#fenixtj

Jessica was not immune to the tension of the girls, or the cheer at Ariel's singing. Still, she is on guard as they wind their way to the Tidemarch seat.

Duff remains alert. Every flicker of a shine , he makes sure it's not a weapon. His eyes search. Ariel singing does give him a slight smile but even then he focuses.

Ellie should be looking for bad people - but it's so easy to be distracted be her friends, and singing, and being held up so high in the air!

Ellie gets a side hug by Ariel who points. It looks like someone has put up a banner. Bienvenido a nuestra condesa!

She claps! "How nice!"

There are more thanes out here, wearing the marks of the Sunkissed Waves.

They are scattered among the civilian commoners, though most of them are commoner kith themselves.

Duff mutters to Jessica "A display of power for your sake? or for security? or both?"

Ellie has a way of smiling and waving that it seems like every individual gets a personal greeting - surely, they met eyes for a second, surely, that smile was for me!

And it does work. One Selkie girl waves and gives a shy smile. She's even younger than Ellie. Her big wet eyes make her look like an oil painting.

"Selkie, like Neema" Ariel says

She nods. "Selkies are so pretty!"

a group of redcap children sneer.

Holger puffs up at the childling corby. He will protect if need be.

A proud tilt of her chin. They can sneer, but even at seven she is still an elf-lord.

Mutter grumbles. And that is the nature of Redcaps. Bullies, but Sidhe power and troll loyalty have ever held them in check.

"For our security I hope, but I would not begrudge a show of force."

He looks at their positions, "Most do seem to be watching the crowd for trouble more than us. That's good news"

A King-grunt of agreement.

And then riding up in the distance, on a chariot with goats pulling it, is Vaeltilde. Her hair in braids! The little girl is dressed in her Aesin finest. Behind her on horses of their own, are frustrated Thanes struggling to keep guard of HER.

A bright grin for her friend!

Ariel smiles REAL big for the Aesin, because she promised to be nice and not make her friend feel bad and wants to get it right

"Countess Jessica ," Vaeltilde says "Countess Eleanor, I have gotten permission to escort you the rest of the way, if you will have me?"

"It would be our honor." A grave bow.

"Wonderful!"

"Do your goats have names?" She asks, admiring the chariot. Goats are smaller than horses and a bit less intimidating, even if they lack proper manes for ribboning.

"Chomp, Chew, and Nibble" She answers the pooka with great dignity, then at Jessica's comment the young baroness grins "Your honor, my glory" And pulls out a horn , a ramhorn sort and blows . The sound starts strong enough, but it is as if it is louder farther away than it is close! A good sounding horn.

Ellie offers her hands for inspection, and the goats, being goats, give experimental nibbles.

Salma, daringly, reaches out to tie a ribbon around the horn of the nearest goat! It is a purple one from her collection for Ellie, which neatly fits Aesin coloring as well.

"Ooo.." Vaeltilde likes the ribbon. As they all ride on she waves too, much like the Beaumayn, and speaks through her teeth "You've won them over. I'm impressed. They're not sure about this. Begging your pardon"

"The tour, or an heir - or a Beaumayn heir?" Wave-wave-smile!

"Probably all," She snorts "But they seem to think I'm a simpleton just because I don't like some politics"

"Varich do love complex patterns - they might be more political than the sable-and-argent siblings, in that regard."

"Ah, you'll meet some of the Unseelie Houses here besides just me and my mentor" She says "It's a different world here. "

"I was fostered at an EIluned hold in a Balor county."

"Ah, amazing you're.." She stops "Forgive, Balor are not kind to anyone, leasst of all your House' Vaeltilde says then admjits through her forced smile to the crowds "I hate snakes"

"Well. Yes."

"Well," Ariel says "We shouldn't hate' anyone" thinking of the farm "right?"

"One must be very wary of those that serve the dark."

Salma whispers over to Ariel, "Does Ahpuch serve the dark? Or does he just like it?"

"Ahpuch is well?" Vaeltilde asks

"Sluagh - and redcaps, too - don't serve the dark as rule, for all they're nightmares. They chose the right side in the war."

"He is well enough, for a boy."

Vaeltilde nods "Yes, boys are irksome no matter the kith."

Holger MIGHT have rolled his eyes

Of course, the Adults here are not deaf, and Jessica can hear some of this conversation. As does Duff. He looks a bit amused and even sympathetic to Holger.

Jessica seems, faintly, pleased with the course of conversation.

"They are useful, I don't think Ariel is strong enough to lift me up to see the crowd." A small smile to Holger. "Though, I am sturdy enough that SHE could stand on my shoulders."

"Holger is a nice boy, but no good at playing with dolls. He's good with kittens."

Holger nods at this. It is known boys are no good with dolls. He is, however, quite good with action figures he thinks