The Ash Court.

Daniel had never seen such a place of wanton...lack? In the Citadel of the Seelie, all Seelie courts had territory given to them, where their court was represented and they could reign. A dwelling, almost an embassy. Some Courts were so well to do and large that they had miles and miles of buildings and businesses, their own district, where their leaders could rule and their people could dwell and trade. The Citadel residence was often described as a smaller reflections of the Court itself. It echoed the lifeblood of the Court for all to see.

And the Ash Court was clearly on the decline.

Daniel watched as the dwindling Authority alone kept the ruined manor house from catching ablaze. That the physical material itself was struggling to adapt to the aspect of the Court itself meant that this was a bankrupted Court.

It was doomed.

Unless some completely unknown variable arrived.

Daniel eyed Marrin without turning his head.

He couldn't get involved with another lost cause yet again.

The fate of the Ash Court and the new rising power that might be if it could survive to full maturation was tomorrow's journey. Let it be someone else's problem.

Branch had enough on his mind. First he needed to secure Marrin in a place where he wouldn't get discovered, and then he needed to ditch Esra. Esra hadn't ruined the Game yet, but as with anything with a delicate balance, Esra could make all the cards come toppling down.

"Do you think..." Marrin said, gripping his green hat nervously. "That it will be cooler during the day?"

He was not going to enjoy his time here.

"In the Citadel," Daniel said. "Almost anything is possible." Miracles such as Esra gaining common sense, water going up instead of down water falls, and perhaps even Daniel's Lordly Father honestly loving and treasuring life in general and his children in specific.

"Well, if anyone wanted to get a tan in the dark, this would be the place." Said Esra, unhelpfully. "They should add a swimming pool. Or an ice skating rink."

Laws were still laws, even in the Seelie realm. One may introduce a stronger law, which must be obeyed, but one couldn't just throw in two opposites.

A light turned on inside the manor. They had been seen. No doubt their approach had been noticed by the master of the ruined court. Daniel debated if he wanted to leave before the Ash Court leader emerged...

Esra grabbed Daniel's arm, panic on his face. "Don't you leave me here to talk to people, Spikes. I am not good talking to strangers. No one ever means what they say."

It did not seem to be a wise moment to point out that Esra was not skilled at talking to people he knew either. He always said strange things, and toppled over delicate games by pointing out the things both parties wished not to be said. He spoke to anyone anywhere, even if they hadn't been introduced, violating all of the social customs.

"We can both leave..." Daniel said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Not until I finalize our Bois trip with Marrin's new boss. You promised."

Daniel had not promised. He hadn't promised to go on the Boys Trip, nor to speak to the Leader and Master of the Ash Court about Marrin going on said trip. But the Servant Branch had also asked his now more powerful and magically sensitive ally to check to make sure Lord Fredar and his posse had truly left. And he had used Esra in his schemes.

He had to balance the scales. That Esra never used Daniel's true skillset to true efficiency was bizarre and against the general norms of the Fae, but so was Esra in general. Also, Daniel never wanted to owe the Gravity Mage. How could he sleep at night?

Besides, this 'boys trip' may not even happen. The trip would only occur assuming Daniel even survived long enough to see it happen.

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"Stormcrow, you are going to love it. Spikes is great at poker, Pockets is the best cook, and we just have a great time."

Marrin seemed to realize he was now included in this strange trip "Pockets?"

"He means Lordling Parcel, four time tournament champion, key figure of the bronze Circle, and formerly one of your masters of the Sky Court."

He went even paler. "No, no, no. I'm no one. I couldn't possibly go on such a trip with such remarkable people...And the Gravity Mage."

Daniel wanted to laugh, except he remembered he was now roped into the insanity of a wasteful trip as well. "You might as well get comfortable dealing with your betters, now. You will soon be over them."

The large Fae shifted uncomfortably. "What does this trip require? Will we be hunting monsters? Searching for jewels? Enacting revenge?"

"Mostly it's just eating food and playing cards. Sometimes we go fishing." Said Esra. "But I am open to all of the above."

The light inside the manor turned off, as though the person was saving the small amount of magic it took to light a room. That was an attitude of a lowling.

Daniel committed to seeing this out. Marrin was now technically unattached to the Servant Branch, as they had no overlapping Courts. But for everyone's good, it would be wise if he could forestall Marrin's discovery as an Heirling for as long as possible. The worst fate would be that Marrin was exposed prematurely, and was simply assassinated. Marrin had not spent his youth learning to avoid assassins, so his survival would not be likely.

Or perhaps the worst thing would be if Marrin awoke his Sword, and it consumed him. Assassination would not be a clean death, but it would at least be over. An untrained Heirling was a Danger to all around them. Dying by the Red Sword had been one of Elswith's greatest fears.

Daniel took this last moment to repeat the common sense advice he had already offered Marrin. He felt free to speak plainly, as Esra would not be talking about 'boys trips' if there were others present. Because, and his spirit cringed each time Esra said it, but 'only da boys are invited'.

"Marrin, remember, never use your left hand with the Sword. You managed to use your right for a long time."

The tall fae shifted, presence smaller than his large frame implied. "I'll just use a different sword entirely..."

"Now that it's awake...Swords can be jealous. You are the Heirling, but as there is no Lord, the Sword's entire attention will be on you. Which I do not envy. You must also consider how others will view you; it would strange to chose an inferior blade when you clearly have a well made family heirloom."

"Maybe there will be a better sword though?"

Daniel looked at Marrin, then the nearly burning Ash Court Manor, as a shutter, no longer able to resist, caught alight and fell from the building, smoldering weakly as it crashed into the ground.

"I find that unlikely."

Against that backdrop appeared the master of the Ash Court.

It was an Old Lordling.

She didn't look ancient. Fae did not age like some races did, such as merfolk or the humans. The Fae before them was several inches shorter than Daniel, and her long ash colored hair matched her ash colored clothes. She had a few wrinkles about her eyes and forehead, and a certain deep set feel about her eyes. But more than that, Daniel could feel stagnation in her powerbase, her Authority dry and wilting. There was almost no Favor about her, and no Influence at all. She came to them, without attendants.

Daniel was prepared. He would ensure that Marrin was in his best situation. Would there be hostility? Clearly, Lord Fredar had attempted to cheat the Ash Court, by replacing whatever favor was owed with a Middling. Would there be scheming? Daniel only had a few minutes more to spare to the Fate of Marrin and delaying the discovering of the Sword of Storm. Also, Marrin needed to not get caught up here. It might be disastrous if his future became entangled with the Ash Court...The Old Lordling may just assassination Marrin herself and keep the Sword should she discover it.

Trust was rare, and schemes ran deep.

The Old Lordling reached them, and looked them all up and down. There was a fence between, and an old heavy gate. It was clear the Old Lordling was debating whether to parlay or not.

Daniel prepared himself. This would be a pivotal moment.

Tension rose from the other side, as the Master of the Ash Court fumed silently. The only thing lively about her were her glowing, green eyes. With one decisive hand she reach for the gate and...

It was stuck.

She put her other hand on it, and pulled, but either it was stuck, or the latching mechanism was broken, because outside of a few grinding moments of protest, the gate didn't budge... "Um...You guys are welcome to come in...If you want to shimmy up the gate..." she said, sounding a lot younger than she looked. Or perhaps inexperienced. Or perhaps...not pretentious? "Are you guys here about the job help I posted? I only need one of you, though. I like you!" She pointed to Daniel. "You even brought fancy clothes!"

Chills ran up and down Daniel's back as he considered the implications.

"Which employment option are you referring to, lady?" Daniel said, still using polite speech but wondering if it was necessary. Perhaps this was some servant? An attendant? "Are you not...the Master and Lord of the Ash Court?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah. But I also pull weeds and collect old soap bars. And wash windows for the Glass Court. Who isn't afraid of heights? Because I am..."

"You are the Master and Ruler of the Ash Court?" Daniel punctuated each word heavily.

The fae sighed, remembering belatedly her manners. "Lordling Talia Ashurn, lord and Master of the Ash Court. Now, about these windows..."

She froze when she saw Marrin. For whatever reason she had initially only focused focused on Daniel. The Old Lordling lost her breath.

"Why is there a Middling under my control, and what do you want for it?"