estdeus_innobis | I think that people who can't believe in fairies aren't worth knowing. ~Tori Amos

Tuesday, the 23rd of September
The Dormouse, Late morning

The sky is grey and the air is damp; it's going to rain at some point today. Good. It should rain today. The world and the heavens and all the people below it should weep. As much as Lucien would have hated it. Tonight we shall drink, and we shall laugh, and we shall surely weep; and then tomorrow we will all continue to live and laugh and love and cry without him.

It is only right that the sky open up today, for him.

I gave Romana the day off; I wanted to keep busy until tonight and waiting tables is just the right type of normalcy my life needs so badly right now. War gods in the basement, dreams come walking in the spare room, a daughter that can create with a thought and the devil in the details... my life may never be normal again but tea is a soothing constant.

With a sigh, I pin up my hair and smooth out my grey dress. I'll put on colors later tonight, I still have Lucien's turquoise shirt, that will do. I sit down at the window table with my tea and stare out the window at nothing in particular as the few tables of customers I have provide a pleasing drone of noise in the background.

Open to Mab, Fiona and Dana

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Wanda may not have any fae gifts but she can tell that there are things that the sheriff and I need to talk about and can guess that they involve Fiona. So it isn't that surprising that she arranges for her and my goddaughter to absent themselves for a few moments. And thus perhaps we might speak a little more freely.

Though perhaps I was not expecting the to speak quite so freely as that. I have not so much experience with those of the Winter Court but perhaps this is more of a human trait. My little mage often speaks so. And it could just be that she means to use it as a tactic to distract me. To get me to lower my guard around her. Still, perhaps I can use this directness of manner to turn the table and make the best use of our limited time.

Smile over at the direct vassal of the Winter Queen, "That is all well and good as far as your personal stake in the welfare of my goddaughter goes; but I must ask about your Patron's interests in her."

Not that I expect to get a straight answer, though I might with this one, but let's see what she does with this information.

"Daniel, huh? Is he nice?"

"Uh-huh!" I whisper, grinning at Miss Wanda. "He's really nice. And he's handsome. He's got really blue eyes and freckles all over his nose."

"Hey, I need to whip up some more cream, would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a minute? Then we can bring that out with the scones and have a proper tea party. Plus... I have a secret I need to tell you."

I take Miss Wanda's hand and follow her into the kitchen, waving at Mab and Dana with my other hand. They look really serious, but they don't look as mad as they did before, I guess?

I like that Miss Wanda's letting me do more in the kitchen! It's different from when I cook in the kitchen at home - it's a bigger kitchen so it feels more important. It feels like I have a job!

As soon as the door closes behind us I ask, "What's the secret?"

"That is all well and good as far as your personal stake in the welfare of my goddaughter goes; but I must ask about your Patron's interests in her."

Return her smile and I try to make it seem genuine, really I do . If only for Fiona's sake, "I could ask you something similar," I lean back and cross my legs under the table. Might as well be comfortable, "I can say this, My Lady does take a mild interest in all the children like the Little One that she knows of. But, we didn't know about her when I came to Excolo. My only assignment regarding her is to keep her as safe as possible here. It was my own decision to pass on a bit of general knowledge. I've seen what happens when puberty takes one like her unawares."

Oh yes in spite of the directness of our conversation this is still very much similar to the sort of conversations one has at Court; complete with smiles that those wearing them do not fully mean.

I could ask you something similar.

Ah. But I notice she is not directly asking me that question! And so the directness may well have been a ploy. Should I give her an answer?

My only assignment regarding her is to keep her as safe as possible here. It was my own decision to pass on a bit of general knowledge. I've seen what happens when puberty takes one like her unawares.

I straighten up a bit in my chair so that I can look down at her slouching form. "How fortunate then, that she shall not have to face that alone."

I look the sheriff up and down. And wonder if she speaks from experience. She looks capable enough as a warrior. So I might leave the majority of Fiona's physical defense to her. If I dared.

"In this matter I answer first to the child's mother, rather than my liege. Her instructions were to treat her daughter as if she was my own."

There should be no need for me to mention that I have sworn it to Feidelma by the four sacred woods, and by the two queens of faerie and even the Summerlands in which we stood that very evening when I uttered my oath.

Now that is big news. There's plenty of stories about Fairie Godmothers, but they are actually very rare. And for Dana to have been asked that and accepted the charge....

"You must have been very close," I say it with no spite. Fiona's mother is likely dead, or might as well be if Dana is here now,, "So what's the plan then? Excolo's not the worst place for a special child to grow up- everyone else is weird enough she's damn near normal. And here she has a good support network- you can't go 10 paces down Main Street without meeting someone who cares about her. Not to mention the father."

Cock my head and look at her. Really look, "And what about you? We're a long way from home, and you had to have come the hard way. You planning on staying here with her?"

You must have been very close The sheriff says, and I lower my eyes so that she cannot see how those words affect me. For we were, closer than ever I was with Orlaith; who was my elder by some two centuries or so.

So what's the plan then? Excolo's not the worst place for a special child to grow up- everyone else is weird enough she's damn near normal. And here she has a good support network- you can't go 10 paces down Main Street without meeting someone who cares about her. Not to mention the father.

Ah yes, Adonis. Such a fitting name for him to use. Smile a little at her mention of him. I raise my eyes to meet hers when I feel the intensity of her gaze sharpen and do my best to resist the urge to tighten up my glamour. The glamour is fine.

And what about you? We're a long way from home, and you had to have come the hard way. You planning on staying here with her?

"Of course." Shrug one shoulder lightly. "How else could I do my task?"

And I have no wish to mention to Winter's servant that it would not be in my or Fiona's best interests to return to Faerie at this time.

I think that people who can't believe in fairies aren't worth knowing. ~Tori Amos

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