#fenixtj

And when have the girls ever been denied a cookie?

Salma hesitates, then leaves a (perhaps cryptic) note. "Burra butter is creamed the best, next time I will do it while boggans rest." And she does load up the basket!

With everything now proper and even with a note left, the girls are ready for stage 2.. or is it dos? Or is this Stage tres?

Anyway, they're ready for the next stage

To the trod!

But which trod? Surely the DeBukes have one... but... no, that's to the SUnkissed waves

They have hit.. a snag. If there is a trod to the Farm from here. They simply don't know where it is

Huff.

"There HAS to be one. Clem comes all the time."

They do know that Coy DeBuke, Thane is probably on duty.

Hmmm. Thanes are Authority and Grown Ups and probably no fun. Still, she wonders. And Salma thinks.

And sets out to look for Coy! With that expression that shows a plan.

And they find him, on duty.

"Salma, you ask..." Encouraging.

He's handing out an assignment to another thane, then turns to see the childlings "Well, Hello, Ellie, Salma. how are you?"

"Senor DeBuke? I think that Constanza would want you to have this cookie?" She offers over a molasses cookie shaped like a pig, wrapped in a napkin.

"Well, how nice" he takes the cookie, then chuckles at the shape "She's always teasing me about growing up on a farm"

"It must be a terrible long way from the farm to here. I would have to pack a dozen meals upon my back to walk that far. And then I would have hooves and couldn't open the picnic baskets."

"It is a fair piece" he says and munches the cookie. Pooka are easy to talk to, and she's just a kid "Even by trod"

A sage nod. "That must be why they locked up the doors. It is too far to walk, so better to visit farms nearby. And the local ones, they have uvas and aguacates, I do not think even a Troll farm could grow those, the sun shines different here."

Ellie listens, trying not to draw too much attention.

"Well, they don't really need to lock it up... it's pretty high in the air"

"Do you know Jonas? He gave me a poem about a flying donkey. Could such fly up there?" An amused smile, at the joke. "I would hope so. Hooves are no bueno on ladders."

"It was in my book, with a hoof mark on the cover." She tells him about the newly beloved compilation.

"Well if you could fly you could use the one directly to the farm sure, that's how the Chief uses it. Takes a bird form."

"now the one that goes to Kansaas city? NOT safe... its not even right at Firnost... it's a good mile or so from there ... and the silver is worn. The sky trod? at least it's solid"

A small frown, that sounds risky. "If I could turn into a bird, I would be a turkey." She sighs. "So I may as well stay a burra. It is sad to have a trod that the Condesa Jessica cannot use. Unless she is ALSO a bird? Is Everyone here a bird?"

"Oh dont' worry, if Jessica ever had to go to the farm i could get her there. See normally I ask my cousin Earl to just flicker flash us, but the painting in My room works pretty well. Even if only once a month. "

"But that's not a trod, it's a treasure. But it's quick" He says

"That is good to know!" She gives a curtsy to Coy. "Gracias, Senor DeBuke. You are nice to talk to!" And she wanders off with her basket to rejoin Ellie.

"Flying sounds awfully hard..."

"A treasure sounds like magical, though."

"Well, we could try it..."

"Treasures of Fenix should be used by the ruler in need..." She ponders. "And we do need to find out what is bothering our Amiga. That is muy importante."

"Right..."

"Well, okay, so the other way is through Firnost? Two trods?"

"Estidpudo" A sigh, a whispering sigh

"If -I- had a handsome Troll as mi corazon, he would flicker-flash us... or turn us into birds... proper birds that can fly..." A sigh.

And her cheeks flame red as this meant only for Ellie is overheard!

"What's stupid?"

"Ahpuch, it is not nice to listen."

Ears tugged down to hide behind. "It was only una broma, a joke. Tell him, he does not understand."

"that's okay" he says "sluagh aren't nice. everyone knows this"

"Well, you should be nice to Salma."

Ahpuch sighs, "Si, Condessa. I will pretend I do not see her with the big coweyes and the thump thump heart. But that is not what I was calling stupid. It was this trod trip"

So very hidden, it is a good thing ears are big.

"It's not stupid. We're going to get lemon bars to make Ariel feel better."

Unsaid, they ALSO get to see the farm...

"No entiendes Nada, Ahpuch." She whispers back at the sluagh. "It is not a trod, it is a treasure. The trod is too high. There is no other way." She says this last dismissively, but then peeks out at him. "Unless someone was clever to know another way. But you don't have to be nice to be clever."

"the trod to Kansas City, es on a roof, one can climb it, but then one ends up in dangerous fair grounds far from Firnost, and firnost es loca. Even the safe way is not safe. the sky trod, you canno fly, then you are out of luck" then, he gives a myssterious pause, "But ask yourself this? If one painting was given to Coy so the Condessa Jessica could us it, what awaits Ariel? Are not hte DeBukes rich in magic? Are they not paupers with the treasures and powers of princes? Ariel has a way back I suspect. A secret way"