Elsewhere: Roseacre

	TheWorkingTim	Atop her palace of living rose, the maiden stands by her balcony. The wind caresses her long, brilliantly red hair like the touch of a lover, and a wistful expression is set in her tanned face as she gazes out over her domain. Her posture is that of a queen, confident in the strength of her powerful muscles and armor of giant, crystallized rose petals. A two-handed axe, its head shielded by a leather cover, rests idly
	TheWorkingTim	at her side. There is a knock at her door, and she turns around with a warm smile on her face...which fades into a coldly neutral expression when she sees who it is, "Count Helianthus. At last. I trust my serfs are back in Shroomy under your care?" She casually grips the haft of her axe.
	TheWorkingTim	The foppish male pauses in his tracks, looks back into the hallway behind him as if considering a hasty retreat, then gives her his most disarming smile, "Dear Duchess Rosacaea, I...erm..." His smile wilts beneath her glare, "There were some...complications. Entirely not my fault!"
	TheWorkingTim	"Not your fault, really? Whose, then?" Her eyes narrow. He quails, "Well...you see...there was..." "Enough. I gave you a simple task, a task one of my handmaidens could have accomplished, and you blather to me about complications." Her tone is flatter than Leyri's chest as she continues, speaking over his protests, "You frolic too much and do too little...but as you say, it isn't your fault, so I shall be kind and spare your fingers. Let us see how well you dance without your toes."
	TheWorkingTim	Abruptly, Helianthus' expression changes from fawning to fierce, sliding back into a fighting stance and spitting his words at her, "Come and take them! I, the great Count Helianthus of Sunhome, may not be able to kill you before you kill me, but this sword will take your beauty and maim your strength before I fall!"
	TheWorkingTim	The two lock eyes for several moments, each gripping their weapon, neither giving ground. And then, unexpectedly, she smiles, sets her axe aside, and laughs. A deep, hearty laugh boiling up from her belly. Helianthus blinks, but doesn't relinquish his sword. At last, she waves a hand, "Peace, Annulus. I forget that you have ironwood in your spine when it comes to it, and you would not be so brave were it truly your fault. That enchanted sword of yours, ridiculous and gaudy as it is, will not be required today. Tell me what happened, and leave nothing out."
	TheWorkingTim	He relaxes marginally, but leaves his hand on the bellguard of his weapon, "An army from the Northmarches..." They don't call them the Freemarches in Greenwood, "...was already there when I arrived. They interfered, and I thought it best to retreat rather than risk an unplanned battle against unknown enemies in unfamiliar territory."
	TheWorkingTim	"An army? Mercenaries from Hub? Damn that fat, scheming..." "Er, no! Locals...I think. Satyrs, mostly. I rather liked their heraldry, despite the unfashionable coloration and appalling lack of fashion sense displayed by the common soldie..." "FACTS, Annulus. Where were they from? That ugly fortress town that plays at being the Horned King's people? I am aware that they have an army, but allying with...satyrs?" Her face twists with disdain.
	TheWorkingTim	"No, no. The heraldry of the Ten Families is well known to me. It wasn't Lord Wormwood. They wore blue and green, with a pattern of flowers. Bluebells, I think. Oh! They had an Avalonian Sorceress with them, one of the Storm Sylphs. And that Maiden of Sharks your informant wanted to write a ballad about." He says the word informant with enough of a flippant edge to earn another toe-chopping glare from the Duchess, who gestures for him to continue, "A Svart noble...lovely for a grey elf." The Duchess snorts in disbelief, "Ah! And you won't believe who else! The rightful prince of Haida, isn't it wonderful? Goodness, I simply MUST have another opportunity to speak with him." "Enough." The single word drips with rage.
	TheWorkingTim	"Bluebells. An Avalonian Sorceress. Damn that bitch! I should have known she was hiding something from me!" "...What? Milady, have you met..." "Yesss...that little witch, I KNEW she was hiding something from me! We know where the object of our search is hiding, Annulus, and it is in that very town. Damn, damn, DAMN! I should have beheaded both of those grey whores while I had the chance!" She snarls.
	TheWorkingTim	"Milady, what are you talking about?" The Count stares at her with mingled confusion and worry. Her hands twitch as if gripping her axe, "I will make them pay, all of them. I was far too merciful not burning their hamlet to the ground on my first visit! I should have ridden that stonesucker into the DIRT and had the witch flayed for her temerity!" She shudders, taking a deep breath and visibly trying to calm herself.
	TheWorkingTim	"And, er, the others?" "Inconsequential, and possibly useful. The boy has a claim on Haida lands and the Sharkmaiden is Dinay, I hear. Those barbarians fight for loot and glory, either she will be turned or my axe will claim her head. Either way, I win. Annulus, I am going to tell you a story, and then you will tell me whether it makes sense. Let us assume that the boy Branmead is an idiot, if we must, but I know Nissara Nyenga, and that wolf-bitch is cunning when she has to be, and a traitor as well by her recent actions. What is one more treachery to her? She comes to a town known for refusing to support Greenwood during the first...poorly handled by the Mirror Court...attempted reconquista of the Normarches, where she meets the mastermind of this plot, an exceedingly clever Avalonian."
	TheWorkingTim	"This grey elven witch promises her protection and squirrels her and her stolen goods away somewhere. Given that they have an Avalonian plurality on their provincial Council, she feels quite safe in taking this move to expand her homeland's influence. Now that I think of it, although a Haida marched with the Greenspear, weren't the elves of the desert Avalon's allies once? The boy Haida is in desperate circumstances, and likely makes a convenient pawn. When I arrive, she pretends to speak the language poorly, and baits me into a rage to cloud my senses, which will not happen again."
	TheWorkingTim	"As soon as she finishes her war...which, contrary to certain rumors, I believe to be utterly genuine and likely not provoked by Bluebell, she enacts her plan to interfere with us. This marks the second time that Bluebell has interfered in matters of Greenwood politics that do not concern them. She makes us look foolish to put some fire in the Normarchers bellies and make them believe they can oppose us. When they find they cannot...I expect Avalon will come, offering them aid. Perhaps through the Horned King. He still calls himself an Avalonian vassal, does he not?" "Yes, but he EATS THEM!" "Then perhaps Avalon will interfere more directly, even ridding themselves of the Horned King and looking like heroes in the process."
	TheWorkingTim	"Although she did throw lightning at me, Duchess, it sounds like baseless speculation, based on what we heard from..." "Yes, Annulus, I am aware. It is entirely conjecture. Either she was aware of our informant or Bluebell truly is simply a developing town sticking its nose into matters that do not concern it. However, our version of events could come in useful. They might even be true, but it matters not. History is written by the victors, and so we are on the right side of history. We are heroes in an age of savagery, and any deeds we may perform that are themselves savage can be attributed to the age."
	TheWorkingTim	"I do not think anyone will mistake them for pawns. Prince Idir and Lady Carnes'ir...er, sorry, the 'stone sucking whore' wished to parlay with you in person. Particularly the prince." "Really? Go. Send me my scribe, the one who isn't distractingly pretty. I have some letters to write."
	TheWorkingTim	Count Helianthus bows, and excuses himself hurriedly, while the Duchess turns back to looking out over her domain, a cruel little smile on her face.