#bergen_county

Adam relates the story of the Spice Thieves. ".... but Mrs Davidson had it under control so I got on with business."

"Okay, not quite as cool as lindnorm slaying" a chuckle "But nice save"

"Thanks. I didn't-want- to hit her but...."

"It's okay, you did the right thing. I mean, for all you knew we're talking manchurian candidate sent by an evil Balor"

"Huh?"

"Brainwashed or bespelled" He translates

"Oh."

Adam flicks idlely at the water.

"And Evil Balor is kind of redundant. I mean...not sure what you've heard of the Houses... Unseelie ones aren't evil... per se, but there's a kind of ranking of open douche baggery and villains and Balor might as well all come with twirly mustaches"

"Yeah, I remember." A shrug.

"Yeah... I hear the leanhaun are worse, but the only one I met seemed likable. Then again Colton's old knight was a jerk.....so MY ranking for 'de ebil' would be Balor, Leanhaun, Darieann..but dont' tell Brogan I said that, Aesin, and then Varich.. not that you cant' have villain types among the seelie noble houses."

"Even, like, the Chief's House? Gwydion?"

He looks around as if expecting a Gwydion to appear, then says "Okay, never ever insult a Gwydion's honor...and most of them are honorable... but some Gwydions? Even the seelie ones, can be kind of villainous. Ever hear of the 'templar' trope? the guys who value law over justice, tradition over individuals, and so on? "

"Tightasses."

"Tightasses can be tyranical... that's one of the reason I like the Chieftain. SHe's not lawful, she's just. She's not narrowminded, she has standards... there's a crucial difference. She makes mistakes, but she's a darn good leader. My father writes books about it and could really nail it, but me? I just know that when push comes to shove, when the people are in danger, or even hurting... the Shacklebreaker is there. And she'll bleed for any one of us, evne ones she doesn't like, because we're her people. I'll take that over some poncy jerkwad who sees us as chess pieces anyday"

"Are Ailil also poncy jerkwads?" A curious voice asks, from the lad who is peering out at the floating...swimming... floating duo.

He is laying on his belly, half-underneath an evergreen shrub, watching the two in frank interest and slight trepidation.

"Ailil are more petty and prone to punching down" Zane starts to answer academically "And that in some ways is worse than a Gwydion's temper except.well, a beserk gwyd might ki..." Suddenly he realizes they have company 'GEEZ, Connor, what. what are you doing here?"

"Why are you taking baths outside?" He asks, his nose wrinkling up as he sniffs. "No soap though. Oh. You're making goat soup? I could bring carrots and taters. You need those for a good stew. "

Adam splashes, startled.

"Eep!" His head is jerked back under the bush as the water splashes, like a turtle retreating into it's shell.

"Oh well there goes THAT secret" Zane buries his head in his hands

He carefully looks back out again, now with twigs caught up in his messy hair. He pulls loose an evergreen sprig, sniffs it, and sneezes before putting it away. His voice a little wounded sounded when he speaks up again. "I don't never share any secrets. At least I wouldn't if anyone shared then with me. Then I wouldn't have to steal 'em like a squirrel looking for someone else's acorns."

"Connor ,I have al ittle sister.. she's about your age ,and she couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it. No offense" Zane says

"Aw..." Adam grins. "Lil guy didn't mean anything, Zane. I think."

"Yeah I know I know...but doesn't mean this place won't soon be swamped" A sigh

He squirms forward towards them a bit, but seems to be somewhat caught now on the branch of the bush. "No, I don't like swamps. They're full of crocodiles and snakes and muddy muck that you don't want to swim in. I won't tell no one about your secret bath."

"Well, I'd appreciate it, Connor" Does not look convinced but tryign to be nicer about

it

He tugs at the branch catching up the hood of his jacket. "You should confuse the trail if you want to keep it alone. Otherwise someone else will find it and make soup in your hot tub. See, you just need to tell it that it's going another direction, then when someone else walks down this way they come out the way they came, alley-oooop."

"I mean...." Adam says lazily "Connor's not going to give away the secret guy hang out, is He? Bet he can help hide it, even.."

"You want to help us hide this, Connor?" Zane asks

"Cause then he can be part of the guy club." Reasonably.

A final tug and he comes sprawling out of the bush, then sits up. His tail gives a wag. "I'm awful good at confusing things."

"That WOULD only be fair" He nods at Adam. Then looks to Connor "Sorry if I was a bit snity , Connor. Yes I'd like to keep this a secret from others for now"

"Okay. Of course I will. That's why it's a can-trip and not a can't trip." He stands up, gives a shake and sends the leaves flying out from his hair, and then steps off down the pathway. "I'll be back 'a'fore you can wash behind your ears." And he steps down the way he came to examine the way inwards towards this little hidden nook, the better for him to plan.

Adam grins at Zane.

Zane smiles back, but says "Can't fault the guy for enthusiasm"

"Olly olly oxen-free." Comes the soft yodel of Connor's voice as he returns. "You should either plant a big big tree that the trail ends on, and folk will go, 'ope, that's a tree awright, and go the other way. Or a big'un log over the path, but sometimes people like to find those and eat up all the wood. Or you can try'n convince the trail that it turns back around and comes out the other way, like a loopedy-loo. "

"I might be able to veil the place but... it's.. nope, out of my reach... " Zane muses "Maybe with dross."

He tilts his head and looks at Adam. "You should ask the path what it wants to help out. A cobble's practically a cookie. Maybe it will play along if it likes the joke."

"Uh... Guess I could. Now?" He looks at Xane.

"I don't know, man... that's a big area...the path I mean?"

"It's good to practice being humble. That means low to the ground. Some pig taught me that. And that no one is too little to talk to."

"This is some Kid" Zane says, guessing the reference

A big grin up at Zane.

"I'm willing to try but...." unsure.

"Well, I can loan you the glamour if you need it" Zane offers "Not sure how this will work or IF"

"I mean.... a cookie is different from, you know.... a whole space."

"Is a cookie just a cookie? Or is it a field strewn with rocky chips and caramel streams? Something is itself and it's parts." He ponders this for a moment, then rubs his belly ruefully at the talk of cookies.