#fenixtj

She nods. "Can our peoples meet? If we have a common cause, a common opponent, we should have a common response."

"I will tell the elders" He nods "I am sorry, Countess. We have failed to convince them of the peace."

"You did better than I could have, and I'm grateful. Thank you, and my thanks to your leaders and people. I hope to hear from you about a meeting."

He bows and leaves

Jess waits til he's gone, then says to Phobos. "Well. Guess we better get ready for war. Let's head back; we have a county to defend."

Phobos shrugs "Sorry boss, you tried"

Jess chuckles as they head back. "Not giving up, Phobos. I'm just geting started. We're allowed to defend ourselves, and we will."

"I gotta tell you boss, I enjoy a good fight, but with the restrictions on weapons you asked for, the slow down anyway, we might be in a gap. Good news is our training is top notch"

"-DEFENSE,- Phobos." she emphasizes. "We aren't looking for weapons of mass destruction.

"How about weapons of mass maimingg?"

"Defense." firmly; that's the end of it.

"Ah boss you really don't get redcaps, but okay"

"Phobos, don't get me wrong. If we have to fight, I want you with me, right up front, you and your brother. You both protect Fenix and I couldn't do it without you. But I don't want to fight if we don't have to and I don't want to start the fight. If they have declared war, we defend ourselves. If we attack, the work we've done to show the others, and the mainlanders, that we are dedicated to working with them is for nothing."

A grunt nod

So they return to Fenix.

And in she goes,seeing Diego "Jessica"

"Yes? We have a situation....."

"We do? " he puts down his glass of wine "Go on"

"No, what was it you wanted?" she puts him first.

"Nothing so important, " He assures "Just a letter from the Duke.. he's planning on visiting soon"

Jessica looks at him.

"Crap."

"Let me see?"

He hands it over

Looks to be vague, just to expect him in 2 weeks

A deep breath. "Ok. Good. Good to know. Important information."

She looks at Diego. "We seem to be at war. Probably need supplies and ways to shore up our defenses."

"Not with the Duke, with the mainland Nunnehi. Oh, the Baja Nunnehi might agree to a council; I invited them to consider it, said I'd welcome the meeting. Might need refreshments for that."

"War? Son of a ... not just a war, but conflicting politics. This never would have happened in a democracy"

She gives him a look. "Really?"

"You know? Let's try a changeling democracy on a large scale then you can gloat if it goes to hell"

"Cool. Go ahead, form something up and present it to the Duke. Meantime, can we prepare for attack and war and stuff too?"

"You really take the fun out of rhetoric, you know that?" He sighs "I'll check our inventory for proteciton"

"Thank you." She nods. "Look, we need to curtail expenses a bit and try to actually prepare, right? People will understands. Needs will be met. But if the mainland Nunnehi attack.... -keep- attacking.... then we need to be ready. I want to play a defense game as long as we can to prove our intent and I want to work with our local Nunnehi. If we can."

"I think... you want to ration?" The Satyr blinks

"No, just... let's be sure we have money and dross for the defense effort. I have two owl feathers that say we -are- at war. If this was you, at war, what would you do for the people you fought for?"

"I had limits on how far I would ggo... that's how you got in power but.. I think I get your point"

She nods and puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"We'll want more protectionn for the childlinggs" He sighs

"Yes, levels and layers of protection."

"They're going to hate that" he nnods "But best the mean old ggrump satyr be the face for it"

"Diego, I will tell them. And explain why. Ellie needs to understand."

"If you says so.." Troubled look "Jessica, I'm sorry. I know you'd have broken yoursef for peace sake"

"Diego, I'm not giving up on peace. Don't you do it either." firmly.

A smile "Fine. I won't, but I'm not followinn that order because you're some Countess. I'm following because you're the flamefree, and because you are jessica... and..." he adds "A friend"

She squeezes his shoulder. Gently! "Yes. Friends."

He reaches up and squeezes her "Let me know what else I cann do but for now I'll count our money and dross"

"And start looking at supplies and logistics, I hope. Because I'll make a -mess- if I have to do it." A grin.

"Same as it ever was," A wink but a nod "But when have we been afraid of messes?" And off he goes

She watches him go... then takes the letter from the Duke to her rooms. Diego will sort the orders out.