#anywhere

"I... I was curious..."

"And then I did not wish to return to the party. Tis late."

"You were in danger, but not a physical one. " he notes the river "You come here not just when you are hurt, but I suspect this time you were." A sigh "What does the Baroness know that I don't?"

He does not insist she join him, rather he looks concerned...and should a sign of her pale flesh come out, he does admire

"Danger? Nay."

She swims closer to Earl. The black has washed out from her hair, the the pale locks float atop the water like a silvery aura.

"Your heart, I suspect. Was it the vision of the children? did it..scare you? "

"Well... that is a far future. I am not ready for children yet. Not for years, no."

"I agree. " A nod "But I was concerned it set you away. So..instead it ws something curious, that the Baroness knows about, and I do not. Mmm" The troll grunt at the end,she can read the translation as 'something seems unfair about that'

"August read the book."

A blink "He read it on the one night he would not remember? is the man an idiot or an ass?"

He seems a bit testy on her behalf

then he sighs "Of course, he does not know you wrote it. No insult intended. I just..mmph. "

"He did not like it."

NOW he looks surprised "he said so?"

"So perhaps for the best that he forgets."

"I watched his face."

"Bah. Who knows what goes on his head some nights. He could have been reading your book but inwardly debating some legal battle unrelated to it. He's a good man but vexing in his dwellings. I am sorry though that he didn't give it the approval it deserves."

"Swim with me?"

"I cannot promise not to drown thee..."

"A chance worth taking..." and he strips off his garb laying it near the chiffon. His skin is not entirely green, just the parts that would be open, but soon those areas that are green are washed off as he enters the black water..creating a large ripple that might seem to some part of Zara like a great beast unaware of the things that hunt here.

Oh, and he IS hunted...

he tries to ready to see which direction she will tug or slideby from...

but she barely leaves a ripple of hero wn

The prey is bitten! (It IS a good thing she doesn't have teeth)

But what a way to go....

Nibbled to death..er delight.