#anywhere

Her spells done, the Namer looks over her work. There it is, the automatic 'assumption' one gets of their roles.

"Now what?" The nocker says bluntly

"We walk out. And then get a lift."

"I LIKE it" the Eshu grins at the boldness of it

The sluagh whispers, politely as always "Pardon, but... the magic one has used, it's... interesting, but is it enough? This place has Gwydions"

And they hear foot steps, well, Zara certainly does

"We shall see, shan't we? Come, make haste."

"As I was coming down the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd always stay." A fuddle, further directing eyes away from the little group.

And they follow... some quieter than others. The footsteps belong to a troll, not the one she met earlier, but the guard meant to watch the young ones know doubt. She glances about .. even as Zara and crew slip past or try to.

It is then that the Nocker mutters "Sot head" As they start to make it past the she troll.

And the troll turns, noticing her "Wait, who are you girl? Who do you work for?"

The nick name seems to be in place at least.

"Not you. I'm going home."

A very soft suggestion.

"I mean the nocker I..." the troll blinks "I was sent to watch children... yet, I think she's an apprentice?" Yes, her brow furrows "You may go where you wish, Miss Sluagh, but something is odd here"

The Eshu looks at her sister as if to say 'Big mouth'

"You should go check your charges, Good Thane. I shall get this one where she needs to go."

"Mmm" the troll sets her jaw, but Zara thinks the mmm was more about 'the maid' having a point about remembering her charges, and as the nickname seems to add to it.. no, this Nocker is not the thane's charge... so she should be off . Finally "Yes, I think that is a good idea. Things are too tense for wanderiing childlings right now, more's the pity" And she walks off

A low tone. "Haste, but don't run. Walk with purpose."

Zara leads. Hopefully, Earl isn't too far from where she left him.

The sluagh boy mutters "One must never run from anything immortal; it attracts their attention"

"Precisely."

The Eshu girl looks intrigued "That troll is immortal? Neat. There's a story in that I bet."

The scrawny boy gives a toothless smile despite himself as Zara, at least, gets it. They all make their way, none faster than the pooka in her cat form.

Nothing is more invisible than someone menial doing their job.

It is all going well, she's almost out when... she hears a tearing sound ahead of them... wait, no, where the pooka would be. Peeking ahead, she can see the kitten is climbing UP a tapestry, then letting herself 'fall' and DRAGGING across the threads... tearing them. The tapestry is of Lord Gwydion himself on a hunt with his warband.

"Love, you cannot. Please. We must escape, all alive, and there is no time for this."

Indeed, more sounds... oh no, the boggans, the BOGGANS... like bees in a hive, they stir at intrusion. There is a mess , they just know it. Something in need of tending.

"The boggans are not so easily turned aside."

The Eshu says "I got her," And chants hurriedly sings "Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow" then hopscotches, catches the kitten, and lands ahead.

"What's going on?" A boggan maid says peeking out "George, that you?"

A janitor calls out "No... I thought it was..."

Zara herds the children towards the door!

The nocker turns to cover her sister even as they all go, chanting "Fahrenheit is alright, if you're American Born. For the restofus, Celsius, is the worldly norm. Kelvin's great for Star Trek talk, but Wedgwood is obsolete. But for my furking druthers I think Delisle is kind of neat. However you measure it, the floor is getting iced. So any one who follows will find friction is a lie. HA!" And behind them, ice spreads on the floor.

They will not see if a boggan trips on it, though one probably does, because by THAT time, Zara is moving the kids out past the other troll and outside in a hurry

Down a path, past a hedge, towards an arbor. Where she had placed her hunter for safe keeping.

Argus calls out after her, but more out of concern than alarm.. the nick name working it seems. Decent fellow. But not the troll she needs. She heards towards the Arbor, and the kids smile for they are in the clear and...

"Another troll" the Eshu gasps. The Kitten MEOWS in alarm.

And Earl waves "Easy easy... I'm on your side" Then he looks to Zara "more than I expected. But I can manage"

"Tight window, Love. Sorry!"

"Let's get to safety, and then we can figure out next steps."

"Farm?" He asks even as he break out a drawing he made in advance that says "You are here"

"Farm."

And he rips the 'you are here' drawing in half.... the kids gasp as they find themselves pulled in .... Zara was expecting, of course.

"Like an undertow that kills" The sluagh whispers, impressed

"Like a furking black hole in minature" The Nocker says WISHING she could measure some readings

"Like a great dragon inhaling" The Eshu gapes

"MRROW?" Well, we know who that is.

Zara feels the pull but being ready for it, she can make this look as if she were choosing to dive into the undertow, squirm into the black hole, or use the dragon's maw as a tunnel egress... or whatever. She's not boastful, but this is a chance to impress younglings if she would like... with dignity

****GONE TO FARM