#anywhere

"Welcome to the Serenity Artistic Retreat,Mr. DeBuke." The accent is different from what Earl is used to, and also to the girl in his large suitcase.

"Thank you, it's absolutely beautiful" Earl says. Zara can't see. Argh. She'll have to wait.

1122, however, has hitched a ride on Earl - hidden behind a horn.

It's lovely enough to make a spider want to climb a mountain and roar..err tap his challenge to the sky

"If you will follow me? I will lead you to your room. It is not lavish but we hope it is comfortable"

"I grew up on a farm" he says in return, "Lavish is nice, but art is better"

And they go into a place , the illumation shifts. Zara can't see, but she hears better than any save others of her kith

Zara listens intently - she'll prowl about later, in the night...

Some she does not understand, the wrong language, how frustrating!

But there are snippets

"This place is so beautiful..."

"Can't believe some of the talent here..."

"It still seems odd. FREE transport?Isolation for a week...what do they gain?"

Zara perks.

Point. What DO they gain?

...what's the secret?

And she hears what might be a hint of an answer, a shadow of a solution...

"How many can be worthy?"

"If only one suits, then this is worth it. We're looking at open minds, visionaries. I'm telling you, this is worth every effort"

Eyes narrow.

From her hiding place, Zara kenns - building a sense of the place through her magical senses.

There is ..glamour nearby, Earl, of course, but elsewhere...and something.. is differenta bout it. Hard to tell from here, but she doesn't think it's tainted

Could be one of those mysterious asian kithain...

Could be. Could be the other artists already creative but.. she doesn't think so.

The tiniest tap against the suitcase - bidding 1122 to go explore.

And off he goes.

Sounds of Earl being let in his room and the door closing bheind him, and earl whispers "I think we're alone"

"There is a mystery here, Love."

A sigh "I was looking forward to the idea of art for art's sake." then a pause "If I keep you in there I can paint and we go home right?" Humor

"Feh!"

"Right right" He opens the luggage. They are in what must have been a cell for two or three budhist monks turned into a single bed room. Earl's head touches the ceiling but he doens't seem to mind. The lay out is not lavish, but the bed looks comfortable

"They're seeking something. Someone "worthy."

"And there is magic here. Not just you."

"Oh fun" he says "Okay. It sounds like one thing we need to do is look after the other possible victims or whatever 'worthy' means"

Zara nods. "Aye, indeed."

"Mayhaps they do not know thou art a troll."

"Let's hope not. I'm not seeing any other changelings so the Right of I is at real risk here "

"I sense something."

"Then keep our eyes and ears open.I guess I'll do the socializing you do the sneaking"

"A good plan, aye."

"Be careful love"

"Mmm"

"I shall try, Love."

That was not quite a promise.

But it will do , and a kiss is granted for her effort

"I do want thee to have a grand time, and make art, and enjoy this..."

"And not worry about you? Hi. I'm Earl DeBuke" He mimes sticking a hand out "I thought we'd met"

Troll humor.