#brightwindsbarony

Finally the meals are prepared and done. Mary Ellen says "Thank you folks. We'll serve. "

Cliff nods and backs away to wash his hands and clear down his station.

Permaz asks "As we appear done, may we talk in a quiet place?"

He nods. "Tea?"

"Tea would be fine" She answers

He nods, and makes the brew before finding a tray and a quiet corner. He serves her.

"Thank you, you are very kind. I apoloize for taking up your free time. I know enouh of your kith to know they are private souls. But I am hoping to learn about Concordia in genneral, and this are specifically."

He fixes tea and takes a sip of his own before speaking.

"Where shall I start?"

"Are..we, " She starts to say, then her features look gguilty "Is the baroness as ggood as she seems? Are we safe here?"

"Is anyone as good as they seem?" he gives a slight shrug "I have heard good reports. She has rewarded work fairly in my experience. Are you safe......?" he trails off.

She nods and waits

"I could not say."

"You are honest. Thank you for that," She nods "Do you have advice?"

"I have heard only that you and others from the deserts have arrived in our own desert as refugees?"

"We were rescued in part by Rovers, a true risk, the mortals who cam with us are not meant for the Dreaming, even enhanted. If not for them, we would have died or been lost. There is no other way to say this. They took us here, to an ally, the baroness, and, yes, she seems to be most generous and kind. Do you really want to know about the rape threats before we got to the trod, or the people who died ? I find most don't"

"I have heard these stories before, from my elders. You and your people are not the first, nor sadly the last. That is cold comfort, though. Welcome to a Land of Refugees."

"Thank you, Cliff. If you offer hard truths, they're still truths. I prefer that to lies that crumble under your feet. " She closes her eyes, then "Do you know where the nearest mosque is? Not all of us are muslim but obviously more than a few are"

His eyebrows rise but he takes a moment to think. "Nothing south of here."he says with certainty. "Probably to the east, heading towards san Angelo or Abilene. It would be a drive, though."

"Maybe Stockton, or Midland. I don't get out that way much."

And she nods "Thank you"

"I suppose I could tell you of the Jinn, our kiths but I'm not sure how greatt a factor is in our fitting in"

"Ktih matters a great deal to some in Concodia. Some, perhaps many."

A nod , "My own the Kith is called Qareen, some of the other jin, that's our term for kith, consider us 'walking libraries'. We do not forget anything in this life. Annd our lives are long, for each of us ages quite slowly despite our miens. We are tied to the truth, and the sharing of it. "

"Sounds like a double edged sword."

"It is often so, even our gifts might be seen as curses. Yet among Jin soceity we are respected for what we can bring to the table as it were. By the time you are an old man, it likely I will look but a few years older to mortals at most, yet I will remember this tea and conversation, the number of leaves, the flavor, every word and inflection, as perfectly as clear crystal. In a sense, you will never be forgotten until I die. Which sounds rather impressive until you realize I will also remember stubbing my toe two years ago just as clearly" A hapless smile

"And, truth, perhaps there are some things best left forgotten."

"For at least some of the children, that is probably a truth" A consideration tthen "Other Jin include the ifrit. Should I tell you of them as well? "

He sips his tea; no Earl Grey here;, this is a native blend. "Please."

"I do not recognize this ttea, it's quite good. " But she goes on "The afareet, ifrit is singular, are most often warriors, soldiers. They hold to honor, value strength and leadership but they are as hotheaded as they come. Insults to their honor are always answered. They seem as if crafted from dreams of fiery stone, which suits that behavior. They're strong, nearly immunnne to flame, and they stand out. "

"They sound most impressive."

"I have found them so, but a touch too heated in more than one way," Permaz admits "But if you do not insult their manageable enough. " A consideration "They are certainly more reliable than the Lilin"

And he learns much

(End Scene)