#anywhere

Compared to many of the holds she's seen, this is quite small. His Lordship is not rich in glamour that is to be sure. There is a spiraled stairway that leads into a tiny parlor, tall enough for a troll, but not wide enough for two trolls abreast.

Zara's dark eyes miss little, seeking details - hints to the hold, to its lord.

It seems a genuine blend of Victorian design and a living tree, not so much tiles and panels, but arboreal tones shifting.

the parlor may amuse her, there is a small table in there, where tea might be offered to guests while they wait.. book shelves are a part of the wall/tree and have a respectable sampling for guests. It is, sadly, a touch too well lit, and lacks that fine grain of dust that just adds a certain dignity

Pictures, books, sentimental objects?

Oh, hello... Zara does drift a bit, drawn to see the manner of books.

Some childrens books... a few classics about doctors going to frontiers....

and yes, books on heraldry and chivalry, a bit more Gwydion focused than she has at Earth Runes

Earl and the lord join her and earl smirks "We may have lost her already, my lord"

"Mmm? Nay, I am here... pardon..."

A shame, there's another novel about a Victorian female 'doctor' (Men refuse to call her that) called to tend a child that is sickly and no one else can cure. But the widowed father of the child has grown distant, aloof, and with a dark fury he cannot express and under that intense pain, a deep man of keen intellect and.. a much warmer if near broken heart. And in her healilng of the child, she finds herself drawn to healing him by offering up her own heart to...

oh right. She puts it away

"Quite all right, Lady. It's a work by a lesser known author but I enjoy her work"

And the Gwydion motions them to follow "Can I get you anything to drink or eat? I could put some tea on or shall we skip ahead to the treasures?"

"Forgive us, Lord, but we have family to return to soon," Earl admits.

"To the treasure then." He nods and leads them down into a sunken roots.

and a room that is spread up "I had these put out in preperation for you" He says

The options appear to be a Rosewood Puzzle Box, a twisted wand that looks be made of blackwood with an obsidian tip, a bracelet of river weeds woven together, a shield with a wolf howling displayed, and lastly a book.

Zara DOES note and hold on to the title. For reasons.

"What do they do?"

Lord Timorus smiles, "See, a reasonable question. The Puzzle Box can once for day place a foe into a maze... buying you time to get away. "

The Gwydion continues, "The Wand aids in counter spelling. I once put it to good use against an Eiluned. My he was surprised." A smile so smug that there can be no doubt he's a Gwydion

"The Bracelet allows one to breathe under water for hours and see clearly in it."

Earl raises a brow at both of those, and looks at Zara

A headshake. "For thee."

"The Shield bears one of the forms Gwydion bore, and the magic upon it is..well , the Shield howls, and sends all but the strongest willed fleeing in fear."

An appreciative eyebrow.

"The book is a minor magic, but I offer it anyway. It is as you can see, blank, generic...almost typical to the point of being note worthy. But touch it ,and every book you own will have its title appear on a list in the pages. Most folks don't fill past the first page. Touch the name of the one you want, and it doesn't matter how far away from your library you are, your book and this book exchange places. When you are done with the book you summoned, but say 'Rest now' and this book returns and the other one goes back safe and sound. I won it in a bet with a sluagh. She swore off gambling after that, or so she claimed" The Falcon nods " I tried to fidn a treasure more suited to an artist but alas, sir, I do not have one"

Siiiiiigh.

Earl looks at Zara, then to the Gwydion "I think you underestimate it's worth, My Lord."

"Love... nay. Tis for thee."

Earl blushes

"Your gent is an odd fellow, tempted by treasure to hasten delivery, then once he gets here forgetting any sense of want for himself," The Gwydion says

"In truth, Lord, had you been even a touch of a Cad I'd have taken the money and run," Earl admits.sheepishly, "But I have a hard time beggaring a man who guards the seeds of springs so fiercely"

"My Love blooms of summer long ere Beltain dawns."

"No one's perfect," Earl murmurs

"Ah, no wonder his eyes are alight only with pleasing thee," The Sidhe nods, "Tsk, sir, your lady bade you tend to yourself, will you shun your love's wish in the name of granting it? Pick."

Earl looks them over, truly unsure. The Shield most likely the wisest choice for survival and battle success, but breathing under water might be useful in the future for adventures. Yes, he's narrowed it down to the reed bracelet and the shield.

She draws his hand close, grazing his knuckles with a kiss. "Trust thy judgement. I know thou wilt not accept gold, not with the children. These treasures, any of them, their transfer shall not deprive them."

He nods and smiles. She knows him so well, he had already ruled out the money, in fact, it barely entered his mind. Then he nods "I'll take the shield. I am not sure a wolf blazon suits me, but it shields me, and those I love and drives away foes. I admit, any one of these would be appealing but out of all these, I think this might keep me alive longer so can return to my lady, and I assure you, that is very selfish of me"

"Then take it, Sir Earl. " Lord Timorus insists, "It is a fair trade for the Shield I can now put full time before my charges."

Earl takes it.

"Oh, a wolf suits thee.... when we are alone, I may enumerate the ways."

Earl purples lightly. The Gwydion is too much a gent to tease and acts as if he makes no connection.

"Now, how long do I have you both for? I know you must be off for family moments but it feels rude to treat you like attendess to a flea market. I am not sure I have sluagh ready food, but I can at least provide tea, and conversation?" Lord Timorus says

"Tea would be most mannerly."

And tea is prepared. The conversation is pleasant, though sidhe, even tolerable ones, do enjoy being the center of a conversation. Fortunately, she can redirect this tendency towards self focus towards other things. The children are of much pride to him, how he came to the hold, and yes, the treasures if she likes

Poured and so on, the tea is actually quite good.

Tea and conversation is always a good end to a visit.

And Earl does ask "Those attacks on the children, that constant? "