." He breathes again.

"That was... complicated."

"You noticed?" She doesn't mock, she seems surprised

"Yeah!" As everyone is seated and buckled, Adam starts the car and the head away. Happily, he doesn't have to focus much; he knows the Alpine area, after all. "Like... super complicated."

"Yes, there are dances within dances "

Adam drives, preoccupied with processing the different snippets he caught and can remember.

Vali says "And yet a lot got done."

"Yes," Nadeen says, troubled, "And much revealed. The Baron's daughter was there in the open. He would not risk her for a minor gambit"

"It maybe the spy master is hard pressed and needs to break her out as a reserve," Vali says

.... and possibly listening to what they discuss.

"or a Decoy, as she said" Nadeen frowns, "And Lalaan warned me .. not that i needed it. The Chieftain's challenge at pennons is the least of her worries"

Vali raises a brow "I am surprised an Eiluned is helping a Gwydion Baron"

"She owes me" The Varich shrugs

Adam glances at Nadeen, then in the rear view at Vali.

Vali notices the look then says "Adam, while both are seelie, House Gwydion and House Eiluned can be rivals quite often. They have different values"

Adam nods. "Gwydion value honor, Eiluned value secrets." Lessons recited.

Nadeen raises a brow "Who told you that?"

"Uh..... well, lots of people?"

Vali looks intrigued "Anyone in particular?"

Adam searches his memory for specifics but if he finds any he doesn't voice them as such. "Well.... I mean, not maybe in those exact words but that was, like, the shape of it? Is that wrong?"

"No, it's perfectly dead on actually" Nadeen says "I'm impressed."

Adam grins, pleased. "Thanks. I -am- trying to learn."

"Noticed that," Vali says

Adam sits up a little straighter, pleased with the recognition.

"Sir Vali, am i right in that you did not take him as a squire?" Nadeen says

"I offered, or hinted once that it might be on the table, but he didn't seem interested at least at the time," Vali admits "And I and he did not hit it off. Which I understand. My humor isn't for everyone. It's okay"

An awkward silence.

"You guys..... might not remember. Or it might be different for you, I don't know. But.... finding out about all this stuff. Fae, the Dreaming, magic, like that.... it's hard. I think it might be easy to get off on the wrong foot."

"Possible" Vali nods "And I have to say you certainly seem to mind your Ps and Qs in formal court."

"-That- isn't easy either."

"You actually seemed to have an easier time in formal court than you did informal," Nadeen observes "Mind you, you stared a bit too long at many, but we sidhe are used to that"

"It's really -hard- not to do -that-...." with a sigh.

A mile or two later. "What did you mean, 'an easier time'?"

"You were on better behavior than I've seen you at informal situations" She clarifies. "While part of it is probably due to how new you were, there were times in the lodge where you seemed to not respect the laid back if stoic Rivervale protocals"

Vali says "he's gotten better about that too." the knight considers "The Chief seems to think so"

Another mile or so. "Like I said.... easy to get off on the wrong foot, with all this."

"Perhaps, it could also be he just subconsciously respects sidhe more. We are born to rule, others, like The Chieftain, earn it in other ways besides merely being." Nadeen says

Vali smirks "No comment"

Adam makes no comment either.

"You warned him about eying the Spy master's daughter?" Nadeen says.

"I did. I think he got more interested" Vali shrugs

"Oh goodness sake" She sighs

"Well? She's kinain too, I could learn from her....."

"You have Sally Mae and Marsha Wayburton who are Kinian. You should learn from them, much safer" a hrumph from Nadeen.

"I learn from Sally Mae too, but she's not Sidhe. Neither is Mrs. Wayburton."

"Neither are you or the Baron's daughter" Nadeen points out

A frown. "I'm not troll or satyr blooded either. They say."

"Yes, but blooded is not the same as being." SHe says "it matters less than the soul, s o you can still learn a lot about being kinain even from Kinian of different blood"

"And I do, but I can learn the most about being Sidhe-blooded -from- Sidhe-blooded. Right?"