Tanique smiled wryly
"Someone was mad at the queen and did something dumb, so i had to punch him in the face.  Just business as usual.  "
She paused, frowning in thought

"By the way, what game did you and my father use to play in years ago?"
She asked it like it was a "I'd innocently forgotten" way, but she was also wanting to make sure this Ashton wasn't a Chaos spy.  She was feeling paranoid around all these Shapeshifting spies

Ashton looked at her, "Did you get hit back in the head ?" He looks at her concerned.
"Hide and seek, it's why you brought me here. Though hitting him with powder was even better than the old days." He starts laughing.

Tanique smiled
"Yes, but that's normal.  It's been an eventful couple of days.  Okay, let's go "

Ashton follows her.

"I don't suppose I might get something on the way out, a memento of my visit to this place ? A teapot or perhaps something of that nature ?"

He fetches his portable fold up chessboard and pieces.

Tanique grinned.
"A souvenir works.  We can get a teapot from the kitchen.  Follow me."
She took Ashton by the kitchen and asked for a teapot, perhaps one of the older ones that don't get used for the queen, to take with her.

Ashton seems even happier, "Oh I wasn't expecting one from the castle itself this is perfect. Thank you, Lady Tanique." He looks at it with a big smile.

Tanique smiled
"Nothing but the best for my friends "

Ashton follows along with Lady Tanique as she takes him home.

Tanique wouldn't rush too quickly, as a courtesy to her guest,  but moved to his home

You deposit him safely back home with very little worries.

You do notice some scarring in a few shadows signs of where the Black Road had been. Other than that things seemed fine for your trip.

Tanique tried to keep track of the damage, vowing to look at the road damage more in the future.

She smiled at Ashton. "Do you need me to help with anything else?  Or did you want me to come back sometime?"

"I would like it if you came back and visited. I think your father said he would try but there were problems he was dealing with."

"He is definitely very busy.   Okay. I'll try to visit soon.   Fare well, my friend.   I'll see you soon"

She'd leave, rushing back to the Creche

Storm winds race Tanique back to the Storm Lands and she flies over the barrier mountains returning home.

In reply to Shadow of the One True GM (msg # 726):

Tanique landed at the outskirts of the castle, so as to not to startle the guards, and made her way back to the castle.

It's late evening that she arrives there is a bustle of activity in the castle and she is greeted by a servant, "Hello, Lady Tanique. I am here to help you in whatever way I can while you are recovering. Im Bandy."

Tanique smiled at the man.
"Hello, Bandy!  Pleased to meet you.  All I want for now is some food and drinks taken to my rooms, so I can relax for the afternoon with a good book.
Perhaps a pitcher of lemonade and some sandwich stuff?  And some cinnamon rolls?"

"Of course, Lady Tanique the rolls might take a little bit so they are nice and freshly baked for you. I will see about the other things now. Do you already have a book in your chambers ? There is a book from the other worlds about a girl whisked away from her home by a shadow storm and deposited elsewhere. I hear it is popular, it had a knight, a lion and witches in it."

"That sounds lovely, Bandy.  Thank you!  I'll be in my room."
She headed up there, hoping to rest and heal

Bandy heads off to fetch several sandwiches a pitcher of lemonade and some tarts to hold her over till the cinnamon rolls were done baking. He added to the tray a copy of The Wizard of Oz.

The young red haired man knocked on Lady Tanique's door.
"I shall return when the cinnamon rolls are done, M'lady." He gives a bow.

Tanique takes off her armor/gown and sits down in a comfy chair in her main sitting room, and sighed in relief.  She was much more tired than she wanted to admit

You relax into your chair and soon are deep into Dorothy's adventures in Oz. Soon her eyelids droop as she gets drowsy.

Another knock at her door and the cinnamon rolls arrive on a tray held by Bandy.

Opens the door and greets Bandy.

"Thank you!  How is the queen doing?"

"As far as I know, she is doing quite well. I would rather not disturb her, but would you like me to check on her ?"

Tanique grinned
"I wouldn't want you to bother her directly.  She needs her privacy as well.  But if you could just go near her 'orbit' so to speak, and let me know if you hear anything unusual."