#odyssey

Omario frowns, as laughter ripples amongst the selkies.

"So easy!" One laughs.

Gwen mutters "I know this one." And so do you, Art. Even if you are a dude, you have to be thinking of the Moon

Art opens his mouth immediately, but then - he hesitates!

Something gives him pause.

Then, he smiles. "A Pearl. Born of an oyster's pain, chained in a string on a lady's neck."

Niamh beams. "All Selkie know it is so. I almost had you, stargazer!"

Art smiles confidently, but his hands are clasped now behind his back.

Gwen blinks "Okay, Glad I AM Not doing this challenge"

Aoife grins to her. "It was a good guess. I think any woman would accept it, to be honest. Men might not understand."

"If an answer can be argued logically, it can be accepted as true - even if not what they had in mind."

"Kind of like jeopardy gameshow" A nod

"We picked the right one. Though Niamh is something. You talk to that kid yet?"

"mm?" Not sure which kid she was supposed to talk to and worried she forgot something important

Art is up again, and he offers,

"Shoot at me a thousand times and I may still survive; one scratch from me and you will find your luck takes a dive. What am I?"

Aoife blinks. "Some dreadful monster - poisonous?" She considers to Gladiola.

Another selkie answers, "Cat!" Only to be laughed at, "Only nine of lives, not thousands."

Gladiola admits "You got me. Wonder how key the word 'dive' is in that? "

"Pufferfish" another says, and "Deadly coral!" "A murdhuacha clan?" Selkies mutter and consider, good natured banter breaking out.

Niamh is quiet, considering.

A distant look in her eyes, and then she answers, "It lives in a pool without water. Art, you play the game too! An Eight ball." She claps happily at her answer, and Art, though disappointed, nods. "You're right.

"Wow. Next level riddling" SHe says amazed

Niamh counters, her next riddle short.

"First you eat me, then you are eaten. What am I?"

Art's brow furrows at this, so short and lacking in hints.

Gwen ponders. she went with pearl necklace, is she still on sea mode?

Art's gaze flicks out to the audience seeking his friends, and then lands on the spear at Gladiola's side. He answers easily, remembering their time on a boat!

"A fish hook!"

"WOOT" Gwen can't help herself but she blushes after

Art has the answer that round, and the contest continues - the two apparently well matched! Though, Niamh shows no sign of worry and little hesitation, and Art is starting to sweat.

"A Dictionary," Niamh smiles, nodding at a clever ploy.
"A volcano!" Art answers after a long thought.
"Ring!" Calls out Niamh.
"Choice?" Art hedges, showing hesitation, but a sigh of relief as it's accepted.
"A Photograph." Says the young Selkie, and "That was a clever one, but I remember the answer."
"An Oath." Art answers, wiping a trace of sweat from his forehead.

It is a warm day, but Niamh seems at ease.

Thistle is muttering encouragement, shooting the sidhe a thumb's up if he looks over. "You got this!" She mouths.

Gladiola nods

Chime! Citrine seems agreeable!

The riddles bandy back and forth, Niamh answering gleefully, Art searching and finding, until the ball is passed back to the sidhe, and he swallows, looking for another riddle.

He gives a small smile over to Thistle, and he offers a riddle.

"I was born in fire and long for speech,
Bearing wings but with flight out of reach.
Nothing I see, but everything is heard.
Made of leather and spine, and filled with words.
Who am I?"

Thistle quirks a smile back.

Niamh closes her eyes - squints them shut, in fact, concentrating.

She is considering very hard.

She opens her eyes, and says, "A Blind Bookwyrm."

Art doesn't look surprised, he just nods, as though something is now understood. "I see. Your riddle, please."

In the audience, Omario flashes a smug grin.

"How did she..." a surprised look but she quiets. And she wonders if the fix is in due to some gift?

A glare at Omario.

Omario gestures to Niamh, and she nods back, then turns to Art. "One night, three selkie and four mortals were on a ship. The ship sinks, and the mortals jump into a lifeboat. The selkies jump into the water. Who drowned?"

She is not smiling as she recites this one, as though reading a cue card.

Gwen kenns Omario

The crowd murmurs - the contest has gone on for a long time now. Someone has fetched snacks and drinks, though, and it's a bit of a festive atmosphere. Omario sips easily, he doesn't seem stressed.

Gladiola and Thistle are offered refreshments!

Narrow eyes.

Thistle doesn't sense anything from Omario. Gladiola narrows her eyes, and thinks that there is magic in play - but then again, there is a shimmering veil between the contestants and the audience. Is she just sensing that? She can't be sure.

And it's giving her a headache.

Frustrated, she thanks them for the offer of food and drink but shakes her head

Art shakes his head at Niamh, and there's a gasp from the crowd - but then he speaks.

"I think it's a gruesome riddle, but it's a tricky one. Who drowns? The Knight." A glance out at the audience, and he smiles a bit, "Though one might argue that the Selkie would save their companion.

Omario scowls as the riddle is seen through! A face like the sweet fruit juice cocktail in his hand is somehow bitter.

Thistle's scowl deepens.

"Thistle, I can't ken properly too much stuff. Do you sense some kind of... " A sigh and whipser 'Treasure at work or cantrip that reads minds? IF there' ssuch a thing?"