[color=ForestGreen][h2]Leaf[/h2][/color] A cold wind tugged at the trees as Grexx berated Leaf for her manners. A dark shadow passed under her eyes for a single moment and vanished just as quickly leaving any who saw it in doubt as to whether anything had been their in the first place. This fae was young and inexperienced. He knew only the ways of Winter in which many beasts were hideous and power was decided by skill, size, and strength. He would learn very soon that in Spring the fae that bared their teeth and their claws at an intruder were the very least of the threats that Spring could produce. The most dangerous things were those that were sweet to look at and soft to the touch. Beauty in Spring carried with it the deception of safety that only an outsider would be foolish enough to fall for. Still this creature stood on a delicate balance with a valued Spring Fae so Leaf would do nothing for now. She was patient and cunning with a long memory. Grexx would have his comeuppance eventually, perhaps he would even survive it as long as Leaf was the only one he spoke to in this manner. Other Spring fae were not quite so patient. [color=ForestGreen]"I am so very sorry to have disrespected your impressive and important person."[/color] She said with a sly sweet smile. The kind of expression that would make anyone forget the darkness in her eyes a moment before. [color=ForestGreen]"Perhaps we should call Lanveir back. Evidently you prefer his presence to [i]my[/i] most disrespectful manner."[/color] Leaf gave a high pitched whistle and the grown of the Cath Palug could be heard from the trees no so far off. He wouldn't actually come back unless Leaf called for him but the intention was there. Of course Leaf could do far more damage to this small creature than a Cath Palug ever could but Grexx seemed to respond much more readily to tooth and claw. [@Belle] [color=HotPink][h2]Pearl[/h2][/color] When Sini in her confusion asked Pearl to lead her to the Archon the young fool nodded brightly and grabbed Sini's hand. She took off at a fast pace dragging the Spring Knight behind her. She led Sini down into the roots of Yggdrasil which perhaps because of Pearl's heritage or her plight had always been kind to her. Pearl led Sini through so many twists, turns, reverses and darkened areas that one could swear they had run through half the length of the Spring Court by the time Pearl eventually pulled Sini up a set of stairs into sunlight. They were standing in the gardens the World Tree created completely closed off with three of its massive roots. Great hedges a ran throughout the area along with nature fae tending various plants, some for fruit, some for beauty, others for magick and still others that were in fact offspring. Pearl glanced behind them to see that the staircase they'd emerged from had sealed itself within Yggdrasil's roots. As she pulled Sini to where Nyx was waiting she began to sing a short little song. [color=HotPink]"Far over the ancient trees of old Where north wind comes and cold wind blow The frozen queen waits patiently For one to thaw her heart of stone."[/color] Pearl tugged on Sini's hand and pushed her forward towards Nyx. [color=Black][h2]Nyx[/h2][/color] Nyx walked through the gardens letting the wind and sun dry his clothing. Not that he was unable to change but he had some business to attend to immediately before he could indulge in such things. When his knight finally arrived she looked rather disheveled though considering who had led her to the gardens it was not surprising. Nyx himself had been led by the Fool on a handful of occasions down into the roots of Yggdrasil. In his youth the place had scared him though not when accompanied by Pearl or Leaf both seemed to have some understanding with the tree that prevented it from making them vanished if they looked too deeply. Still Nyx felt certain that it would be quicker to run the circumference of the World Tree than let Pearl lead in him the roots. When Sini mentioned Nyx's damp clothing he waved it away. [color=Black]"Nothing of particular importance. Yggdrasil has a rather juvenile sense of humor today, nothing more."[/color] When she asked about the Moot Nyx turned to look at her. [color=Black]"Does your spy not have his own ears?"[/color] He asked with a slight smile. Nyx liked Sini but more importantly he trusted her, at least as far as any fae [i]did[/i] trust another. He found her over protective sometimes. This included her Kestral eyes in the sky over the Moot. It was something she insisted on year after year though Nyx didn't find it to be necessary. Stone Henge (along with a handful of similar locations such as the Lake at Avalon) was the closest thing the fae had to sacred ground. It was protected and even if someone managed to break those protections for the purposes of striking down another ruler it would not be looked on kindly by anyone. The other court leaders, or even the fae of their own lands. In the past it had happened a very few number of times. The results were usually similar. A war between two Courts, the uninvolved lands either stayed out of the fray or sided with the one who did not spill blood at the Moot. Leaders that did so did not remain so very long. [color=Black]"The Moot went well, our trade agreements have been renewed with Winter, we are as usual at odds with Fall though I suppose I should send an envoy to Summer to ensure that our standing arrangements still hold with them. Feoras was speechless for much of the meeting. In addition I secured a small selection of Blood Pearls from Winter which should prove useful."[/color] Nyx paused for a moment wishing to hear Sini speak. [color=Black]"How fared the kingdom in my absence?"[/color] The Moot had not lasted as long as expected but their were still a number of things that could have gone wrong. Outlaws usually took advantage of the Archon's absence in the outlying towns and villages. [@shylarah]