#anywhere

Eyebrow

"I might have picked it off her when I pretended to grab at her" He says sheepishly

"Indeed." She takes the book and flips it open to read the title.

Earl blushes "I don't normally do that but I had troll brain for at least two hours so I thought I'd ... well thought i was due one."

"You were extra trollish in there..."

"I was. Sorry." Meanwhile as she looks at the book she realizes it is ... not just a book, but a notebook , as if an explorer's journal.

"Hm." She skims it.

How intriguing,a map of ..caves?

Notations on some older Eshu's treasure!

And in a cryptic code!

"Hidden notes, inked motes, draw clearly the way..." Code is but another language, and she lets Naming guide her through it.

Mmm even as she translates, she can see the Eshu childling has snuck back. The girl looks ready to leap dramatically from a ledge and SEIZE the book from a clever snatch and grab! Oh derring do!

She ohhhhh so casually steps aside when the Eshu leaps.

The girl has done the most dramatic faceplant.

"I meant to do that" A mumble

Earl picks the childling up, "I bet that worked better in your head"

"So. Thiefling."

"My name is not Thiefling, and that book is mine"

"Is it?"

"It seems to be mine, now..."

The little girl will rattle off something rude in Kurdish

"Manners."

"it belonged to my mentor, I am his heir!" She delcares!

"Oh? Yet the book did not come to you."

"Taken by scavengers! The pocket has many kind of thieves, some of them behind stalls!"

"Don't yell," Earl says

Zara winces at the shouting.

"Tell me of this book. Something to prove your tie."

"Sorry" the girl says at the wincing and troll's admonition, then "On the fourth page is drawing of a phoenix, small, like a postage stamp sized... the phoenix gazes towards the left."

Zara checks it.

It is there indeed. The girl goes on "He used algebra and Kurdish... it's all scrambled. But first words if you translate are 'greetings, little one'. I am the little one"

As she has translated...?

OH yes.

"Greetings, Little One"

"One must be careful when stealing - even if one is the rightful owner. Tell me, Thiefling, what is your name?"

"Chaldea" She lifts her chin, "I am of an ancient line of heroines, and if some where thieves it was only because they were in stories of corrupt law."

"Miss Chaldea." A nod. "I do not condemn thievery categorically. But... you are fortunate, nu?"

"well, I wwas, until a nimble fingered troll tricked me" She crosses her arms and looking resentfully at Earl, "Whoever heard of a nimble fingered troll? He does not stay in his lane."

Earl hides a smile.

"Oh, you shall learn, thiefling, to not underestimate."

"May I have my book, please" Chaldea says

"Yes, you may." She offers it back.

"I..." the girl seems surprised, "Thank you. I.." She takes it, then bows, "Thank you very much."

"When you adventures allow, do seek me out for a cup of tea. I would wish to hear the stories."

"Thank you, that is.. my price for your aid?" The Eshu girl says.

Earl pauses and looks over at Zara muttering "She's about Jacob's age."

"A simple enough price, is it not?" A nod. "And aye, you are my brother's age... if, perhaps, you have need of a companion... one, perhaps, better at thievery..."

"A sluagh? They.. pardon, your kith is good at hiding" She admits.

"Tis our gift."