EXCOLO

I let my goddaughter pull me along by the hand. What she lacks in dignity my goddaughter makes up for with charm; there is no other reason I would let her do this to me. I still feel a bit vulnerable being visible as we head into the center of town.

She says that now that things are back to normal it is time to introduce me to certain people she says I must meet.

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Daddy didn't want to let me out 'cause he never wants to let me out after something bad happens, and it feels like something bad is always happening! Even though everything is okay now it was all scary yesterday with floods and thunderstorms and weird flying people.

But he was okay if Dana was with me and more okay if the Sheriff was going to meet us at the tea shop, 'cause he likes Dana. He likes her!

I tug Dana into the shop. "Here it is! Miss Wanda! Are you okay? You didn't have bad dreams, did you? I want you to meet someone! And the Sheriff is going to come over later too, okay? So we'll need a table for more than two."

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So lost in the realms of memory, I never hear Fiona until she is in the door and talking at a pace that only my pixie girl who is hyper excited can. I blink a few times to make sense of everything that just tumbled past her lips, and only when I wrap my head around it all do I notice the woman being tugged behind my excited girl.

"Fiona; take a moment and catch your breath my dear girl." I laugh a little and rise from my seat. I would normally catch her up in my arms and swing her around; but I do not have the heart for it today. "I am rather sad today, but no bad dreams. I would be happy to meet your friend," And I spare a smile for the striking woman. "And Mab is always welcome here."

There, I think I covered it all. "Would you and your friend like to pick a table and tea while we wait for Mab?" I ask, managing to keep on a smile. It is not a hard thing to do with Fiona around, after all.

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Fiona starts talking as soon as she gets us through the door, heading straight for a woman who's reddish hair shines brightly against the dull grey of her gown. Apparently this is the Miss Wanda who is one of the people I am supposed to meet.

The woman gives a little laugh at my goddaughter's performance and rises from her seat giving us a smile. She is lovely with creamy pale skin and green eyes. A classic beauty. And there is a hint of something musical in her voice. She is no fae but in her own way she reminds me of home. If we were in the Summerlands she would surely be someone's Companion.

I return her smile and her greeting, "It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. Fiona has been telling me about you, and insisting that we must meet."

I spare a glance for my goddaughter to see if she is ready to make proper introductions. Hopefully she will remember on her own without me reminding her. I incline my head when our hostess asks if we would like to pick a table and have some tea while we wait for the sheriff. "I think that would be more than acceptable." I tell her and then add, "Fiona, which table would you like to sit at?" I have no idea which table we should sit at so I will let my goddaughter or our hostess make the choice.

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"I'm sorry you're sad," I say quietly to Wanda, as I give her a big hug. She does look sad! It isn't like the way she usually looks. But lots of people are sad after yesterday, because they dreamed about sad or scary things, and I guess Miss Wanda did, too.

"We'd like the table by the window, please," I say, making sure to be very polite, and when Wanda and Dana meet, I make sure to be polite with that, too. "This is Miss Wanda. This is…a friend of my mother's. She likes to be called Dana." I think that's the right way to do it. No names, right?

"May I please have the white tea with roses in it? I like that one best," I explain to Dana.

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I've still been patrolling. Been needing it to bring me back to center. Really, the whole town needs the little regularities after the madness of the dreamscape. Everyone's experiences were strange, and so many of them horrible- we've been cleaning up since.
I woke up maybe 20 yards from the back door, covered in dirt and blood. I need something good, myself.

More important than normality are the events that combine my duty and pleasure. I get myself to the Dormouse just about on time, a small bag of caramels in hand. Edmund talked me into them this morning when I stopped in for my breakfast and mentioned I'd see Fiona today.

Walking into the tearoom, the scent of tea, cookies, flowers, spice and power assaults me. Resisting the urge to reach for a chair back to steady myself, I step further into the room.

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Fiona gives me a hug and tells me she's sorry because I'm sad, so I kiss her head. "It's alright, sweetling." I assure her and straighten up to smile at the woman speaking.

"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. Fiona has been telling me about you, and insisting that we must meet."

Fiona gravitates towards my window table and I pull out a chair for her. "This is…a friend of my mother's. She likes to be called Dana."

"It is lovely to meet you Dana. Any friend of Fiona's is more than welcome here." I welcome her warmly, and keep my thoughts close. A friend of her mother's??? I immediately wonder who this woman is, since as far as I am aware, Fiona never met her mother. Who is this woman, and should I be glad of her, or worried for my pixie girl?

"May I please have the white tea with roses in it? I like that one best,"

"Of course you may, and I just whipped up some pumpkin scones. Dana? Do you like tea?" I ask, turning to get the cups. "I have a little of everything. Hibiscus, rose, lavender, mint, chili pepper, orange..." I start to rattle off, then the door opens again.

"Mab!" I exclaim, coming over to hug her. She looks a little tired as well. "Sit down, you must have been busy these last few days. Relax."

It is easier, I think, getting through today if I have people to fuss over.

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Miss Wanda greets me warmly enough but there is a reserve to her that were we truly back in the Summerlands might mean something else. Because there nearly everyone is playing some game.

Fiona asks for a tea that has roses in it. And when our hostess asks me if I like tea I very nearly ask for the same thing. It has been so long since I had any flowers from my Mother's garden. The roses used to be her favorite. They were never mine. But now I find myself longing for that familiar taste. I had never thought that I would miss anything of my mother's.

The door opens before I can say anything and Miss Wanda is off to greet the latest arrival. A tall red haired woman who carries a very familiar aura. Servant of the Winter Court. I hoped the lady sheriff would not be that one.

All nostalgia for home vanishes at her entrance. I must be careful now. For Fiona's sake more than mine. I take my seat at the table next to my goddaughter. Let her come to us.

Edited Date: 2013-07-04 04:13 am (UTC)

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"Mab!" I say it just after Miss Wanda does. Oh, she looks unhappy too. Maybe tea will make her feel better? I go over to hug Mab, and start pulling her over to the table.

"Come meet my new friend. She's a friend of my mother's and she likes to be called Dana. This is Mab - she's the sheriff."

Something about them feels different from each other. I didn't notice it till they were both in the same place at the same time but it's there. Both Dana and Mab have the same familiar feeling, but Dana's is different than Mab's and I don't know exactly how. I hope that's not why they both look unhappy right now?

I hope they like each other! They're really both doing the same thing, because it's both of their jobs to keep me safe, so I hope that means that they'll like each other? Maybe?

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I hug Wanda back automatically, "No more than yours, Dear," and it's certainly true. But I resolve to let her bustle me in and resolve to let her fuss as much as she'd like. I know well enough what a busy person needs to fill their helplessness sometimes.

Before I can manage to say anything else, Fiona is up and hugging me and who can really argue with that?
"Come meet my new friend. She's a friend of my mother's and she likes to be called Dana,"
Suddenly some of it makes sense, especially the signs around town that I've brushed off for weeks now. I inhale as we cross the room and the scent of Spring hits me. It makes sense that one of them would turn up eventually- I'd just hoped that Fiona would be stronger, older, more set and solid in herself first.

This one has no reason to trust me, but I owe it to Fiona to change that. There are few enough now who understand what she is, and she deserves the support that this Dana might be able to offer. I very carefully incline my head the correct angle and smile before I take my seat, "It is good to meet you Dana. Meeting any friend of Fiona's is a welcome treat."

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I take comfort in Mab's hug for a moment. I won't cry now, maybe later. We'll laugh and cry together. "It's been a bitch of a week, that's for sure." I whisper to her, then give her up to Fiona.

I go back to my shelves to get the teas, and two thoughts occur to me at once. Firstly; there are a lot of red heads in this room. And secondly; the tension in this room skyrocketed without a single word.

For we all are caught in the middle,
of one long, treacherous riddle!
Can I trust you?
Should you trust me too?

The music dances through my head as I come back to our table with cups and set them in front of my guests. "I'll bring Rose down in a little bit," I say to Mab, she has not met her yet. "she's finishing up her nap. Dana, maybe you would like my strawberry cream tea?" I suggest getting Fiona her rose tea and refreshing mine. "And how have you been, Sweetling?" I ask Fiona, smiling. "I haven't seen you in a while, I've missed you." The urge to ask her to help me in the kitchen is strong, if only to get her from between the two... but everyone is being polite.

And my sword is just in the next room, just in case...

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The two women embrace each other as friends and a sharp pang of loneliness enters my heart. I miss Feidelma so much. There is no one here who can replace her in my heart. Not her daughter, not her daughter's father. Not even my little mage...

As the sheriff crosses the room I gather my courage, this is going to be a bit like being at Court, with the two of us likely exchanging careful words and measuring each other to see how much we mean them. I incline my head in return and offer my own smile to those of the sheriff. I am glad for the light layer of Glamour I wear, just enough to seem mortal to those those who do not know better, though it only offers the thinnest layer of concealment for my expressions. Ah yes, we shall indeed play this by Courtly rules.

"It is good to meet one's friend's friends. Because then they might become your friends as well."

Though I do not think that it is likely that I could become friends with someone who would serve a member of the Winter Court. Miss Wanda places cups in front of all of us and makes a suggestion to me about the tea. I accept by telling her it sounds delicious. Even though mortals mostly seem to have forgotten the laws of hospitality, the presence of the teacups and the offers of food and drink are reassuring. If anyone else remembers them, it should be Winter's servant. And she would surely not wish to compromise her friend's honour.

I do not know who this Rose that our hostess mentions is but perhaps it is just as well that she is napping. One potentially tricky meeting at a time is hard enough. I do not envy the Queen or her heir all those diplomatic and clandestine meetings that seem to fill so much of their time.

I do approve of the way Miss Wanda has turned to ask Fiona how she has been, thus leaving the sheriff and myself free to conduct the necessary talks.

Edited Date: 2013-07-04 09:32 pm (UTC)

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Dana and Mab are looking at each other really hard, like maybe they're seeing other things besides what ordinary people would see. Or maybe they just don't like each other. How can they not like each other if they never met each other? Did they maybe know each other before? Oh, I wanted them to like each other!

Maybe I'll let them talk to each other for a little bit? Miss Wanda is asking me questions anyway. "I'm okay. School started again and I like it lots better this year." I lean in and whisper, "'Cause I get to sit next to Daniel!"

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I think I do need to get Fiona out of the way, just for a few moments. at least out of earshot... or striking distance.

"Daniel, huh? Is he nice?" I ask, and smile over at both women. "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 add with a conspiratorial wink and hold out my hand to her.

Never known the little girl that could resist a secret.

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I mange an, "I'd like that," for Wanda, and try to lighten my expression for Fiona sake. She doesn't understand the automatic caution that Dana must also be feeling. When Wanda lures her away to the kitchen for a moment, I shoot her a grateful glance before I turn my full attention back.

"We'll only have a couple minutes before they come back. She's still young enough that her attention span wanders, but our Little One is quite tenacious. Especially when she's worried," I wish my diplomatic skills were better as I rest my hands flat on the table, "I know it isn't quite the thing to be blunt, especially in our set, but it's been one hell of a week. Even for Excolo."

Now that I'm closer, I can almost feel the shimmer of the glamour she must be wearing. I wonder how long she's been here- she must have been concealing herself well. Now I have to wonder how many times I felt her eyes on me, and shook it off as one of the other possibilities in Excolo. She must have known me as soon as she first saw me. My Lady's mark is not a subtle one.

"There is little in this world that I still care about, and she is a large part of what's left. I know that trying to convince you that I'm not a threat to you would probably be foolish, but if you believe anything, let it be that," obviously Fiona has taken to her. The best I can do is make a sort of truce before she decides to open hostilities. And maybe using a bit of directness will throw her off guard.

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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.

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"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?"

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"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."

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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.

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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?"

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