#fenixtj

"I am focused on finding a way to peace with the local native spirits.:

"Then as your knight, if you take me, I'd be dutybound to help"

She nods. "What is your feeling about the Unseelie?"

"Caution" She admits "mostly I feel caution."

"Not hostility?"

"Not just for being unseelie, no. I confess, the Dark Three Houses are.. well... Ailil, Balor, and Leanhaun can claim innocence, but I knew who often provides the coin to those of the Shadow Court who used to hunt me"

"But I've met Unseelie of some kith who I wouldn't know their court until they told me and they were quite decent"

Another nod. "What questions do you have for me?"

"Well.. how formal or informal is court? You prefer your first name to your title, but I don't want to undermine you even accidentally. What's your focus, and take on the Escheat and its facets? Is there one part of it you put over the others? So on"

"Informal. I took the Freehold from a Balor Baroness with the aid of commoner insurgents. I wasn't seeking a throne or title, just... just some deed to call my own. But, because of how it started, we tend to stay away from the traditional noble trappings. My focus is... well, split. I've mentioned the Nunnehi and peace. I want the people and Fae here to prosper. I am aware I will need to bring the County together and heal some wounds in our midst. I believe in the Seelie code, and that interpretation of the Escheat but I recognize that we have quite a few Unseelie among us, and they are not discounted."

"You seem quite fair handed then, and your goals just... if not easy" She says "I'd be happy to help you with them , but understand you may have other knights that suit you better. May I ask haven?"

"Of course. In fact, please be our guest for as long as you like. You should get to know the place, see if it, and we, suit you. And vice versa."

"Thank you, where should I bunk?" she asks

Jessica nods. "Let me give you that tour now, and we'll end up at one of the guest quarters."

"Sounds ideal" She rises, "Lead on."

And so she does; the springs (Pants!), the trods, a bit about the ritual room, and ending up at guest quarters.

Ash does seem courteous to all. She admits the smells from the kitchen are wonderful. She finds the ritual room intriguing and a bit alarming. And when she is left off at the quest room, she bids Jessica good day , "Thank you, Jessica. "

"Welcome to Renaissance, Dame Ash." With polite and sincere warmth.

"Thank you, Voice of the People" A smile

"You haven't met Diego yet." She warns wryly.

"Ha. Looking forward to that" she says

Jessica smiles briefly and moves on.

"How did it go?" Nancy asks

"Good, I think. She'll stay for a while, get to know the place."

"Well it's a nice place to get to know" She says. "I can tell you folks are calming at the idea of the Duke.. now that they know you're the one they'll mnostly be dealing with. But you may have one problem"

"Only one?"

"Okay. I walked into that joke. Look, the folks in this area are among the poorest in the city... Sunkissed waves gets the tourists, and Summerstryke got the business and well to do... as generalizations... well, suddenly THIS hold, is the center of the County, the throne. So some Renaissance folks are.. well, rubbing others noses in it"

A sigh. "Renaissance and whatever we're going to call Summerstryke's barony are two halves of a whole. It's not Us and Them anymore. It's We."

"Well , I know that. And you know that. But some folks are hard learners"

"Ok. Thanks, Nancy. If you hear more, let me know.:

"I'll keep my ears to the ground" She promises and trots off

"We -have- to get a fiesta organized....." she goes to find Diego.

Diego is in his room

She knocks.

"Not a good time" a voice says

"Fine!" Hastily "I'd like to talk to you when .... well, later." Jess moves away.

"Thank you...I'll.. ah do what I can" he says.

She's down the hall in short order. "Maybe he's been working with Maria?" She goes to the kitchen to check.

Maria looks up from the kitchen, she and Rosa have been gossiping but they quiet. then nod "Flamefree, young lady.. .are you hungry?"

"No, thank you, but I was wondering if you know anything about a fiesta Diego is working on?"

"oh.. Diego has plans.. yes, but he's not seeing anyone today so I haven't talked to him."

Rosa agrees "he's been in his room all day. " A beat "Alone"

A blink. "Alone?"

"Si" A nod.

"It surprised us too" The other woman agrees

Jessica takes a breath. "Ok. Thanks. Excuse me." She goes looking for Nancy again.

<SEND>

She finds Nancy talking to Si Jack, "So we've got to get word out not to rub folks noses in things. Folk think you're cool, Jack. You have to use the power of cool to sway folks not to kick people when they're down."

"But the kick has a better chance of landing when they're down," He says

"ARGH" Nancy says