“Oh my [i]stars.[/i]” The words slip out before she can catch them. But it’s no use! Here! The warriors of Ceron! In her mind’s eye, they would have been tall and shirtless and carrying bronze shields as large as themselves, and might even have insisted on carrying her to their alpha. Be like the Ceronians, princess! Do you think [i]they[/i] would give up before beating this record? Would they be satisfied losing to this Marvelous Mechanical Man in wrestling? Surely not! Surely, surely not!

Redana does not have a lot of experience talking with the elderly. It’s a little distracting, trying to look at them and not focus on the wrinkles, the sagging jowls, the pot bellies in those hand-dyed shirts... that’s so rude, Redana, focus! Be a princess! Be their princess!

“Hail, champions,” she pivots smoothly into. Look at the marbles, that’s less distracting. She strikes her fist against her shoulder in salute. “Princess Redana Claudius of Tellus salutes you[1]. Praise to Pallas Athena, who crowns you in glory, who tempers the shield and steadies the spear. I invoke your protection—“

She stops. Looks at the village again, considers the words that just sprang out of her lips, drilled into her: [i]these are the words that will protect you[/i]. “No, I— I counter-invoke. It doesn’t count. I just need to know if you know of someone named Epistia. Hades sent me here to help her. And I’m glad he did, because your home is beautiful. I wish I wasn’t here on a quest; Dolce would love it here. You’ve been here all this time, haven’t you?”

So that they don’t have to get up, she takes a seat with them. That will help the counter-invocation, probably. Nobody making serious proclamations ever sits down criss-cross-apple-sauce to watch a game of marbles with two old men. And, really, when you look closer, they have been keeping up with their fitness; you could bounce a marble off that firm arm.

***

[1]: Bella, if she were here, would wince and hide her face in her hands. Really, Dany? You’re the most wanted woman in the galaxy and you immediately introduce yourself by your title? But what Bella would not be taking into account is that these are the [i]Ceronians.[/i] Of course you can trust them, Bella! Don’t be silly!

***

[Redana’s doing her best to [i]Speak Softly[/i] here, and she hammered out a [b]13.[/b] So, with that in mind, in a conversation over marbles, hopefully with some lemonade served in an old mason jar...
[list][*]What can they tell her about Epistia?
[*]What do they want, and how could she help them get it?
[*]What would they have her do next?[/list]