#earthrunes

He edges her chair in, and offers to do the same for the librarian.

Again, a kenning - Fiona are not normally silent, but there's another house that is...

An Arcadian soul, one that has been in its body so long that the liquid has seeped into the vessel, but Arcadian no doubt. However, her jewelry, staff, and slippers all flicker. How many minor treasures does this woman have?

Adam stands and watches her with soft rapture.

"Now, Adam, did I hear you mentioning your sidhe soul? And the Fionahood?"

He nods. "The, uh, librarian and I were talking about Houses and the Escheat and Courts. And politics a little. I'm trying to understand how things work. Lady."

"And I've intruded. My apologies, young Miss Zara," A look to the sluagh, "I hope you don't mind me giving my two pennies on the subject?" The Grandame says then she looks at Adam "Adam, you may not have heard Miss Zara whisper my name. I am Grand Dame Bondraste ap Fiona. In my younger days I had some honorifics that frankly just do not suit me any longer."

"Certainly, a sidhe would speak their kith and house with more experience than I."

"Pleasure to meet you, Grand dame." He says with quiet wonder.

"Yes, but not always more honesty," Bondraste admits to Zara, "We can sometimes be clueless to our flaws I fear. Or reluctant to admit them. My word, talking about a temper problem to a gwydion for example, that's a social disaster waiting to happen, but I thank you." She looks to Adam again "A pleasure to meet you too, Thomas. My you're a strapping young lad. And yes, you're a Fiona I suspect." She looks him over "A fine young man, and yet with quite a headache on your hands. My sympathy. Sometimes the Dreaming, when pressed, insists on putting a moat around a castle"

"Thank you. I...I have been trying to learn more. And figure it out."

"Sounds like a nightmare, metaphorically speaking, and must be decidedly uncomfortable."

He nods, and there is sad pain in his eyes.

Sympathetically she puts a hand on Adam's "You poor boy. Don't you worry. We'll take care of you. Lions walk in prides"

"They don't want me." He whispers.

The pain does lighten a bit at her touch.

An eyebrow.

"Oh my you believe that. That must hurt a great deal on top of it. I assure you, any changeling soul, however it comes about, is welcome news"

He shrugs sadly.

"Well, you'll see" The old sidhe assures, "One day you'll be standing in a grand court, making jokes about all this I suspect. And getting teased by your friends, and praised by some enemies." A pause, then a glance to zara "My goodness we sidhe can be silly can't we?"

A VERY NEUTRAL sip of tea.

"Quite the lady" Grand Dame Bondraste smiles approvingly

Her eyes do glance over the library selection

Zara's pride!

Bronte, of course, is reading - company is less interesting than a new novel.

"That's a wondrous collection, Miss Zara. " Bondraste says "Good to see female writers of the classics get presented front and center, so to speak."

"I do not discriminate, mind... there are many male authors who are dear to me, and represented here. I library cannot be to mine own tastes, alone."

Adam does look curiously at the books Zara had in her arms.

"Oh I noticed that Mr. Dickens has a good place too. You're an anglophile I suspect." A nod then a look to Adam "Adam, you're getting books on Sidhe and houses? And the like? Maybe I can help. Have you a question?"

Romances?

Tristan an Isolde. The Once and Future King. Gawain and the Green Knight.

"Well... Miss Zara said the Houses were, are, all about power and politics. Is that true?"

"Mmm, in some regards that fits. If you realize that ideologies are a part of politics. Sidhe houses are the subject of some conjecture, even among the sidhe themselves. Each House has a founder, and the founder's deeds were so great, it imprinted on those that followed them, or came to follow them. That's not to say we're not indviduals, but in a sense, a house represents both the spirit of a legend passing trhough all who take up that legend's name, but also a means of rulership, a sytle as it is. Ailil, for example, are true politicians, ruling by manipulation, valuing the appearance of beiing correct to the point of being almost hostile to defend it. We Fiona tend to rule with our hearts, and that can be generous and free wheeling, and yet it can also lead to tragedy at times. Even this is a simplistic thing, but it goes beyond what mortals know of political partiies, far beyond it. But it's true even the Scathach, who have claim to be done with noblity and leadership, can't escape it fully. You may find how you think a Leader should act is influenced by your house."

"That.... makes sense.Iguess. But... why Houses at all anymore?"

"Why shouldn't they be around still?" She says "Why would we abandon a rich legacy? I'm proud to be a Fiona, and how ever you came about it, you should be too. We are chivalry, and romance. We fight for love. We love adventure. Ask a Gwydion he'll probably talk of a proud tradition of honor, and rule. " Grand Dame Bondraste beams at some thought "Oh the tales of Fiona are numerous. No one book can contain them all. From the Founder herself right up to the Siege of Earth Runes, you'll find there's a lot worth taking pride in and holding onto. "

"That, and what type of leadership style is best is still the subject of much dreams. Rule by brute force? Rule by manipulation? Is it better to be loved or feared? Is it better to see the forest first then the trees, or see the trees then the forest? Houses are just too useful to ask and answer the question of what a ruler should be and is"

"All that.... sounds good. I guess." reluctantly.

"But the proof is in the pudding eh? Deeds not words?" A smile

He nods. "No offense. "

"No no, that too is a very Fiona attitude. we'd rather do than talk or even plan." A chuckle "Much to the vexation of others."

A soft sigh.

The grand dame gives Zara a sympathetic but not fully apologetic look at that sigh

Adam looks back and forth, puzzled.

Sip.

"I suspect Adam, that Miss Zara has is one of those vexed. But it is just suspicion, and I don't know how familar you are with sluagh, but they can be a private people who do not not appreciate blunt prying. they find it , as a rule, gauche. They have their own ways, and if you plan on dealing with them I suggest you ask Miss Zara or another slaugh, if they care to tell you, about sluagh ettiquette. When you become a sidhe, you will find them an invaluble source of information if they choose to come to you, and a great danger to you if you make enemies of them. If we are the shinning host, they are the lords and ladies in the dim corners, and their court has it's own rules."

"I know a little bit about sluagh. My sister is sluagh."

The barest smile, and a nod of respect to the granddame.

"Aye. How fares Lily?"

"Oh yes, Lily." A nod

He looks surprised. "She's.... fine. Last I saw."