#carnival

Betrand takes lead and they all fall into position. They travel for many moons... not time, but in the sky they happen to pass the moon like five times, which is surreal. The swamp has fallen behind and they are on roaming plains. They see a herd of centaur charging across the green- but not at them , so no worries. A woman dressed in white furs walks along some Buffalo...patting them as they stand still. there's wisdom in her eyes.

She looks at Kelby and grins a bit...yeah, she had a feeling her friend was a little attracted to Mr. Hero.

The sights are amazing, and she stares appreciatively at the wildlife and the spirits that walk with them.

The moons are a bit worrisome, though...hopefully that's not how much time is passing at home, because if so, she's going to be in SO MUCH TROUBLE.

Yes, speaking of buffalo, dad would give birth to one if she was gone for five nights.

Bertrand goes along, actually being a pretty firm leader when he's not letting Sylvi be it. he stops now and then , hands out supplies, and adapts to the sidhe quickly. Unlike Zane, he doesn't seem easily smitten.

And yes, he does not explain the mirrior or show it to Fanya

Sylvi glances back a time or two, half expecting the sidhe to transform into some toothy creature when her back is turned...she listens to make sure that Zane hasn't given away his heart to her, and that Colton hasn't revealed their true objective.

It's a good thing, her gaze refocuses the boys now and then.

And that's when Bertrand motions to others "Uhm we may need to slow down"

"What's going on, Bertrand?"

Fanya looks up, "You found them!" Exited. A large tent, able to hold ten people at least, is up ahead on the silver where it has widened. The tent is black with a golden sunburst and gold lining.

Sylvi tenses. "Yes. I guess we did." A glance to Kelby, then she mutters to Bertrand, "How close?"

"Well, we're kind of a flat plateau I'm thinking, big grassy one. But there's a slope not half mile away and i think it maybe there"

Fanya is moving forward towards the tent calling something out in Russian!

"On this Silver branch? Or...maybe there's a different one?" She looks about as Fanya hurries on ahead, making no effort to follow.

"I don't see one.." Betrand says 'We may have to try to sneak by while she distracts them" A wince "Is that furking dishonorable of me?"

"Not dishonorable. But...no sneaking. " She turns to the others. "We walk up. We acknowledge that we helped her. We decline reward if offered, which I don't think it will be. We don't share our business. And we move on. Okay?"

"Not to be rude, but why not a reward?" Zane says "Dad says a properly reformed noble system recognizes debts to commmoners."

"Because if they try to take the balefire from us later, we need leverage to argue for us keeping it."

"Or...okay, maybe we accept the reward of a favor to be named by us later?"

"Still...Varich...unseelie. Not likely they'll offer."

Kelby says "Please, no one mention the farmhold."

"No, no mention of the Farmhold, or Iowa, or anything like that."

Others agree with both troll girls..more or less. Colton confesses, "I knew a Varich I liked, but I'm not sure he was typical. Hard house to know. Hardly Celtic at all. They have a big 'one with the land' vibe true, but other than that it's..well slavic dream tends toward grim"

"I think of the fairy tales with girls having their toes cut off, and that's all I need to know, yeah. Anyway...if they're ask where we're from, we say we came from Firnost, which is true. Okay...let's go."

They move towards the tent and see a gathering, Fanya is being fussed over and fussed at for her coming after them. The rest of the Varich seem to be mostly wilder warior types, about four of them. But there is one female grandame in soft robes and whose silver hair is laced with gray. She turns to see them approach and rises, using a staff to do so.

Okay...that's intimidating, Sylvi thinks, but she maintains her pace until they reach the group, then nods respectfully to the granddame.

"So these are your rescuers?" The grandame says to Fanya. /Fanya nods, "Yes, they rescued me. "//The warriors turn and eye the younger wilders with calm calcluating eyes. There is something in each Varich's gaze that makes one feel like they're being disconnected whether they like it or not.//The Grandame speaks to the Band of heroes "It would seem we owe you thanks for rescue of one of our own. I am Baroness Drga Harrowwind. I am a seeress, and more. May I ask why you saved a stranger? The Escheat, some think, is for the mortal world."

"Baroness Harrowind, I will be honest...if it had been up to me, we would not have rescued her. I thought she was a nightmare trying to trap us. But they..." she nods to Colton and Bertrand "...they insisted."

A look, "Oh? And they are?"

"And she..." A nod to Kelby "...is the one who threw the rope to pull her in."

She allows the others to introduce themselves as they see fit.

"Squire Colton, Baroness." He bows//Betrand Says "Just Bertrand, miss. I ain't nothing but common."//"Mm would you like not to be? I could easily elevate you both to knights." The Varich woman offers, "Give you honored places in our house."

Kelby's eyes widen at this, no with envy either. Worry

She really wants to give the boys a GLARE...but she stares resolutely ahead. It's their decision, she doesn't get a say. but like Kelby, she's worried.

"thank you for this honor, your ladyship, but I have a knight, and I have compatriots. They say a man cannot serve two masters. I don't know about that, but I'm just a simple fellow and I know I sure can't juggle three" Colton says

This gets a bit of a smile from the Baroness

A bit of tension released there, but still...Bertrand wouldn't...would he?

Betrand shakes his head "No thank you, kindly at the offer to make me a sir, ma'am. But like a movie once said "Calling me Sir would be like putting an Elevator in an outhouse- It don't belong'."

"Is there nothing we can do to reward either of you?" The Baroness says, "A treasure perhaps?"

Sylvi presses her lips together to control the grin she really wants to grin. Then she glances at the boys as the reward is offered.

"Perhaps another time?" Bertrand says "I really can't htink of anything." "yes, do forgive us . We should be going," The Squire says "I need to get back to my Liege. Perhaps I should consult with her on how best to use a favor, but..we are quite good. Just...have a meal in our honor when we leave perhaps?" //"If you insist..." The baroness says//The nocker says "Fanya does seem quite hungry. We're all good, but definitely set her down, let her clean up. Only proper."

And...the Varich, surprised by this lack of interest , do just that.

Another respectful nod to the Baroness, and Sylvi urges the group onward again.

"Colton, that was smart" Bert says //"You don't have to seem surprised" Colton jokes//"Okay," Zane says "Why didn't we stay for food?"//"Because it buys us time," Bertrand says "By changing their focus we're going to get a head start on them. And furk, we need it"

"We really do. If you're hungry, I brought some..." She reaches into her pack and hands out meat pies, like empanadas. "Mom made a bunch, and I lifted a few."

"Oooh, your mom made this?" Zane says "I thought we just had junk food. Awesome. Your mom is great" Munching

Everyone agrees on that.

She grins. "When we were in the pines earlier, I imagined you saying some not-nice things about her, Zane. I'm glad we're out of there." She looks at Colton and Bertrand, starts to say something, then shakes her head.