#fenixtj

***********************
Sometime later, as Tweak and Mitra visit old friends and haunts of Fenix, Jessica takes a moment with Taras Tidemarch.

"Your Excellency?" Taras turns

"I'd like to speak with you, Baron."

"You have my ear, both of them, in fact" he says

"Walk with me." And she moves along.

She may be wrestling with some thoughts.

He walks

A sigh. "Baron, do you have anyone serving as a whipping boy, or girl, in your fief?"

A startled look, "As point of fact, I do. Why do you ask?"

"I dislike the practice."

"I see. Well, they're not for everyone"

"They should not be for -anyone-." Firmly.

He stops, "Are you telling me how to raise my ward? Your Excellency?"

"I'm wondering what kind of ward you have, who cannot be raised another way."

"In truth, she was rather alarmed to find out someone would tke it for her. Aeisn has some 'odd virtues'.. then I realized that made it all the more effective. " he shrugs

"She is your ward.... not your heir?"

"Well, she is my heir yes."

"Can she not be both?" He says confused

"I do not think I am comfortable with someone who needed a whipping victim to control themselves ruling a barony here."

He turns, "Freeholder," Taras says "You are putting words in my mouth. I assure you, she will be a fine baroness for you when the time is right. "

Jessica shakes her head.

"Somewhere, perhaps."

"It is unfortunate, I like her. On our first meeting, at least."

"Am I to understand you wish to strip Vaeltilde from me?" His jaw sets

"Not at all!"

"Then I am quite confused on what you DO want? " He says

"-Why- does she have a whipping victim, Baron?"

"As a lesson , of course, and you do know it's not an actual WHIP, aye?"

"Perhaps you should tell me."

"A simple strap" he says "And rarely used."

"What sort of transgressions merit its use?"

"I do not wish to shame the childling" A frown

Jessica walks and waits.

He walks "Endangering herself."

A few more steps, a sigh. "How?"

"She sought to go uout and find the Elderdark... idiot girl was sure the Balor was up to something.. in dealing with dark powers. She thought to spy on the 'meeting' alone."

Jessica considers this as she walks... finally, shakes her head.

"I would think that would please you. She dislikes the Balor greatly"

"Baron, I begin to think I should be more present for you. Visit more often, spend more time with your people. I don't think we know each other well enough."

"Like or dislike of Balor is not really the point, is it?"

"This smacks of micromanagement" he says displeased "I find suddenly you question the way I operate because of ONE custom that displeases you?"

"It makes me wonder what else I don't know about your barony." Logically.

"I see. Well, there is the tour. However, IF you insist, as a good faith gesture, I can turn over the whipping boy to you"

"And get another?"

"Clearly not, but I will not have the boy in my hold" A sniff "in assgined role he was tolerable"

"Outside of it, less so. I will end this practice, but the boy will not be in my barony"

"Tell me of him."

"He is a whisperer, a sluagh." He says

"Ah."

As if that explained it all