#fenixtj

Salma's seen it before - Ellie's court face, and how it is different from the open smile she had before. "I do, Hearth. We came to offer a trade." Her voice almost doesn't shake at all!

Agnes mmphs "Last time I traded with some one with a face like that, I ended up with a horse that was years older than they said and prone to gas. This isn't court, girl, not your kind of court... but I know your kith's ways. Don't polish my shoes and admire your own reflection"

Salma, taking a queue from that, realizes that the nice little lady she just scolded was maybe not just the help. And sinks to a curtsy too.

Pert says "Hearth, please.."

"That'll do, Pert" the old woman says firmly.

And Pert silences

Her little chin sets, and her face is the same. "We've come to offer you cookies from Senoras Rosita and Maria of Fenix, in exchange for lemon bars...." She's trying, but she falters and fades a little.

"Princesca?" She squeezes her hand. "Can you put the Condesa away, and just be our amiga, for here?"

"That's the words for what excuse brought you here. Why did you need the excuse?" Agnes says "YOu think no DeBuke childlings ever tried to slip something by me?"

A fleeting quiver, quickly hidden. Her eyes are bright, but her tone is perfectly polite. "If you please, you may sample the cookies to see if they are acceptable. They're a selection of Fenix specialties."

"We wanted to see the cows, and the chickens. And see the home that our cabracita tells us stories of. And climb a tree with no thorns. I did not know that there would be thorns on the Hearth." Tugging at one of her ears.

"And I don't even want a lemon bar, if they are sour." A sigh... she really very much DID want one.

The more Ellie seems to cover the more the Hearth seems to dislike it... manners or no. Then she looks at Salma, and says "We tried having things we valued without thorns about them. Sadly, certain folk thought that meant we were weak and decided to take without asking... so yes, thorns are needed atime, with some folk. " A huff "Beaumayn eh? Better n most I suppose. Ariel wants lemon bars? I'll get her some . You can keep your trade."

"No. We wanted lemon bars for her. Because she was sad and wouldn't come with us. We did not know why." Salma's chin quivers a bit. "But maybe she will be upset we came at all."

"But..."

A figure moves closer "What's going on here?"

This voice they recognize

Pert turns "Chief" Relieved

Busted! Wait, no, they were told they could visit... technically... Salma tells herself, trying to not let a guilty air radiate from her droop-eared expression.

Ellie wants to cry. She wants to hide her face in Ramona's fur. She does neither of these things - she is standing very straight and still.

Clem stares "Ellie? Salma? How on Earth did you two even get here? Are you hurt? is there trouble at Fenix?" She bends down to get closer to their level

Both girls have stalwart warrior faces on, both in varying degrees of cracking.

Salma hugs a basket of cookies to her chest as a shield.

A breath. She won't cry! She's a Countess! "Chieftain Clementine, we came to offer cookies in trade for lemon bars to give to Miss Ariel." A pause. "...and to see the cows..." She admits.

"There we go," Agnes nods , and her face looks a bit less stern, but only a BIT

"Well no shame in wanting to see cows, girls, but we didn't know you were coming, and we werent' ready" Clem says "The folks at Fenix must be powerful worried"

"We left a note."

"Ready was never coming. Later was never coming." Salma says, mournfully.

"The sidhe was hiding things, and I do not much care for that at my doorstep" Hearth Agnes says

"I was not!"

Her mouth opens, then snaps closed - but a look to Clem that is pleading. And she shakes her head.

"The 'sidhe' has a name" Clem says "It's Ellie, and she's a childling for the love of the Corn Mother, Hearth. Of course she's up to a bit of mischief, so is Salma and.." Then Ellie blurts out denial

"Well, ELLIE, is as queer as a 3 dollar bill" Agnes says

Clem winces, "Oh lord"

She lifts her chin, expression stiff.

Pert steps to Ellie's side and puts a hand on the childling's shoulder, and then says "Hearth, she might not confess all she's got into her heart but that doesn't mean she's doing wrong"

"If you please, Chieftain, we would like to offer you these cookies in exchange for some lemon bars. They represent the finest sweets of Fenix Freehold. If.. if you would please."

"Of course, and that's right sweet of you, Ellie" Clem takes them "We'll see to it. How is Ariel again? I know you mentioned it a bit, Salma, but my Spanish is only so so, and I am very behind on Pooka" Then she looks to Pert "Pert, I thank you for escorting the girls in this time of surprise." A look to the Hearth "Please arrange fixings for our allies" SLight stress on that "In fenix and for Ariel"

A sniff. "Churros are better, but better fresh."

"That... that would conclude our business and we will depart." Clem has not seen Ellie like this, formal and distant.

"ANd how are you going to get back? " Agnes asks "If you took the painting getting back won't be easy"

Clem sighs "Girls, how did you get here? did you use the painting?"

Ellie swallows. "There's a trod home, through Grass."

Salma looks to Ellie, and also goes quiet. Ears drooping. "We won't cause any more trouble, honest. Just the part we intended to start with."

"Not what I asked" CLem says

Agnes shakes her head and goes into the main building

Pert mutters something low the girls may or may not hear.

"Our eyes were closed, it was hard to tell."

"We couldn't take the other way."

"We have a friend who has a vehicle that can fly. She will pick us up from the Trod in grass?" She sounds - less than certain. But a firm nod. "We are adventurers. We will find out way."