#earthrunes

"They can be happy. But.. yes, Zing has pain she hides, too."

"Zing wants to tell her mortal folks their dreams for her are not hers," Velvet says "Kylie told me. I think that sadness is only stronger, for how can a pooka say such to those she most respects?"

It's clear the squire has kept an eye on the fledges. A kindness- sluagh style

"It... that can be hard."

"Maybe I can I help?"

That from the Rusalka "I too am new. "

"Well, it is perhaps not a problem that has much to do with our fae selves, but our mortal."

"Pooka are burdened, too, by the way the Dreaming twists their tongues."

"They cannot help it - do not be angered when they lie."

"I will remember " A nod

"Vashti is a most agreeable pooka."

"The seamstress? "

"Aye."

"Quiet and mannerly." High praise!

"And talented. She's agreed to weave me a shroud when I am ready" A happy sigh from Velvet who appreciates a well done shroud

"Oh, delightful!"

Veronica arches a brow at this. "I shall get to know her better then. If she'll welcome approach" The Rusalka pauses "Though ..odd. I ..find I don't think of clothes the same way I used to"

"Mmm.. the Rusalka do not mind nudity, no."

PINK.

"I..how mortifying" Veronica says "I hadn't even.. oh my and here I was dubious about satyr"

"It's as Miss Zara said earlier, parto f your dream might be to be seen, to be desired, but not to be had." Velvet quotes

If Velvet knows of Zara's tendencies to sometimes swim nude , she does not THINK of letting it slip

"One thing, a Fiona hold will be fairly forgiving."

"Mmm. Tasha may have more difficulties, at the Farm."

"The second one" Veronica says "is the farm harsh?"

"The farm is troll."

"Trolls are... conservative, by nature. While the Farm is largely seelie, they do not care for things too different from the familiar."

"They have grown a lot, and worked to be more flexible... but a satyr or rusalka would be a difficult fit there."

"then she should come here" Veronica says with a certainty born of one used to judging life and death "Better for her, better for the trolls"

"They will resist, while she is a fledge. She is family - the Farm is made of familial bonds, her brother and parents are there. But moreso, they will resist for this hold is Noble."

"Bothersome" Veronica says

She nods.

"The sidhe... like you, they spent a long time away from the world, locked in the Dreamng."

"Yes. the..sidhe, they come in many houses, yet all of them rule in their way it seems." A thoughtful look

"The sidhe do not rule all - there are pockets, like the Farm. But yes. There was a war, and it was lost."

"I mean.. their stylings and their drives" She says "Fiona... Varich....Gwydion.. Liam. Ailil.. I've been learning a little of them.. it's amazing they ever unite"

"Oh, that is a dance - constant shifting, power plays in words and swords both. Even the flick of a fan may be a message."

"And they close like fingers on a hand to form a grip at times.." Velvet says

"They are all invested in the monarchist system."

"Though.. Scathach.. seem an odd one out" Velvet says

"A rare few dabble at reform, but what motivation could any have in upending it?" She shakes her head. "Many sidhe are fine leaders, and do good by their people. Do not let the unjust system blind you to the individuals. Hate is a poison that must not be nurtured."

The Rusalka listens and bites her lips in thought

"Scathach stayed. They stayed, rejected titles, and underwent the changeling way. Some Liam and Fiona did also - and there are even rumors of some Autumn Gwydion."

"And... the Varich? The.. House of our old lands? I know one is here, a sir Sergei?"

Zara takes a deep breath.

"Varich... Varich are intelligent. They have a gift for patterns, to read and predict. But Varich are cold."

"Once upon a time, a Varich Prince came to my people, demanding we whisperers find him a bride."

Velvet looks to her tea during this

"A perfect bride, with blood red lips and pale skin and hair as gold as flax."

"No such maiden could be found - and if the sluagh could not find one, no other could."