#fenixtj

"And that is why the tortoise won the race..." The story teller explains.

Ellie is in the middle of a puppy pile of childlings, most in sugar-crash, at least half of them already asleep.

Ariel is already out, dignity shot as she's just flopped over anyone

"Renting... ok." Jessica tucks the ribbon away, perhaps following the theory of 'out of sight means out of mind.'

The story teller doesn't seem to mind that half his childling audiance is snoozing.

Jessica takes stock once more. The hospitality staff has done a fine job; Diego can be proud of them. She makes a note to recognize them formally in a toast, and perhaps some small gifts afterwards.

Someone is behind her, on a hedge... childling it looks like.

There's an intent look on the little boggan's face

Jessica walks over. "Hello."

The boggan blinks, surprised at being noticed, and breaks into a run. There's a stick in his hand, oddly ornate.

Jessica chases him down; just recently, sticks and staffs make her a little on the alert and preemptive side.

While swift for a kid...she's still a woman who jogs , runs, and so on for excercise with legs out to HERE...

And she snags him up by the collar

She does her best not to choke him, but she -will- stop him. "All right now, all right... settle down...."

And she repeats it in Spanish.

And the boggan boy changes...

Into a ..she's not sure what this kith is! While he still appears to be a childling, his face looks like that of an old man, wrinkled and worn. "let me go let me go." He waves a small stick but does not strike her with it.

Jessica picks the stick away from him.

"Who are you? And what are you?" More sternly than before.

He gasps as the stick is taken. And Jessica feels a bit of glamour go into her from him.

Not a lot..but still.

"I am Azlo, of the Chaneque tribe. "

He's a nunnehi!

"I see." She gives the stick back. "Will you stay, and talk with me as my guest here on a Holy day for my people?"

He winces and she hears him say "so embarrassing" then he sighs as if there's really no answer "I shall. But only until the sun sets."

"That is more than fair." Jessica carefully sits him down. "From your disguise, I would assume you wish to remain unannounced. Am I correct?"

By this time numerous guards have come up. No violence is supposed to be done on this day, but in a world with Thalian

"My disguise is gone.. I was using it to sneak up on you. Do you know nothing how peace war is done?"

Longfeather looks over and blinks "Son of a..." ANd makes his way

"No. I do not."

"I am Jessica King. I am Freeholder here, at Fenix, and I lead Renaissance as a Countess among my people."

"I KNOW Who you are.. that's why I am here... it would have been so glorious" He laments. Yup. He sounds like a kid

She crouches to put herself on eye level. "Who are you?" She asks more gently, and those who have arrived see that she is not on guard.

"I told you... I am Azlo, of the Chaneque tribe" A scowl of that old man's face on his young body.

"AHem..." John says "He was trying to count Coup on you. That's a coup stick.. if he touched you without you noticing, it would have been a lot of bragging rights. It's how you make war without making war... I guess the truce is holding though"

Azlo glares at John "I need not talk to the member of a tribe that has rolled over and kissed the feet of Europeon dreams"

More foot steps

A sigh.

"My apologies for asking twice, Azlo. Will you come and speak with me in private? It will soon be crowded here. More crowded."

"I am not afraid" Azlo says

"May I?" A voice with a british accent

"Of course not, why would you be afraid?" Then she looks around to... Culpepper?

It is. Jeffry Culppper waits for her permission

Jessica nods permission.

Jeffry looks at the boy "Do you feel MY Medicine?"

The childling gulps "You.. your dreams... are myth"

"The myth stands before you in flesh." Jessica points out logically.

( 'Cause he is.)

"By default" Jeffry says with a nod to Jessica before he turns back to Azlo, "I am the bridge, I am the two tongued. I am the circle that all must gather around. You will be polite here, or I will hex you and mark you as untrue. You will bring dishonor on your tribe, and stain your name if you do not abide under the rules of the roof you are under... and show manners to all."

Azlo says "But I don't LIKE Westerners."