#fenixtj

"That said, I just about swallowed my tongue when they told me what they'd done." she confesses.

"I'm actually still processing it" Constance says. She too is a troll and her protective instincts are likely stressed the hell out, however calm her features

Johnny Twofeathers says "The young ones don't always understand danger. Though if anyoone COULD Sneak around thallian it's sluagh. Still, I am SO sorry if I had any part of putting that idea in their head"

"I appreciate that, Johnny, and I'm not angry about it; childlings tend to surprise us all with what they get up to. But can we agree that you'll share a little more with us about these kinds of things? Will you work with Constance, get some of this information down on paper so we can share it?

"Not asking you to give away your people's secrets; but can you balance that confidence with what, apparently, we need to know -ahead- of the childlings finding out?"

"No one ever asked me if we had Thallian before this" He points out "So 'need to know' is kind of vague?"

"Thallilan are ALWAYS need to know" Diego assures

"Well, let's talk about that." Jess says, and nods agreement with Diego "I have to say the first thing that comes to my mind is 'things that are threats are definite need-to-know."

"It was a threat I didn't even suspect of being down here, but all right" says twofeathers "I'll tell constance all I know of Skinwalkers"

Constance nods 'Thank you"

"I suppose, since the door is open, It might not hurt to think about what else we might not have expected but should be talked about."

"Constance, let's send a query to the Duke's library?"

"I will" she gets a piece of paper out "Would you like to dictate it now?"

"No, I mean.... you put those things so much better than I could."

She nods

Diego says "Jessica , if you ever want lessons in Oratory, let me know"

"Thank you, Diego."

"Ok, so... let's see what the Duke can add, and maybe figure out what we need to know from there?" checking for agreement.

"Put the Man to work for once" Diego agrees

Johnny nods "Seems sensible"

"Agreed. He may have resources he'll be happy to lend" Constance nods

"Good, then we're agreed. Thank you all." she pauses "But, that doesn't address what to do with the information the boys brought us. Johnny, could a skinwalker have planted the bomb? And.... why?"

"I suppose they could... and if they can impersonate a tribe, maybe they're trying to incite a war. Or maybe they're working with other Thallian? Though even other thallian don't much care for skinwalkers. Still, Skinwalkers aren't known for sublte"

"Would it benefit the Nunnehi Thailan if the mainland Nunnehi and our... it's not a coalition, it's a loose understanding.... if we were all in conflict with each other? What do the Nunnehi call these Thailan creatures?"

"The ones that mimic nunnehi? Our dark counterpart are skinwalkers"

Ok, I wanted to be sure I was using the right term. And language, for that matter. Ok. Would it benefit skinwalkers if we were all in conflict with each other? What do the skinwalkers want?"

"That, I don't know" He admits "They don't tend to have an organized agenda that we know of"

A heavy sigh. "Ok, that's fair. Constance, please ask for anything in specific about skinwalkers from the Duke, in addition to general knowledge.

"House LIam's libraries ARE extensive" she nods and writes that down

"Thank you. Ok. Johnny, what's the best way to address, to foil, these skinwalkers?"

"Should we bring Otem into this?"

"He's out today, among his people" Constance says

She nods. "That's not a bad thing. Maybe he'll learn something he can share with us."

"Hard to say. Otem failed to woo you, so they may keep him at a distance assuming he's offended you" Twofeathers said "No means no is a big thing in many tribes"

A sigh, this one long-suffering.

She makes no comment on that, however, it's clear it doesn't sit well with her.

"Oh that'ss just silly" Constance huffs "Just because the Countess doesn't wnat to date, doesn't mean she doesn't value advisors or friends or welcome them as such"

"Rejection stings," Diego says "But i have to agree with constance, given the ones who appear to be stung isn't Otem but rather his elders who are now worried he offended"

"I agree it's Silly but I am passsing on how they might be thinking" Twofeathers shrugs

"If he offended me, there'd be no question about IF he had offended me. He, and his people, would KNOW." Jessica says firmly.

"Probably with a bleeding nose to demonstrate it to all" Constance surmises

"Not saying it would come will violence, but there'd be no question about it."

"Just me then" Constance nods

which actually gets some respectful smiles from the two men in the room

"Hmmph. Well. I'd like to say that's a Nunnehi problem, but probably shouldn't if I want to include them. On the other hand, we don't know if Otem's people actually -are- ticked off at him, so....."

"True. Each tribe is unique" Twofeathers agrees

"I'll check in with him, though." just a touch reluctantly.

"A good idea" Constance nods "Jessica, I'm sorry you have to put up with this. " She has a man she loves a lot, but being a trol lshe doesn't enjoy her love life being on display either

A shrug, and she puts it aside. "Not a big deal. Ok. Have I left anything out? Is there anything else?"

"I'm sure there must be but ... " Constance looks over her notes, "Regarding the nunehi, no. Tweak's still finalizing reports on the bomb "