Jean-Marie did know then as a certainty that the earlier tender behaviour between the Lady Si'anelle and Ae'thenal had indeed not gone unobserved by Sebekneru's women. And more, for as the dark-eyed woman had said Ae'thenal did continue to maintain her place beside her childhood friend, the Banepearl's power upon her like as to a cloak. The Banepearl in its blue silken wrappings now clasped in Ae'thenal's left hand, for Bronwyn had taken charge of the fair green banner Ae'thenal had held till now to enable her to be its keeper. Jean-Marie did take quiet note that Ae'thenal's eyes were ever restless as she measured the landscape about them, her right hand straying constantly to her sword's hilts. Her aspect darkly fierce and not that of an ordinary mortal as she turned her head to meet her gaze and frown but briefly, before she did look away. "Ah," said the woman of Araby, speaking to her continued silence, "she is beautiful is she not?" And did laugh when she saw her cheeks take colour. "They are not lovers," Jean-Marie did say then goaded to make a defense. "My Lady Si'anelle and the Lady Ae'thenal are true friends and have been so since they were but Elf children of tender years. And also the Lady Ae'thenal has sworn an oath on Isha's name to ever defend her friend against all harm." Her anger rising when she did see the woman of Araby's eyes were still bright with laughter for all that she had told her true. Now greatly annoyed she did further say, "You do demean my Lady and her friend with your words Madame. Speak further in this fashion and I shall take offense." "The Bretonnian Lady does own a pretty sword T'amsine," the blonde shieldmaiden at her other hand did say then. Her Norsca accent evident as she did speak, then laugh aloud. "Do not risk her further anger sister, or I may have to be swift indeed to save you from death's jaws." And so it was that she did ride through the gate of Sebekneru's holdfast, with her anger bare held in check as Sebekneru's women did surround her with their mocking laughter. Though it took all the discipline of her scorceress's training to do no more than hold her staff in a grip that did well whiten her knuckles of her right hand, and not to call down her craft upon these women's heads.

Nimine had missed but little of the exchanges between Sebekneru's women and Jean-Marie d'Quenelles. Her hearing would indeed be lax if she had not since she did march in company with her female guard but a bare half spear's cast behind the young scorceress. And her opinion of these wild and coarse women did not improve in any measure when she did see the method by which Sebekneru's holdfast had been made. Logs of great size had been set on end packed close together to make a palisade, the high wall wrought of raw felled timber encircling an enclosed space twice a longbow shot wide in its diameter. That such a body of lifeless wood did await her at her journey's end was no balm to her spirits, though she could well predict that it would be Peledym and his company who would feel the greater wound as they did look upon this human wrought making. Within the enclosed space and at its centre stood a tall and wide round tower of solid and plain stonework that to her nose did have the scent of dwarvish work about it. The tower apart there was little else within the compound save for several long low built timber shed like structures that could be none else save barracks for Sebekneru's female warriors, and a handful of other buildings of like construction that did have the look of store sheds about them. Standing her hands on hip with her female guard about her Nimine began to envy Elanise her enforced sojourn with the Elf-kindreds of Athel Loren. Though it was truth enough that Elanise would hold no agreement with her, for if Ariel herself had not intervened at their leave taking Elanise would have marched with them her babe held within a fold of her cloak and spitting like a wildcat at any who did suggest she remain behind. Quietly she did say to her standard bearer, "See if you can discover where we shall be housed I'ssina." And as groups of Sebekneru's warrior women began to quit their barracks to look upon the newcomers, spilling out into the compound their voices raised as they did make comments to one another at their guests' expense Nimine raised a hand to forestall I'ssina. "In seeking our quarters ask to keep our number apart from these uncooth women," she did quietly say, "and if any do dispute with you at this then send for me I'ssina." As if sensing her mood I'ssina did now incline her head to her a fierce smile upon her lips before she did go to search out any in this stark place who could give to her the needed information. Nimine did not doubt that Cedwyn and Peledym would also be sending messengers about a similar task and after observing with a critical eye the fashion in which her fellow commanders were ordering their troops within the compound she did now turn to her own she-Elves. Speaking quietly with them to reassure and also to ask if any did have injured feet from their long march to this place. Or any other hurt that should be known, be it physical or a weariness of the spirit at being so far from Ulthuan. "We are well enough Nimine," A'lowyn Fairhand did tell her speaking for her companions, though it was plain enough that they were all each a one of them tired and worn at this day's end. "However we did see our Lady faint as we did come down into this valley and perhaps she may the more need your care than ourselves." Though in this purpose she was prevented for now I'ssina did return and with her the tall lean made shieldmaiden who was Sebekneru's standard bearer. And as the hard eyed blonde haired woman did sharply tell her in her Norsca accents without preamble that they would be housed within a barracks to share with a company of Sebekneru's women the argument that did follow did serve to drive all concern at her Lady's condition from her mind.