#elsewhere

"This is the tale of the Mouse that Rode the Bear." He starts, then in a stage whisper, "There SHOULD be drumming, but we'll pretend."

Inhale, and... "Long ago, there was a brave named 'Tsi-sde-tsi,' it means 'mouse', you know. He wasn’t the biggest or strongest, and he never got asked to go on hunts, or to go walking with the pretty maidens." A wince, perhaps sympathizing.

"One really, really cold winter, when everyone was starving, Tsi-sde-tsi went into the forest to ask the spirits for help.

He found a huge bear, bigger than any you’ve ever seen, and it roared so loud the trees shook! But the brave didn’t run or fight. He knelt and said, 'Help my people, and you can take me instead.'

Well the bear? It was ACTUALLY a spirit! And it said, 'Prove your courage. Ride me, and I’ll help.' Tsi-sde-tsi climbed on, and the bear ran like lightning through the woods, leaping over rivers and crashing through the snow. But held on, no matter what.

When it was over, the bear bowed to the brave and said, 'You are worthy.' They became partners, and together they saved his village. People say on cold nights, you can still hear Tsi-sde-tsi and Yo-na - that's the bear - running through the forest, watching over everyone."

Tupp grins. "Pretty good, huh?"

Actually, she drummed along softly on the table as he spoke. And then grins "That's a good one"

"Thank you, Tupp. You're good at cheering people up"

Thistle is heading back, sketchbook in her arms. She was out drawing.

If Gwen sees her, she nods

"Oh hey, Tupperware! Oo, breakfast."

"Apparently you impressed Tup"

"Tupp's an alright kid."

"Don't suppose you saw Art out there?"

Tupp goes, “Oooh! Oooh! I brought you breakfast, frizzy- er, Thistle lady!”

"He was putting stuff in the van. I'll get my bags together. Breakfast smells great!"

"Thanks" She says and says "he's already been told but to pass it onto you I told the Countess everything, and my concerns after I apologized . She seems to have been most gracious, offering the help of her people, provided I give a full accounting of the request as I remember it, and details of the cost. She knows about the goal There is a proviso that if I must pay another in secrecy, I will redact that information."

Tupp is still present, but seems completely uninterested in Gwen's news, rather he is filling a plate. "You try these pecan scones. The pecans are grown on the Countess's lands here, they're all fresh n good and not stale like store bought ones."

"Yeah? See, told you she'd likely help. Getting gossip seems par for the course."

"Ooo?" She takes a scone. "Lots of gardens here?"

"Mmm" Gwen does not comment "I'll be right back i hope " She heads out to see Art

Tupp has somehow ended up with a scone in his own hands - wait, no, his mouth. "Yuh, lotsh."

Oh, there are sweets? Citrine is curious about what Tupp might have...

GULP, "Does your little bird eat?" He offers a crumb of scone.

"Does she ever. Citrine's a greedy gus. She lives on almost all sugar, I swear."

Then he squints closer, and says, almost accusatorily, "HEY! She's not a bird! She's a... wait... what are THOSE?"

Aside, Thistle may enjoy explaining just WTF Citrine IS to the curious Piskey lad.

Meanwhile, Gwen finds Art lifting the last bag into the truck, and quietly conversing with Jorric. "No, I'm afraid we are not likely to be staying another evening." The steward looks disappointed, "But you will be missing QUITE a feast, as well as tales, you DID see we have a visiting Eshu?"

As Gwen approaches, Art straightens. "Steward Jorric was just asking if we would be staying the full three days." He explains to the Knight, and awaits her response to the waiting Boggan

"Uncertain at this time, Steward. Things are in flux, so we'll understand if the other two nights are lost. Among other things I need input from my friends"

"She's a Never. Well - I did some work, she was hurt, so I fixed her."

She says the last word with more warmth than she thought she'd be able to manage. Perhaps Tupp's innocence helped

Jorric hesitates, looking from Art to Gwen, then bows to the knight. "I will leave you to it, Dame." And he exits, working on some inner intuition.

"Neverlanders are mostly idiots. It's like they all take turns sharing one brain cell. So at any given time, eh, they ain't got it."

"I keep driving that man away" Wryly "Not intentional"

"He is head steward for the County Seat, no doubt his duties require attention."

"mmm that's probably part of it" Gwen considers "Art. You seem to be ignoring my earlier order." She holds up a hand "I told you that 'I' would be taking any blame . Yet you seem to be insistent on taking some from me. Now you're not MY squire, but I don't suppose you can humor me and let ME be the one with the negativity?"

Her tone has a hint of gentle concern.

"I am not taking blame, Dame." His voice is controlled. "However, though I may not be your squire, that did not preempt you scolding me like a disobedient servant, over something that I was not informed was my duty. If that is how you intent to treat your friends, then perhaps I am better off serving as squire than companion."

"mmm" A nod "So this is not self recrimination, this is you getting mad because you believe you were treated unfairly. I had thought... no, I am CERTAIN I said 'I should have said it was secret from complete strangers too until we knew we could trust them.' So you're right, I agreed before, and I'm reagreeing now, I should have told you I wasn't wanting strangers told of this without telling me. Maybe you forgot that part, but if you need to hear it again, I'll say it 'That was my fault'. What was obvious to me, is not necessarily obvious to you, or others, and was unjust of me. "

He nods, and says to her quietly, "I am Sidhe, for all that you outrank me, I dare say I am better versed in the intricacies of courtly intrigue and dealings with the Shining Host. I have not spent a good part of the past several years in fosterage at noble seats, including our own Eiluned countess, to have not learned how to best navigate such waters. Had you indicated that you intended to keep our quest a secret, I would have advised the futility of attempting such in an Eiluned hold, or that we ought better to avoid her demesnes entirely. You say I treated you like an idiot - and I have apologized if I have done so, though I would hope you'd know that any such was not my aim. However I would have hoped that you who I call boon companion might have relied on my strengths in this time of need, rather than taking the entire weight on her shoulders then lashing out when I act out of turn - out of ignorance. I am a seer - I am not a mind-reader."

A sigh. "Marigold may be your adopted mother, but she means a lot to all of us. It hurts to be treated as though this quest is not important to us all."

She takes a seat somewhere so they can be more eye to eye "You are right that sometimes I forget you had training at an Eiluned hold, but you've always, perhaps out of a kind of humilty rare to your kith, downplayed your political and intrigue skills. In short, I didn't see you as an expert in the field because you never claimed to be. PErhaps out of the three of us, you are, but no, that's not obvious. And I WAS relying on you, your scholarly skills, it was your political acumen I had ignored or forgotten as you say. I've thanked you each and everytime you made a translation, each time your research found another clue. In return, when I realized things had gone very wrong, you waved off my concerns, my feelings, and my plans after I told you belatedly of them. You treated me like a dumb beast needing soothing, rather than LISTENING. I scolded you after that because SCOLD was all you listened to and I needed you to listen. And you were , without meaning to be, condesending as hell. That DESERVED a scolding. You were arrogant, you were patronizing, and you're better than that. You apologized for that. Good. I accept. But you have heard ME admit my wrong doing three times now.. so the 'I am not a seer' is... well, yeah, said it three times now I slipped up there." A breath

"As for my mother, yes, you love her too. You should. She's amazing. But I'm not a mind reader either. If someone acts like this is a road trip not a quest, then that's how I am likely to think they think. You guys have been having fun, that's GOOD. I'm glad. But I'm not a mind reader either.

"

Art listens, and then bows his head. "Then let us continue this quest."

"No" She says "not yet. We need to mend this, and I need to know what YOU need from me, to help that happen. Do I need to word things in an apology? Do I need to be more open in praise for your hard work? I am not merely trying to placate, I am trying to reach out to a friend and undo what I've done. I don't give a SHIT if I annoy some squire. I care very deeply that I have, in my own hurt, hurt Art."

Art’s jaw tightens as he listens, his back straightening instinctively, and his tone grows sharp despite his obvious effort to keep it controlled. “You speak of my condescension, Dame Gladiola, but what would you call treating a friend as though he is incapable of understanding unless scolded like a disobedient child?” His eyes flash briefly, and his sidhe grandeur, so oft kept under wraps of his easy going, carefree personality, flares bright.

“Perhaps you believe this is mended by repeated apologies - though you have admitted fault, but no repentance - rather, reinforcing that there was NEED to berate me thusly. Yet even now, you demand to know what you must do for me, as though this were a transaction rather than an attempt to repair what has been harmed.” He stands stiffly.

“If you wish to treat me as an equal, as a friend, then act like it. Now, I would that we would drop the matter in favor of continuing for our goal."

He hesitates, then adds, in a softer tone, "Though, you may consider yet, that aching knees and joints, while deeply unpleasant, are hardly a death knell. We knew this was a long shot as we set out. If we fail, so be it. That does not mean we will quit until we have found a solution, whether it takes one quest or a dozen."

Gwen just poured her heart out, and got shat on for it.

"Draw your blade"

"Let's have it out. Duel time it is. Seems to be the only way we'll settle this. Get it out of our system. "

"Not here, of course, not in the hold. That's rude"

"I HAVE told you my regrets, and you turn that into a weapon against me? I told you my honest rationale, and was willing to work with you and you decide to keep it going? FINE, let's do the stupid thing and go at it. Maybe THIS Will get it done. None of you know a thing about Daireann Honor, it's not Gwydionqeue, it's personal, and yeah proud, but no, only SIDHE pride matters? Scew that and screw you to rant about your nature but ignore mine. Nevermind the fact I am SUPPOSED to take terrible revenge on those who wrong me ...and I feel you did. Instead I took an apology. But hey, mister 'not a mind reader' when I DO tell you things you give me shit because YOU tell me what I feel, regret or repentence? Or lack same? FUCK you, NOW Your telepathhy kicks in? NOW?"