"Ahh Lady Tanique, please join me." He stands pulling a chair for her.

"I believe the boy, tries to mimic our own Storm blessings. Perhaps he wishes to try the test some day. He is rather good at more prosaic magic."

In reply to Lord Altoon (msg # 188):

Tanique smiled and nodded.
"Indeed?  Well, I can appreciate some good ambition in the younger generation.  But who is he?"

"Don't know. He looks like his family has coin, you can see from his apparel and jewelry that is so. I don't see any discernable heraldry though. Probably a merchants son, just to get training in magic suggest affluence as well."

"So how have you been ? I have been seeing your fabulous steed at the castle more often. Are you here for the visit of the foreign dignitaries?"

Tanique grinned impishly.
"Yes, her Ladyship wants me around, perhaps as a buffer for all the dignitaries.  I'm going to try to put on a few demonstrations for them."

She looked again at the eager youth.
"How easy is it to learn magic for the regular folk?  It feels arrogant to say, but  I'll admit that sometimes I forget what it's like to have parents with normal jobs and real lives."
The blonde chuckled.

He looks over, "Well, for the noble families fairly easy if your in the good graces of a Lord or Lady. We can travel with family where we need to, but you know that. For merchants slightly more difficult as they need the patronage of a noble to get over the mountains or a mage to open a way into the Crech to begin with to transport goods to begin with. There are mages within the Crech of course some Riders even wield magic as well. If they can be impressed to take on an apprentice one can gain magic that way. Even some of the less affluent can make the attempt to impress a mage to take them on. The boy is using what I believe to be local magic so most likely learned from within the Crech then outside of it."

Tanique nodded
"I'm glad to see our populace getting more skilled and useful for everyone."

"To a certain degree. We Lords and Ladies have vested interests in protecting the realm. As do the merchant's really but random people less so. If they can be instilled with pride in the homeland that is fine. We have even had some commoners rise up to become Lords and Ladies so all things are possible."

In reply to Lord Altoon (msg # 194):

Tanique shrugged and smiled.
"I suppose some kind of natural order of things is expected, but allowing people to better their lives is a good way to make them more loyal to the realm, I'd imagine."

"You mentioned demonstrations, what kind of things did you have in mind ? I know I was hoping to enjoy one of the Queens balls in the palace. They are always nice, the music is often from further shadows sometimes but it is always an event to make."

nodded, Tanique smiled shyly
"Well, I don't imagine that any exhibition that I have would rival a queen's ball, but I have been working on training a flock of birds to fly in a beautiful, symphonic formation."

"Oh, I should look forward to seeing that. It sounds like it will be most beautiful. You must be very gifted with the birds. I myself have a cockatiel which is quite lovely have you ever seen one in your wanderings ?"

Tanique cocked her head in thought.  She might have seen such a bird, as she's seen so many different kinds, but it felt more polite to pretend otherwise.
"You know, I'm not sure.  Perhaps not.  Can you tell me about it?"

"I can do you one better; my bird is outside waiting for me to be done with my meal. I will show you Thadeus. He is a lovely bird." There is a certain pride in his voice.
"Would you like something to eat Lady Tanique ?"

He works on his meal. At some point before he is done the teen and his entourage leave.

Having already eaten, Tanique joins the man in another drink, and joins him.  Occasionally watching the teen rising star over at the other table.

He seems to have gone after performing a bunch of small but somewhat impressive tricks.

Lord Altoon gets up and pays for his meal. He will then head out and look around.



This little guy flies over from beyond the roof tops somewhere and lands on Lord Altoon's shoulder, "Lady Tanique may I introduce Thadeus."

The bird raises it's crest and whistles.

tanique smiled.

"Hello, Thadeus.  How are you today?"

Thadeus tilts his head and says, "Hello." He then whistles out some notes and seems to be studying Tanique almost the way she is studying him.

"Nice to meet you." He bobs his body.

Tanique smiled

"He's very eloquent"

"Yes, a very smart creature. I am proud of Thadeus. Believe it or not his kind can speak even without the blessings of the four winds. Though with a much more limited capacity and mostly just mimicry. Thadeus was blessed with more intellect and some other gifts. He has been a good friend and companion for me."

Thadeus, "It's a living."

Lord Altoon, "Now, now Thadeus, quit clowning."

Thadeus, "I do so love to clown though."

Tanique laughed

"Perhaps we have a new Royal Jester"

"You should see, he has a tiny bicycle and other things I bought for him when we chanced upon a show with other birds like him. He actually does like to perform and do tricks. Though court Jesters oft insult the royalty and I rather want to keep Thadeus alive and not fried by lightning."

Thadeus, "Me too."

Tanique chuckled
"Perhaps he could make fun of people that the queen doesn't like?"

Thadeus Whistles loudly, "I would have a full time job."

Lord Altoon laughs, "She doesn't dislike that many people, Thadeus."

Thadeus, "If you say so."

Tanique smiled
"Well, as queen, she also knows a substantial amount of people, so that helps the average "

"I suppose you're right, at least she stays around the castle more than the previous monarch. Though that only limits her some. Well, Lady Tanique it has been pleasant company, but I have to go pick up a tailored suit. I was killing time here at this establishment."

Thadeus, "Fancy clothes."

"Yes, Thadeus they are nice."

Thadeus whistles again.