#earthrunes

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Adam reports for his lesson with GrandDame Bondraste.

"Adam" She moves to him and hugs him "i've missed you. Sir Bachdion and Sir Magnus have been hoarding you from me"

She looks at him "Let me take a look at you"

Her eyes glance over, mmmm

He hugs her back.

"Oh my," She says "So, what did you learn spying on the Modernest hold?"

"Spying?"

"Of course, not poking around in their forbidden areas. We have stealthers for that.But getting to know the locals, making them realize we're not the enemy. I guess 'agent' is a better word?"

"GrandDame....." He calls her on it.

"Yes?" Innocent attempt

"Yeah, ok." He steps away from her, backing up.

Then she says "Well, I'm not entirely full of it, Adam. For some, you're the Fiona they're going to get to know best. We're a commoner loving house., and I do hope you make a good impression. Part of politics, a part of any sidhe, is the people's touch"

"So" She says with a smile "Are you making any new friends?"

"No."

"oh" she says and pats his hand "Is it anti Sidhe bias?" Even as she considers taking a seat

"No. May I be excused? My stomach hurts."

"It does? let's go to Emma right away" She takes his arm "The healer might have something to settle that"

Adam goes to the garden, and the healer.

The healer's hut features a collection of smiling jack-o-lanterns wearing flower crowns.

A soft knock "Oh Emma, dear?" the old woman says

Adam waits in patient sufferance.

"Oui? Password?" The peephole swings and a dark eye blinks out.

"s'il vous plaît"

"Allonsy!" She opens the door, whiskers a-twitch. "Is it the plague?"

"Adam has a hurting stomach" She says and looks to Adam "Any details"

"In, in, in..." She gestures with her hands, like herding chickens into the roost.

"Hurts."

"I hope it's not something he ate at the farm"

"You better not sit on the bed." to Adam.

He does not.

"She means do sit on the bed"

If he hesitates, she steers him onto the bed by his shoulders.

Adam is a model patient.

"So, cher, what has been happening?"

Hand on his forehead.

"He's been under a lot of stress from what I'm hearing" Grand Dame Bondraste starts to helicopter "He doesn't enjoy his mortal learning school. I had hoped he'd make friends. "

"Oh dear. You have turned into a hummingbird." To the Dame. She points at a chair with her tell. "YOU must roost. I have nectar." Indeed, a tea set is on a table nearby.

Adam waits.

"oh fine" The woman sits and gets some tea, "I just, he's normally so healthy"

"Adam, you just tell this old possum all the gossip... when did your tummy start getting grumpy?"

"Just now."

"I see, I see. And what happened when it didn't hurt? Did you eat a great big helping of trolls?"

"Huh? Yeah, I guess. I mean.... no. " Even Adam is puzzled.

"Oui, trolls can be most tough to digest."

Adam feels chattier and chattier as the Pooka talks to him

"No tummy-aches before the farm?"

"No, miss. Ma'am. No."

"What terrible thing did you try to digest, then?"

"...was it olives?"

"No?"