#brightwindsbarony

"Noooo! Please stay for a little while?"

Peter says "Well, okay. If the Baroness approves of me I will probably visit a lot" A smile "Maybe I'll even be able take you to Whataburger if you like? "

"Oh, you'll see. She's pretty and nice!"

"And wait until you see her feathers."

"Lead on, my dear" he says

The Thane agrees "Actually, Page, I should get back to my post outside, if you'll take Mr. O'Wang to the Baroness, so much the better"

"Page on duty! Oh, when it's official, it's Baroness Dare-in-with, which is spelled with D's because it is welsh, isn't that a funny language?"

"Not nearly so sensible as Cornish" the Piskie Rep agrees "But pretty"

"I hear King Arthur was from Cornwall. Is it true, do you know?" Leading the way.

"Oh I like to think so, but there are other areas that claim him. In truth, King Arthur is such a powerful dream that it he's probably all of the above" A chuckle

"Fair, so, there's a whole council of kiths, and the reps from each are...." Prattling.

And Peter listens.. he's got to work with these folk. And, if her talk also mentions the neat things they often have on them, so much the better

(End Scene)

the Piskie named Peter O'Wang bows before the Baroness

Dio smiles and whispers "I like his cap."

"Oh, Dio."

"Hello, Mr. O'Wang."

Sparrow is in her throne, wings mantled like a cape against the cold. Irene has claimed her spot to the side, an eager and ready page.

"Hello, Baroness" he says in kind "As you may have been told, I'm the chosen representative of the Piskie population to bring you our complaints and ideas and so on. Ain't but four of us at most regular, and some of us live on the outer boundary of the barony, but it's no trouble for us to filter thinngs through one if that one be willing. I must confess, I was pleased to see young Irene already doing our kith proud here."

Sparrow smiles. "Irene has proven to be a very good page. We're glad to have her. And I am glad to hear of the return of more fae. Harkson... well..."

"In truth, Baroness, it is that man's memory that is your greatest obstacle to unity if you donn't mind me saying so? Not justt that he put the the bad label on your own kith, nor even the trolls, but the damage he did to every kith in his way" Peter frowns

She nods. "There's a lot of healing to do. And the bastard had a talent for stirring hate and fear between kiths."

"We didn't help to be fair. Irene was out of it for a part so would not know, but every kith looked after themselves. Folks envy the Eshu for their relatively getting out of it, but they also resent them, and to a lesser degree we Piskies, for leaving them behind. The trolls tried to stand between us and 'soften the blow ' only to become the fists doing the hitting on Hark Son's command. The Nockers became so paranoid about Harkson geting their design secrets, they'ed no share them with anyone even when it might help us against him. Boggans were seen as too cliquish or soft at times, not fair, they probably held best. The slaugh? Well, we always wondered which of them was working for harkson on the side. And so on. Dark humor was , for a time, only kith you could trust besides your own was a selkie because if you saw one , you know she was lost"

A little snort. "Well. Not how it will be now. Some kith disagreement is inevitable, of course - different priorities, different temperaments - but I hope you'll take the time to see how far we've come in these few months."

"Of course" he says, and his eyes sparkle "I hear the food is good and no Piskie ever turned down great food for honest work"

"Oh, we certainly have good food - now, are you looking for employment then?"

"Mortal side I should be fine" He says "Every now and then I'll work for Amtrack and other rails in Alpine and here... well, non passenger here."

She nods. "We have several fae who do odd jobs around the hold for dross or mortal cash, depending. The pages get an allowance, the thanes are mixed, Hope gets a little of both, but then, Steward is a lot of job..."

"So it is, but I know it may sound odd, but I don't think I should be a reprehensive to my people AND reliant on you for money. it puts my intregrity into question. "

She raises her hands. "Understood. Each kith determines how their rep is selected, and you figure what's your comfort with it. Now, I will ask you to be respectful during council sessions. I ask that of everyone."

"why not just protocol us?" He asks

"Why should I need to? Seems presumptive to assume you can't behave in a civil manner."

He smiles and looks at Irene "I see what you meant earlier"

"Now, if it looks like someone might come to blows?" She shrugs. "Immediate threats are different. Please don't try to punch anyone, as a rule."

Irene nods!

"A good rule" the Piskey says "I'll shout hey rube and join in the fray when I must, but I'm not a man who seeks out a fight. I'll try to mind my Ps and Qs a Court formal though.." A bow to Dio and a kiss on her hand, "I'll look like ragweed next to this fine tulip of a lady"

Dio beams and looks at Sparrow "Oh I like him- for all the shallow reasons"

A soft laugh, musical. "Dio is my social organizer - if you need a shindig, she's tops."

"I do enjoy a good shin dig now and then," the man admits

"LOVELY..." She says "Mister O'Wang, I know you don't want to be too reliantt on any noble but I do hope you might consider helping us now and then with preperation, for fair compensation? I knew some Piskies who were part of a traveling theatre group. They could arrange a set with the best of them and in good ime"

'Ha, well, not every piskie has that talent" He admits "But I am Sure I know some folks who know some folks. Getting ready for Carnivale are you?"

"Oh - do any of your kithmates need the fire? Between the storm and Covid, I worry travel could be draining..."

A little flick of her wings. "Carnivale is soon, yes. Please, send word of that invite out, also."

"I figure that's part of my task to them," He says "To keep in the loop with those Piskies nearby and if any forget boot them here. Happy to say we're in good shape"

And he tips his hat "Will do, Baroness Dare-in-with"

Clearly trying to prounnce it right

She nods. "Nicely done. Now, if you run into me in the halls, Sparrow is fine. In town, I'm Julia." A laugh. "Too many names, sorry!"

"Hazard of the trade" he says

"Now.. any musicians in your four? We have a pooka minstrel, but I certainly can't ask him to take sole duties for the whole party. And for that, I am offering just plain old cash. Not 'exposure." Stressing the last with satirical mocking. Oh, if he hadn't been told she was an artist before...

At that he grins "isn't amazing how many folks want to HELP a creator in ways that contribute not one bit of food on the plate or roof overhead? Those GENEROUS Souls" Oh she may have made a friend, or at least found a connection "now I work the rails, not the sort of thing that gets ordered online, but I can't tell you how many folk try that exposure nonsense. As a matter of fact, we have one and I'll pass word"