#kc_necropolis

"Why here?" One knight in blue and silver inquired, "Why admist banality, won't you be faint, lady?"

"No more than you, good sir, and the very risky banality of this place makes it harder to be scried upon by fae who would foil us," The lady is of higher rank, but ranks are dismissed here, "I have news from Sir Gnaw."

"Sometime since I've heard from him, in service to that Beaumayn is he not, the sluagh?"

"Just so," the woman replied.

'His lady won the county??" A younger voice, surprised,but pleased, "I knew we had planted some seeds but..."

She glanceed at the childling, "they took better than we thought, but it is she herself who deserves the credit, that and a wise member of our own. "

"I did not anticpate that, but you, you did" the boy comments. "I do have much to learn."

"i would be more than a little annoyed if you didn't," She confessed, 'The return of the Fiona has drawn them together creating a locus of power as some of our seers predicted. We must remember humility, this is no camleot. And, well, there is more. "

Another woman's voice, less refined, "Out with it, please. There are dreamers I would not leave for long."

"She also suggested an Aesin for the other half of the year. The old cycle."

A groan from one, "So we have but half a year of an ally?"

"You are a half cup empty sort are you not?" another older voice chuckling.

"That is the irony of the House," A counter, but good intentioned, "Yes, I deeply fear that our House will endure very cold winters." //"Not so cold," the childling says "eventually the Aesin will realize he is indebted, usneelie, he may feel no need to repay, but it may mea there is at least one of house he trusts., or if not trusts, respects. We have an in."

"An in, with those Ranorok seeking savages?" A scoff from the other woman

"would you prefer the balor?' The other genteel lady says "I have spoken to those of Tulips. We are to work through out the county, ingrain ourselves in surrounding baronies as best we might... in areas of support. The Duke is a Falcon, he is sure to encourage at least one barony that has been opened to rule there. Find this falcon, help him or her, make our house invaluable."

"Our focus should be the dreamers" Another says guardedly, "Not politics."

"If we do not play a better game of politics, the dreamers will be used as resources with hardly a nod to their own freedoms," The child pipes in. "Let me guess, Tulips can not get involved in a 'concordian matter'?"

"I fear you have the right of it"

Groans burst around at various degrees.

"I do not belong to any organized political party, I am a Liam" A grumbling paraphrase that does get some laughs all around.

"What of the Truthbranches, do we bring them in? More knowingly,I mean?"

"I fear the more we do, the more will accuse them of intrigues. Ironically, we may 'sully' them."

"Aye, and should August ever learn of what you did...." The childling speaks.

"I do not regret it," A straightening of jaw from the genteel one, "Not enough anyway. Besides, she is his true love."

"You have any idea how much a Fiona can leave you unsure whether you're winding your ass or scratching your watch? That poor boy."

"A question?" the childling asks.

"Yes young lord?"

"What is 'a watch'?"

"God I despise the young."

"She doesn't mean that."

"Oh, I think in my case she does," But the boy sounds amused.

"Perhaps the young fellow should make to the Duchy and Duchess to offer himself as an heir?"

"No, it would be grievous insult to their graces were I do reside. Besides, I have plans for a Duchy . One in need of me more. One that will actually have the Falcons pouring a great deal of dross in my hands to solve. Come wilderhood."

"A bold boast, young one, but getting back to the County of , what are they calling it, the County of the Bluebird?"

"I thought it was the County of Clear Sight?"

"No doubt they'll rename it something both can agree on, but let's go on whatever they'll call it. Yes, there is a Dougal and Fiona troll, both seeking baronies. Both Houses have trouble with us on and off."

"Send some of our boggan agents to match make with those of houses friendlier to us, it will influence them. "

"Seems sensible. Everyone does underestimate our boggans."

"Not just our boggans. How fares rumor of this crime lord?"

"Bah, mist and wind. I'm starting to think if we rounded up a hundred unseelie boggans, if such a number exists, each one would stand up and say 'No no, I am sparticus'"

"We're getting off the subject again, we must focus on the true, not rumors that will side track. matchmaking is one prong , any one have another?"

"Yes, three knights errant of our House. They wish to do good anyway, let us bump them against these would be barons and baroneses. Perhaps they will impress enough to be seen as 'the one good Liam'. If every Lord of every house that distrusted us had a 'one good liam' in their life, our problems will be solved I think."

"Ha, now that is too optimistic. Bring the three. The worse they can do end having to go to Coradel or the Countess court during her part of the Cycle."

"that will do then, NOW any other news?"

"Brother Franklyn has returned."

"Oh thank the Dreaming, I feared him lost."

"Maybe he'll remember to turn in a report next time. Allow us a chance to adapt to such a long departure in the area? The place isn't exactly awash with our brothers and sisters that we can afford to lose one."

A chuckle, "Forgive me, but I think the polite Mountain might tell you, in no uncertain terms, to mind your own damn business. He's been our stalwart rock in the County of Bergen for a long time, and half of us would come across as yapping pups if we tried to 'direct him' and rightly so."

A put upon look on the childling's face, "That was a jab at me."

"Not as an imperative, only as a benefit." The grump replies.