"Fight. Stab. Thrust. Slash. Swing. Throwing a blow. Attacking." 

Meanwhile, at the side of the field, Nicole is switching on as much charm as she can summon. She's dressed in an uncharacteristically casual sky-blue waterfall cardigan that she thinks makes her look less intimidating (it doesn't) and a tasteful pendant necklace that she picked out because it was the closest thing she has to Jenny's style. 

"Robert and Jenny, wasn't it? It's a pleasure to see you both again. I'm so glad to see Iomedae and Lucy getting along." 

"She really loves your swordfighting club! It's so nice of you guys to let her participate!"

"Of course! It's always wonderful to see the younger generation taking an interest in history, isn't it? She's very hardworking. You must be very proud." 

"She's a really diligent kid!" They work on homework pretty much from the minute Iomedae gets home until dinnertime and she's never once complained, even though Jenny thinks that a lot of the material is really too difficult for her. 

"She's dealing really admirably with the language barrier. You must be doing a lot of work to get her up to speed. I suppose you're used to foster kids with their own unique challenges, though?" 

“This is actually only our second foster kid! We wanted to do it for ages but we had a condo near my work, one bathroom, and that’s against the state rules for foster homes. So we finally started going through the process about three years ago, when we moved to Virginia.”

"Oh wow! Where did you move from? How are you liking Virginia?"

Nicole makes small talk for several more minutes. Diplomacy at humans is so different from diplomacy at fey; she has to be warmer, less aloof, more genuine and approachable, less reserved and cautious with her words. She can do it, but it's at least a little bit of work.

Eventually she feels she can naturally bring up: "...so we're actually having a bit of a fundraiser on the 15th! Lots of people are donating their old stuff, and we'll be selling some baked goods as well to raise money for our historical education efforts. I was wondering if Iomedae might like to come and volunteer with us at the stall? We usually let volunteers take their pick of anything that didn't sell, so it could be a great way to get her a few more items of kit like some medieval garb and a mug, and she can practice some easy English." 

“Oh, I bet she’d love that.”

"That's great! Would you need any help to get there? I assume you'll be fine, but I wanted to offer since we're already carpooling for Lucy and Roger's sake. Of course you and Robert are very welcome at the event too, we'll have some activities like archery and a sewing class that anyone can try - I understand getting hit with a stick really isn't everyone's cup of tea." 

“Oh, I think we should take her. That’s so kind of you, though.”

"Of course! We really try to look out for one another around here."

And Nicole will change the subject and chat about several other ordinary suburban mom topics before breaking the talk off with a smile and going to get into her armour. 

"...so she suggested you could help them with the bake sale? Isn't that a great idea?"

There will be a swordfighting event. Iomedae is forbidden from participation, because she is a slave, but she will be doing....some kind of labor in support of the tournament? She doesn't understand what labor exactly but Jenny is pleased that she was chosen for it. Iomedae supposes that she should also be pleased but she has not successfully mustered the emotion. "I do this, ma'am?"

"Yeah, that's the idea! It's a great way to give back to this cool organization of theirs!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Did you have fun today?" She's usually happier than this after practice.

"I learned swords, sir."

"Well, okay then."

Holy Aroden, who brought men magic from the ruins of Azlant, who has seen the heights of civilization and commands us to surpass them, who laid the sacred path by which men become gods, may all men be moved by your wisdom, may our civilizations prosper by your guidance. Speak in the heart of the Emperor of Taldor, and of the Emperor of America, and show them triumph and glory.

I am trying to figure out whether I am obligated to be a slave for the rest of my life or not. I know that, if America had just processes which enslaved men for good reason, say because I had committed a crime and this was the punishment, I would be obligated to be a slave for the rest of my life unless they had some process by which I could earn my freedom. And I know that if America had asked my oath, and I had given it, I would be bound by it. But I do not think that the processes that enslaved me were just.

America enslaved me when I told them that a man had tried to rape me. I think that probably it is bad to have a law that if a woman reports that a man tried to rape her then she is enslaved. I haven't thought it through entirely but I think possibly that even if there were otherwise sufficient reason to enslave her the law ought to avoid doing it if they learn of her because she came to report an attempt to rape her. But it would at least be more complicated if other justification to enslave her existed, and I don't think that good justification does exist in this case. I had not knowingly broken the law. I had not been being careless or unchaste. I am not of an enemy people. I do not worship an enemy god. If they enslave all paladins I think that is not a just law, because it punishes goodness and lawfulness, which I think is the opposite of what laws ought to do, and because there has got to be a better solution possible to negotiate.

Possibly  this policy of America's is bad enough that it is just to disobey such a law. I would feel more sure that this were so if it affected some other woman who was not me; it is hard to be assured one is not reasoning from self-interest. I would also feel more sure if I was permitted to speak of political matters with anyone, but the order prohibits this, and while I do not think 'school' prohibits it I do not think anyone at 'school' is trying to live by the standards of paladins, or is really interested in debating what is lawful and good at all, and so their opinion is not of use to me. I think it is dangerous and generally for ill, for most people to decide that a law which affects them personally is unjust and to disobey it accordingly; but if they are prohibited from asking whether it is just, then how can they arrive at a better solution than the dangerous one?

If it is your will that I am a slave in America forever then I will obey you. But I don't think it is very likely your will because I don't see how it will involve surpassing our fathers and becoming gods and ending the evil afterlives at all.

Fencers' Fete is a small day event, with no camping, held at a farm outside of town. SCAdians arrived before dawn to put up signs and dayshades and banners, haul flats of water, and put together the needlessly complicated set of interlocking painted poles that make up Kalomeros' list fence. The centre of the main field is devoted to the list field, with pavilions lining it on three sides and plenty of room for fighters to park carts full of gear. In a huge barn off to one side, there's several hours of A&S classes scheduled and there are chairs laid out for court. In another field there's an archery range, but instead of modern targets there's various scarecrows and model animals and straw-stuffed wooden abstract shapes.

The merchants are given a row of tables going down the shady edge outside the barn. Kalomeros sets up their sale on two folding tables just near the corner of the barn. There's only half a table devoted to baked goods, with the rest of the space given to secondhand gear. 

People are, universally, dressed in medieval garb. The most common outfit is a multicoloured tunic over loose pants and boots, but there's people in Elizabethan embroidered gowns and Japanese robes and Roman togas and the occasional post-period-but-forgivable-for-newbies kilt. (Someone will have texted Robert and Jenny the standard guidance for newcomers; if they don't have any garb then they can make an effort with an oversized Goodwill dress, or they can accept the Gold Key that will be loaned to them at the gate.)

The gate opens at 9am. There's a piece of paper saying TROLL in a vaguely medieval-looking font, taped to a bright blue dayshade, under which smiling volunteers sit behind folding tables and take ten dollars from each attendee. (There is no charge for Iomedae because she is a child.) 

Iomedae is wearing a perfectly good period tunic that she in fact helped spin and weave herself, not that she knows to brag about this, and is both delighted and alarmed about the pavilions and people in armor. This is not a good situation for Robert and Jenny, who don't know anything. It was explained earlier that people were all right with informality because they were 'at practice', which in context obviously means 'not at a real tournament', which they now are.

Jenny is wearing a pale blue Edwardian dress a friend lent her after she explained that the foster child was into historical dressup events. She is pointing everything out to Iomedae and cheerfully telling her the vocabulary for it. "...and it is free for you! That means it does not cost money! Say thank you!"

How do you even say thank you without religion. 

"Ma'am," says Iomedae, and bows to the person taking money at the gate.

The volunteer at the gate does not find it particularly weird at all when people bow to her. She hands Jenny a waiver for the non-members to sign.

"Here you go, my lady," she says, and hands Iomedae a gate token. It is a small bronze cloak pin with a fleur-de-lis design; the gate volunteer is already wearing one to clasp her own cloak. She also hands out printed schedules, which talk about the classes on offer and the times the archery range is open. Court is at 4pm. 

"Is this your first event?"