#fenixtj

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Jessica has been going around the clock, snatching naps when she can; her sense of duty and vigilance does not allow for longer rest to settle in. She patrols, checks on the FreeholdS (!) of her fief, watches over Duff's parlor, and checks in with the people of her land. Prisoners are cared for and maintained. She stops at the guard posts and speaks with them, even taking a shift occasionally. She eats on the go.

The pace is hard for even a troll to keep up with. But her dedication seems to inspire. There are rumors of skirmishes between summerstrike's people and her own... but her own fight dirty and for their homes, so have a good edge. Also knowing the terrain works.

She tries to report to those skirmish locations to help.

Then finally word gets to her while on patrol, "The Countess is here"

Jessica hurries back directly. If she looks like she has been working long and hard.... good.

If she was expecting the Countess to look fancy, well, those expectations are dashed. The woman has a bandage around one arm and her armor looks freshly tested.

"Excellency...." immediate concern "Can we offer you healing?"

"I'll take it, but we should talk while it happens. Indeed, we must talk. I have little time. The rest of the Kingdom of the Feathered Serpent seems ready to explode"

Jessica nods and takes her to the spring. "Pants!"

A few moments later "Unorthodox this place, but it had seemed to be an area I could count on for peace and haven. Instead? I find myself pulled her with accusations made against one of my own House."

This said as she soaks her arm.

"Countess, I hope you know that I find this situation as distasteful as you do."

"I would not lay a wager on that supposition, but I understand your meaning. Go on."

"You have our report."

"I do... I even have footage of.." A frown "What appears to be a rather harsh re-education attempt admitedly. But then... rumors have it that a man who lives in your domain kidnapped them. is this true?"

"I have had my hands full repelling my neighbor's forces, Excellency, and have not made an investigation. I have that person's haunts under observation. If he returns there, I will know."

"Repelling? May I ask why you didn't just enlist his aid? Double your man power? "

"Because I do not believe Baron Summerstrike is stable, Excellency." Quietly.

She rubs her forehead, "you...don't believe he's... you think Bedlam?"

"My experience with that state is based on what I have been taught, Countess. I don't know. But I hope he is."

"Hope? Because the alternative is..." She leaves it for the younger troll to fill out.

"Yes. I know I have no standing to say so, but I do not find his behavior worthy of a Gwydion or a Baron."

"If he is not mad, he is a monster."

The Countess looks very troubled, "Some very serious accusations are being flung back and forth. There are complaints about you as well"

"I'm sure." Dryly.

"APparently you are a traitor who seeks to provide haven for Nunnehi raiders" she says "OR So missives I have received suggest."

A shrug. "I cannot help what people say. I do work to create peace here."

"You do realize that currently, at least in the mainland of Feathered Serpent ,we're pretty much at war. The Duke Topaz is worried about these missives. About how it undermines a unified front"

"I understand that, yes."

"And that this investigation into Summerstrike could easily twist into an investigation on you and Fenix?"

"I harbor nor aid any enemy of the Duke. I do strive to live peacefully here. If an investigation casts me in a poor light, but helps those suffering under the rule of a despot, so be it.."

"Well said," She sighs "But alas, I'm not sure I Can investigate. I left a battle to come here because it seemed we had a breather. I could be yanked away at any time"

She nods. "How can we help? Supplies, healing, information?"

"Healing is possible. Information? I don't know if you know anything that would aid us there"

"However we can assist, Excellency."

"I Need to hear your side of things more fully while I can, for now"

Jessica nods. "More than a year ago, the Baron displayed a vicious disregard for the care of his people who are Unseelie in my presence. We struck a bargain that the Unseelie of his domain are welcome in Renaissance.

She nods, urging the young woman to go on "This has worked?"

"Up til now."

"You saw the video."

"Yes. I did."

She nods. "I suppose one could say that he was holding childling he had agreed to send to me."

"N0t that I feel I have a right to them."

"An interesting point of law" she concedes. "He did agree to send unseelie to you. He did not say 'except childings?'"

"He did not."

She ponders "yes. that may have to do."

"I have not found an example of a -clear- violation of the Escheat." She admits.

"You saw the information we discovered about the seniority of Tijuana?"

"Yes, I wonder if both a Varich and a Gwydion will protest that. Yet the former baroness did arrange an interesting legal manuver. " She says "It does allow you to convene them. And more perhaps. As for the escheat... no, I see no violation, and Summerstrike will point out he has complete control over his own fief. Even if you might find it abusive."

"Countess, I don't know how anyone could not find it so. They were childlings."