#odyssey

And she talks, "Can't thank you enough for the rescue you too. Mine, of course, but Bilbo helped more than me. Probably why some bastards stole him. Trying to drive a wedge between the ruler and her people. See there are quite a few houses involved in power plays, but there's also insurrectionists who'd just as soon break out the guilitine" Yes, she speaks freely now that they're out of the hold and shopping

"So - who benefits from isolating Edrit? Or making her a bad ruler?"

"Traditionalist Aesin, old school ones gain a bit, not that I want to tell her that, but the original Aesin were...well, they barely saw us as people. But then something happened, the newer ones, and some of the old, started to feel empathy for folks who werne't sidhe .. not a lot ,but more. Particularly if they got to know us while they were childlings. Still can't seem to click with their own mortal sides though poor folks" She says "Some of the older hold out seem to see it as a weakness"

"Then there's the Balor..." She actually spits on the sidewalk and shakes her head "They're not happy they lost the lottery."

"Mmph. Less said about Balor rule the better."

"Oh, they're not all crazy or evil, some really do risk their necks on the trods, but Aesin doesn't like them, House to House, and I agree iwth the Aesin on that one. But they're powerful here and we can't just say 'no, bugger off' like you folks at Bergen can. Kind of envy you there. They're so hungry to make this place a jump off point for ambitions it's scary. I mean, think about it. an INDEPEDENT stronghold for their house? "

Scowl. Nod.

"Dangerous."

"Right, from here you have access two duchies and another kingdom of Concordia. They've got plenty of trods, and if they only had the rulership of this county, they'd have a homebase to use that from to launch to " she makes finger quotes "Protect us." A sigh "And then there are the rebels. Now, I get it. I'm a commoner myself. Democracy has nice dreams too. But there's no sense of compromise with the die hard rebels. Folks put their ballots in the lottery to pick our Countess. She even instituted a council, and has some non sidhe knights by agreement to keep the peace. But no, these yahoos want to claim 'democracy' when what some of them mean is 'Why can't we non sidhe be warlords too?'"

Grunt. "I get that, too." But then - commoner knight.

"Seen people give our Chief shit for that. And I mean, I sained with a title."

"Huh, even a Troll holder noble doesn't appease? Typical" Lowdy sighs "It's worse here I think, but I'm guessing on that. Now we have good people, and the motel9es who want ot carve up this place like gang turf are out numbered by good folk. I See you already met Tess."

A smile. "Yeah!"

"Shame we couldn't actually eat lunch there."

"Oh it's delish, though the Lutefisk is something I've never ah... gotten the taste for myself. " A shake of her head "I think most trolls eat it because tradition... no offense. But the troll burger? O M G... "

"My mom loves Lutefisk. But.. uh.. yeah. No."

"I mean, when your sluagh best friend thinks it's a delicacy?"

"Ha, " She laughs as they sort through the city's best comic book store in a private area, no mortal in ear shot, "That's usually an indicator of no thank you for me. But more power to your friend"

"It's kind of nice that he can eat something in a restaurant, though. I feel bad when everything is gross for him."

"Well well now I feel like a jerk"

"I mean, I never thought of that." Sheepish

She shrugs. "Sluagh tend to be private."

"They do" she nods "Anyway, pick any comic under ten bucks you like. I'ts on me"

"Oh, sweet!" She pokes through a Thor box. Of course.

Hey, classic Walt Simonson issue there 9.99

"Ha, I'll cover the tax too" She assures "Good find"

"Looks cool. Thanks!"

And if a green lantern ring demo vanishes into the piskie's pocket? Well, hopefully she'll bring it back

She does notice a Balor once, as they walk the streets. Not that colors are forbidden. A balor sidhe has as much right to walk the streets as anyone else here. She's lovely, of course, long raven hair and pale green eyes. There seems nothing wrong with her form, but she is having a conversation with herself "What's that? No no... well, maybe"

Dagmar remains glad that she's not decked out in gold and green - sometimes it is wise to fly low.

"It's not bedlam, she's just touched in the head" The Piskie mutters "Sometimes it's not physical. Oddly, she's one of the nicer ones"

"Huh."

"I've actually seen her fight a nightmare chimera that burst out of a trod. So at least she does something" Lowdy walks along "Oh, did you want to see the aquarium? Country's only one that focuses on Freshwater exhibits"