#anywhere

Gwen heads towards the Trod. She has her spear in hand, book in bag, faithful dog by her side. And...

Ivan stops, turning his head to look towards the path behind him. A faint growl.

"What is it, Ivan?" She trusts her dog

He looks up at her, a bit puzzled. Turning back, he takes a step towards a shadowy patch under a tree, and growls again. Then, a quiet bark! Normally his warning is quiet loud...

"Please announce yourself" She says to he shadowy spot

A shift in the shadows, and a slight female figure separates herself, one shadow from the others. A flicker of glamour fades, and Lizbet pouts "It was scent, wasn't it, cruel hound of fate. My veil was sight and sound alone..."

Ivan gives a soft BOOF, and wags his tail, looking up at Gwen. I did good?

"You did VERY good" She pets her boy , then looks at Lizbet "Lizbet, you need to be careful. I mean, yes, withoout him you would have fooled me, easy, but I've recenntly made an enemy and if I thought he'd sent an agent after me I might have over reacted, and tthen I'd feel terrible." A tilt of her head "What bringgs you?"

"It is Monday." She says, slipping closer. Lizbet offers an open palm to Ivan, hesitantly. The dog is now chest-high to the small girl. "You are walking on the south-east pathway which leads past the Trod. And you carry goods with you. You are going on the trod!" She deduces.

"I can take you with me, but we only have a few hours."

She smiles! A thin, gummy expression on her thin, sallow face. Gwen is not used to seeing many sluagh.. are they all this unnerving? It looks like a stiff breeze could knock the girl over, and yet.

"I graciously accept your invitation." Lizbet curtseys a bit, dragging the tattered hems of her gown through the autumn leaves scattering the path.

"Good to have polite company. Dee's probably on patrol about the trod"

And they head to the gas station

It's a crisp autumn day, a touch of dampness on the path, leaves clinging wetly to their feet from a late night rain. Lizbet pauses to move a leaf, and plucks something from the ground, but quickly catches back up.

"Find something?" She sees Dee, and waves. The satyr waves back

"Oh, yes. Would you share in my bounty?"

"Is it going to crawl or sting me? " As the trod opens

"Most certainly." She beams - uncanny, the happy expression that also looks disturbing.

"Pass on it then, come on... I hear the library is amazing"

And.. onto the trod they go

Gwen feels a small hand taking hold of her sleeve - Lizbet staying close on the trodways.

And Gwen grows protective . It's in her nature

The pathway between Silverwolf and Earthrunes is quiet, peaceful... at least, the first half of the journey. An invisible shimmer in the air as they pass some unseen division, a transfer of power, as they move into lands that are under control of a different hand of fate.

"Do you think I might see your aviary some day?" Lizbet asks.

"You're interrested in hawking?"Surprised

"Owls would be better, but I have been reading that all hawks will produce pellets. I would like to dissect some of the bones within." She whispers back. "If the large ones are hooded, and do not make that dreadful shrieking."

"Well, I'll ask, but the Baroness has been handling that part of things . "

She draws away. "The dread light of Varich vanquishes once again." A sigh.

"She might be willing, but there could be supervision. If you'd like I could collect some pellets for you? You wouldn't have to deal with shrieking."

"Raptor, or Varich?" She asks, pointedly.

"Hey, that's one of my bosses there. And trust me,she's a LOT nicer the LAST lady in charge of the mews"

A polite nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She gazes with interest at all they pass, while staying carefully away from the edges of the silver. "I do not often get to travel these roads. It is unnerving. I do not think I would be brave enough to walk it alone."

"Yeah? Well, I have other duties, but you're free to ask for an escort of me. You're of the Barony, and thus your protection is part of my purpose."

"Even without the tribute?" She asks, curiously.

"Tribute?" A brow "Someone hit you up for Tribute?"

"The Chancellor required it to stoke the coffers of the barony with dross." Lizbet whispers up at Gwen as they walk. The small sluagh cannot match her speed, and tires quickly, though she tries to keep up. "It has not been requested for Samhain. I worried that we missed a missive. Then, you see, having NOT given tribute, we could then be justly punished.. See, a dire plot...."

"Uncle Aberdeen says that I am struck by fits of paranoia. I see it more as proper imagination of all the dire events that will surely occur."

"Well, maybe you are struck by fits of Paranoia, but some might say that's a sign of a creative personality" She says "As far as I know, there is no tribute... but I will bring this to the Baron's attention. Look I don't know sluagh well, but it seems to me that your kith is great at fright ... with class no less. " She slows down to the girl's pace "Look, I could use a pair of eyes. YOu need bird nuggets. If you find any of Calanthe's old set ups still active, let me know? Fair trade?" They close on the end of the trod

She considers this. "Shall this be a private agreement, between thou and I?"

"Only if I'm asked about it by the baron or baroness. If they ask 'are you collecting Falcon fritters' then I can't lie to them... but I don't thinkn it will come up do you? Also if somehow I'm discovered I will let you know. I do ask you don't find a way to use this against my lieges or the hold. I feel I must stress that for my own conscience, not because I think you would. " They step out of the trod

She shrinks back. "I do not want my name in your Baroness's hearing."

"I understand, and I don't intend to share it"

"Unless you are asked?" She presses, and bows a bit. "No bones and viscera, however pleasant, are worth that light upon my shadow."

"Mmm let me think about how far I'm willing to cover for you.. for now, you should really see the library" As they step out, and soon get a drive to Earth runes

"Oh yes!" She perks up, and quickly vanishes into whatever shadowy corridor she can find, to find her way to the library!

(scene)