#anywhere

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The phone number August got takes a moment, and has some odd background noise.

Then again, he could be calling the hold's 'landline' for all he knows

Then finally, "Yo" not Jude's voice, but this is the number he's sure

"This is August Ratchford. May I speak with, ah, Jude please?"

"Oh sure , one moment..."

Noise on a beach and... then "Hello, August. Don't worry, the payphone is enchanted for certain protections. Talk freely"

"Thank you, Excellency. I have news."

"It is likely that I know the ghost which the omen spoke of. I have addressed the matter and the ghost is unwilling to say where our new brother is."

"Yes, indeed? " A pause "mmm you're sure the ghost knows?"

"No sir. The ghost is not entirely sure either, so I can't be sure."

"I see. We have other leads on two more sources, we'll pursue those. For now..." A sigh "August. Is this ghost a friend?"

"Yes, Excellency."

A thought "I see. Okay, August. I don't know how much you know, but things happened on my end too. While we're still looking for our lost treasure, we have reason to believe some precautions are being taken at least. I've also been out ranked on this matter. With two more treasures to find, we're focusing on those first for now. I apologize for putting you what must be a difficult situation. "

"It was already difficult, Excellency. I am happy to be able to serve."

"Yes. " Jude sighs "August, the job has changed to passing on some false rumors and such to create fake trails. I don't think you're the best suited for that task. You're an honest man. This is not a rebuke, merely with the mission changed others might be better suited."

"If it makes a difference, Excellency, I agree. I'm not very good at that kind of thing."

"Yes. Look, your friend, if it is who I suspect, did our House a service in the past. If not, we'd never let things take this path on a gamble. But you vouch, and debt owed, etc. Also, no point in burning your bridges, if you haven't burned them already or I burned them for you."

"It's.... delicate, Excellency."

"Yes...passions fly high. On one hand, we can't base house policy on the whims of a ghost and what she feels is right and wrong however kind hearted she is. On the other, as the Duke says, perhaps we should support her endeavors rather than waste resources. What say you?"

"I.... I don't have a comment, Excellency. I'm a bit off balance right now."

"Yes. I suppose you might be. You called me right away. Good man, but you feel a bit thrown off. Okay. Take time, think about it. August, your friend appears to have troubles. Alas, you can't help someone who won't take the help. Well, you might be able to, but only so much. Maybe I've gotten out of touch with my fellow changelings, maybe I...have trouble sometimes looking at the individual kithain. I'm not sure, but how about we both take time, and get in contact again in the next few days. For now, I'll leave false trails and so forth to other agents"

"Yes, Excellency." Obediently.

"I'll be in touch. Go give your wife a hug when yo usee her next, forget about these problems for a bit if you can. Mental break"

"I.... I'll try to, Excellency. Thank you."

"And..if there's anyway I can help you restore half burned bridges, let me know. Least I can do for a House brother"

"Yes sir."

"Good night, good fellow. I'm going to launch a Ravager for my chimerical skeet shooting. That always cheers me up. " He might be joking, probably is. But he hangs up

And August heads home.

(Two sad Liams) "PULL!" Blam (One Sad Liam) (End Scene)