#earthrunes

Time passes, and Adam wakes up in place that smells of herbs and sunshine.

It takes a minute for him to really wake up. Then he jolts, and sits up.

"Well, you had a nasty spill," Bondraste says, the Granddame looking over him

"GrandDame? What happened?"

"Do you want it blunt or want it gentle?" The old woman offers him tea.

He takes the drink with nervous fingers. "Uh. Gentle?"

"Okay. You were under a cantrip that made you see someone as she wasn't. It was meant for humorous purposes, no malice, but you had a bad reaction to it and might have been a wee bit unstable. Then you passed out."

He sips his drink. "Dame Honoria, right?"

"Well, yes, Dame Honoria was the one you saw as someone or something hideous. But she did not cast the cantrip. So was in fact confused as you were until we figured it out. She actually thinks it's kind of funny now, but is hoping you're okay"

He sets the tea down. "Yeah. I guess so." he seems troubled, though.

"What's on your mind?" She says

"Not the first time that's happened. Someone tricking me like that. I don't like it."

"Was the other person also a pooka?" Curious

"Yeah."

"I see. Well honey, that's their nature. it's like trying to keep a nocker from building. You can try to guide them, make requests, but they simply must prank. Also, Shalimar is the Court Jester. Do you know what that means?"

"He's got a license to be a jerk?"

Amused, "As point of fact, arguably yes. Jesters have the authority to mock authority. They can speak their minds more or less, and it's crucial they do so. They not only lighten the mood of any, when one sees who they mock, what jokes they tell, it can be a good way to get the pulse of the people and land that a ruler might not realize. They can push their luck with their sovereign, but as a rule, it's their job not just to entertain, but to hold up a funhouse mirror to things. "

"Great. Just what I need in my life." Adam sighs and swings his feet to off the bed to the floor. "My mood is -not- lightened, and I don't have any authority so I guess he screwed up."

Bondraste says "Adam, you're Fiona, or so it seems. We're a commoner friendly House. If you ever transition, you're going to need to try to understand the other kith. You can't just dismiss them as the bad guys if they do something you don't like."

"Sorry, GrandDame, and I don't just dismiss people. I'm on the ....." he adjusts his language "... fuzzy end of this lollipop. Fae have the advantage on me in every way, but I'm trying to make it work. I don't like being taken advantage of and fooled."

"Check your wallet" She motions

Frowning, he does.

It's all there. Money, cards, etc.

"Anything taken?" She says

"No."

"Good. I didn't think there would be but ..well, when you said you were taken advantage of... I was curious what advantage he got from this."

Adam sighs. "Fae have the advantage on me. You have magic, and you can use Glamour and you can walk in the Dreaming and everything and I can't. I don't have any way to defend myself if someone, if someone Fae, wanted to do something to me. That's what I meant."

"Everyone has the advantage over someone, my dear. By title, by superior magic or sword skill. But we mustn't assume that every one who is better than us in some area is a bad thing. It can be a blessing. Take Shalimar. If you were to make friends with him, you'd have someone who could teach you chicanery, how to juggle, and keep you up to date as much as a pooka can."

"Make friends with him?"

"How do you think Fiona gained so many kingdoms?" A smile "Gwydion claims the RIGHT to rule. Eiluned manipulate with spells behind the scenes. Dougals work hard no doubt. Liam take the scraps. And the Scathach don't try. Fiona make friends. When the people get a chance to vote on which noble rules, it's often a member of House Fiona they select trusting the Silver Lion to be more understanding"

"I.... guess."

"Now I'm not telling you you have to make friends with Shalimar, I'm stating it as an option. One that might be productive and do you both good. " A tilt of her head "I am curious why that spell got to you so hard. Bachdion says you were almost catatonic . We don't scare, so I guess it was disgust?"

"I.... I was confused. I couldn't tell who to trust, that's why I wanted you. Or Sir Bachdion or Sir Magnus."

"Someone I could trust."

She ponders this, "Then I think maybe this IS a good thing. Honoria says you looked like you were ready to grab your weapon and stab her..which would have been bad. But when folks tried to talk to you, you wouldn't or couldn't tell them what was wrong. You wouldn't tell them what you saw. Not even Sir Bachdion who you did trust. You wouldn't answer questions." She looks worried "Adam, did your parents ..ever ...abuse you for bringing problems to them?"

"No!"

He seems affronted.

"I didn't want to say what I was seeing because.... well, I didn't want to offend Dame Honoria. She's beautiful, uh, most of the time. It wasn't -her- fault."

"Adam, when one of your mentors asks you a direct question, we expect and need you to answer it. If you have to warn first that it's going to sound rude or insulting, that's fine, but you need to answer. Bachdion was about ready to murder someone for cursing you.. satyrs are hot blooded like that."

"Yes, ma'am." Quietly, looking down.

"That said, it's clear this really had a bad effect on you, and everyone has their vulnerablities. I just wish I knew why this one affected you so deeply. And I apologize for asking about your parents, but you see why I'm looking for causes. Confusion in our world, well, it's not rare. We see amazing and horrible things alike every day it seems. I don't want you crippled and helpless if something like that happens again. "

"I don't -want- to be crippled or helpless. Dame, it's not just this time or the last time it's -all- the times. It's.... it's people not being who they seem to be."

"Adam, none of us are who we seem to be, that's why we're called Changelings" She says gently

He huffs, a little frustrated. "You know what I mean."

"Actually I'm not sure I do. But if I might speculate? And I might as you're far too polite a boy to say I may not," She sips her own tea, "Your gift has always been seeing changelings and chimera no one else could. So the full ramifications of our meins never really sunk in for long. You might have freaked at first, but soon it became 'just how it was'. Then you were raised by trolls. A lovely kith, dedicated, duty bound, but my word they are not often likely to spring surprises on you and when they do talk, they tell it to you pretty straight. Annoying boyfriends at times. I had one. Asked what he was thinking as his silence was making me paranoid. He told me 'nothing' and I just KNEW there was something that he didn't want to talk about because to wilder me, that's what nothing meant. Do you know what he was really thinking about?"

"What?"

"Nothing. He was honestly thinking about nothing. Trolls" A sigh "They're not stupid, and still waters can run deep, but suffice to say that I think the trolls at Rivervale have not kept you prepared for surprises. YOu are a sidhe, at least, some part of you is now, and I'm afraid that part of courtly living is masks and keeping your cards close to your vest. Hang around, watch, not the beauty of the people, but how they interact. A compliment can be used to cut, a bow can be used to show defiance, a simple brushing of hands a promise of a torid love affair. Sidhe politics are built on confusing the right people while making sure others get the mesage. Few beyond our kith break that code" A pause "Save for the boggans. Lovely kith but they do have most of our numbers"

"Squire Tylar seems cool."

"Tylar's a lovely fellow" She agrees, "Heart as big as a hillside. Liam is lucky to have him. My point is, Adam, we need to build up your ttolerence for Confusion. Unfortuately, that means we may have to start confusing you out of no where to build that tolerence up' SHe frowns "I feel like I should apologize to you now"

"I don't want to be all paranoid and suspicious of everyone all the time."