#odyssey

Jonas ponders "At first, she might have been a bit , but mostly she's mad at herself. She blames herself for all of this. "

A worried frown.

"I wish she'd just stay mad at me. That's easier."

"Are you able to stay mad a her?" he asks "Really really mad? Or is it more frusration, or feeling sad?"

"I was mad, at first... but then I was just mad at the situation and not at her."

"I still am..."

Jonas nods

Zane says "Well, hopefully, tthis quest will help"

"Who sent a squire over, anyways? Whose brilliant idea was it in the first place?"

"Count Hemlock ap Gwydion, the Chief's boss" Jonas answers

"And he sent her over for Sir Frank, though, didn't he? What's to stop him from sending another squire?"

"A sternly worded letter" Zane suggests

Jonas sighs "I am not a fan of the feudal systtem, but other squires will have an easier time getting knights that want them . No one there wanted Kassedy because of her House. Other non Liam squires get snatched up"

"I have to wonder, though, aren't there Liam Knights who lack squires too, because non-Liams won't want to be squired to them?"

Jonas says "Apparently the ones at Caerer Falken already have squires."

She nods, but there's still a little crease on her forehead as they walk onward.

"It's a sucky situation all over" Zane admits "i'm sorry, Cuz. I'd offer advice, but.. mile in your hooves and all that I can't walk"

"Well, you kinda are walking a mile in my hooves right now, so I already owe you one for that." She can't help but smile a bit over to Zane.

Zane smiles back "You know, itt's okay I feel like you're braver than I. At least you FACED Your hang ups, you're tryinng to mend I... well, we know what I did. It worked out, and I'm doing good, but I should have showed at Mou... Frank's retiremennt party"

A fidget. "I barely showed up myself. I pretty much hid in a corner and provided music."

"tthat bad? " He asked

"Your music was lovely" Jonas huffs

"That doesn't change that I was hiding behind it. But I appreciate it."

"You know, " Zane says "Sir Frank once told me something very wise.. it might help here.." he clears his throat "Those are really big spears"

"I don't think I get the analogy..."

Jonas stops "Okay, that seems more an observation than a ..." Then he looks where Zane is looking "OKKKAAAY. I gget it"

She looks that way belatedly.

Twelve spearmen chimera, savage, primal, with dark war paint about their eyes approach, they look troll tall, and yes, they carry long spears, annd bolos at their side

And so on

They see Piper, and begin speaking "She fit ?" "She very small" "Not what Mean! " "Oh..yeah. She am fit"

And they close in with good speed. "You, no go. We seek you!"

"Need me to zap these guys?" Zane asks

"Or stomp them?" Jonas is protective

She eyes the spearmen, but gives them a momentary benefit of the doubt. "Seek me for what?"

"You music suck? or Music GOOD?" One of them asks

Surprise. "Well, I hold my own."

The spear guys huddle. She can hear them "She short" "She got horns" "She say she hold own? SOUND good. " "Yeah, maybe her." "Yes. Her is ggood. We her to Queen?" "Yes. Maybe this one Queen ask for"

Are the spearmen on the trod?

They ARE

Zane says "Queen? Cuz. Do you know any queens?"

"Doesn't being on the silver mean that they're good guys?" Piper whispers over to Zane

"Orr that someone gave them permission" He whispers back

She asks them, "Do you know where the Pool of Wisdom is? I'd be glad to trade a few songs for directions to the right pool."

"You come with us, we take you to Queen. You sing for her! She decide if you go to Pool of Wisdom"

Piper looks to Jonas and Zane, questioning...

Jonas looks protective "We're not leaving the silver"

"Fine. We take silver with us. YOU COME.. you fit description queen give"

She nods in agreement, and holds up a finger to the Spearmen. "One, not leaving the road again. Two, my friends are coming with me. Three, if things don't work out, we're going on our way. No promises, but I might be willing to play for your Queen. And if I do, we get the information we need. Sound okay?"