#debukefarmhold

"And... she has aided me time and again, to spare me his lash and shackle. This last.... Clementine, she is my sister. "

"And that pale troll was your brother," Clem reminds "nearly knocked up Sally Mae just to get a claim the farm"

"Haven. Her last act..." She rakes back her bangs, faltering. "His wrath at her defiance..."

Vashti lowers her head

"Her bravery. And strength. And compassion." She touches Vashti's chin, encouraging her to lift her head.

"He bade her to bring me to him. He bade her to do thusly, or to face imprisonment and torment with no hope for release."

Vashti's chin does rise "I am a poisoned thing, and my courage is fleeting. A pale reflection of my sister's..indeed, she lit my way. I have done great wrong, but to the DeBukes? Oh these hands are stained with DeBuke blood." not wry but pleading

"I have not told you of what happened to the last failure - Rudy, the satyr. Paler killed him. Spilled salt tears - and that was for failure to corrupt my mother. He left evidence of this deed in a gift box - a birthday present."

Clem tries to look hard and stoic, but her features soften visibly anyway then the news of Rudy "what? He..." Clem's jaw falls open "Why didn't you tell me, Zara. You must have felt like hell. WHy didn't Earl tell.. " then "No, Earl wouldn't tell me squat if he thought you didn't want to"

"She's got him too well trained is what it is," Agnes says, but there's a kindness to it as she sets out stew for the moth and tea for Zara.

"Vashti... Vashti has acted to keep me safe, to protect me, and at great risk to herself." She pets the pooka's hair. "This, despite the invisible wounds which have been wrought upon her, years of chains forged of fear and abuse."

"...I hid it from Earl, too. From everyone."

"oh zara" Clem raises a brow "And after your fussing at me about my closing myself off"

Agnes mutters "Course, doesn't mean Zara wasn't right about that lecture"

Clem shoots the hearth a Look

"I am a hypocrite, aye. I did not... I... that snake is good at manipulation. And I wanted to... to defy him? To not give him what he desired."

Vashti nods "Zara's stubbornness , you must forgive. It's why she's drawn to trolls .. she buts heads with others she injures them"

Clem actually laughs at that, softly, but it is a laugh

"Well... tis a fair cop."

and another laugh "I suppose it might be all around. I can understand wanting to deny such a man any pleasure of knowing her hurt you." A nod "Okay. You understand more tests are underway to make sure she's not under oaths and geasa and more right? Forgive me, Vashti, not wanting to treat you like you're not here, but Zara is easier for me to understand and even if you're okay with it she might not be"

"She may have chains upon her. Ones unseen, mayhaps ones she knows not of. I would not put it past him. But I know, too, that she is in desperate need of haven. Of protection."

"Sister, would you allow this? To be inspected and, mayhaps, have his marks upon thee removed?"

"oh sister" Vashti looiks at Zara "you are snow, I am ice. I see clearly what your gentle nature ignores. You really think I have a choice? They will take their knowledge or else young Eowyn is no Theoden's daughter. They may already have it. They must. You have not ruled. You do not know." The pooka looks at Clem "That is why the mountain is not here, is it not, why he is miles away. He already examines me. A lock of snood? A bit of mouth water? You are courteous, but you already have begun"

Clem sets her jaw Then "yes. Even now you're being examined though he is in his work ritual and not in this room. It wasn't just a pretensee of courtesy though. Certain cantrips work better on the willing"

"There are other havens. Though they will likely strip you bare, wherever you go." She frowns. "I like it not, to be so exposed. I like it not for thee, who has so rarely been allowed dominion over thyself."

"This is a place shielded from his view, one that I may visit without drawing suspicion. But... I wish it to be a place where you feel safe and happy, and not a prison with more friendly jailers."

Clem frowns "bit harsh there to us, Zara. "

"I understand why this must happen. I understand, aye. But I need not like it."

"Well, that I understand" Clem says then looks to Vashti

"Do what you will to me, learn what you will to me. I will yield myself up to you, but I suggest caution. The more the pale lord learns, the more he will see this entire farm as fair game for the hunt, and his arrows are toxic" The moth warns

"The more he knows we know? The more we get into the cross hairs" Clem tries to translate "yes, that is a consideration"

"Nay - that is the voice of fear. Clementine, every time I step foot on the farm, I have placed it at risk. You have known this, but have welcomed me. You have sheltered me, have put on my guise to draw his gaze, have struck against his agents."

Clem smiles 'Good times"

Vashti looks at the troll like she's nuts

"For better or worse, you are his enemy if you are my friend."

"Vashti fears helping her will draw more of his ire - and she does not wish to see you harmed. I respect the sentiment, the wish to protect..."

"And besides," Clem says "His clan , with two exceptions, have already decalreed war on us twice. We don't hide from that. " Clem says "Fair enough."

"Ack, and now thou make a giant azure of me" Vasthi mutterrs embarrassed to her sister

"Forgive, sister."

"People have been known to survive it you know?" Agnes hurmphs "Being trols I mean"

"Aunt Agnes, Hearth, don't eaves drop o n them when they BOTH whisper. " Clem says "It'll make them feel put upon." A bit of a smile on the wilder girl's face

"What must we do?" She takes Vashti's hand in her cold one, giving it a squeeze.

"She can stay here, if we find no geas or oaths that will work against us too strongly" Clem says "There are more extreme methods that an be offered to help her if there are but that will be her choice. Uncle Emmit's Full power will not be used against her without her permission. We are not monsters that demand oaths out of fear or abuse the arts lightly. We will expect information. Knowing a little already has us in danger. Knowing more is a strength. We will guard her with our lives."

Vasthi looks to Zara "If I were here, I might see you now and then?"

Zara nods, smiling. "Emmit is my teacher, the DeBukes are my friends. I come here often."

"And none think it suspiecious. Yes. Yes that will do..." She looks to Clem "here then are my terms"

Clem blinks at that phrase

Vashti says "Your hold is in the eye of the bull already then? THen I shall aid thee in giving thee what thou desirest. it will not be without risk. I do this to repay you for this kindness. In exchange for what I will will enable you to do if you take this risk. I wish , beyond the protection, and food and so on.. I wish my sister to be allowed to visit me ...and..."

"We're not going to keep Zara from you" Clem says "Didn't even.. "but the and has her attention

Zara keeps a hold of Vashti's hand.