#debukefarmhold

A sigh and she nods. "I think... I think something is coming. I know not what. It is my own fate, I dare not omen myself."

"And I dare not tell you too much about what I know of your fate, lest I cast a rock in the on coming stream" Sympathy

A sigh and she nods.

"If Vashti is safe, if Earl is, if Miriam and mama and Papa..."

"that's a lot of weight to put on a two letter word, honey. "

She bites on her lower lip and shrugs.

"I wish to protect them. I... I may have to kill him. I don't..." She frowns. "Death is an abomination."

"I could tell you how death is a part of life, but we both know that smoothing the road for your conciensce can eventually lead to a slippery slope. The bastard deserves killing, no doubt. But a wise troll once said "Many who have life deserve death, many who are dead deserve life? Can you givei t to them? Do not be so quick..' and so on. Wise troll that and I see why you follow his path"

"I... part of me wants vengeance. But.. but more than that, I wish peace. I wish for Vashti to be free. I wish Golnaz, even, spared her torment. He has harmed them, in ways that I cannot fix."

"He has caused salt tears."

"I have thought, perhaps, to unleash da'an upon him. Let what he has sown be rebounded on him seventy-times-seven..."

"He has, and Zara... what happens may ultimtaely not be your choice alone. We are each of us, rather small stars in a grand and glorious universe... our power is often a matter of distance and chance"

"Aye."

"But ...yes, there are ways to hurt one worse than death" He says "I've done some. One I regret the necestity of, one I regret my judgement, and one..." he admits "to this day I smile when I think of that. It is not a kind bone that that fueled that one. No."

"But... but I wonder, aye? Vengeance is the Lord's, not man's... but I am not man. I am a sluagh."

"Mayhaps that is my purpose? I was born to be a weapon, was I not?"

He stops "no. You were not." He motions to her, "Zara Schwartz, look at me now. Do not let him make you into a weapon period, a thing, an object. Be vengenace, be justice, be the witch who wields magic dangerous, but never let him drive you to believe you are a thing, even if it is not a thing he has. You are Zara. A loving soul, a terrifying witch, an insatiable student, a shy girl, a book lover, and romantic spirit that dances by riverbanks in the fog ... all this and more, and you are powerful, but neither weapon nor prize nor jewel are you... you are zara, and that far strips any single thing in worth.. and perhaps even power. I don't teach weapons. I teach brilliant minds and righteous souls"

She twists her fingers together in knots. "...aye..."

He looks down at her "But do not forget the old rules. Every attrocity he commits, every link in his chain of evil... he thinks he forges his victory, but we both know he also builds against himself. That is not to say we merely need sit back and do nothing... but is to say that there are forces working against him and perhaps with us that are wonderous and terrible. Take comfort in that"

An exhale, but she nods.

"mmm at this rate, you maybe ready to take the pebble from my hand soon"

"And then wander the earth doing kung-fu?"

"See, that's what I like about you, too many of my apprentices when I told them that looked at me like I was crazy. Save for one... she looked at me and said 'how old ARE you?'"

"I know about the Wildheart's Lennon glasses, so I may guess."

"Mmm. Yes.. Earl swears they look better on you than me, but then you've that boy nicely twined bout your finger" He says

"He did all the twining, s'truth."

"I mean, I allowed it, certainly..."

"Our innocent shy Earl? " A raised brow

"Your Earl contains multitudes unseen by most here."

"So w'ere learning. Seems many underestimate him. " A nod then a smile "That might be a good thing for his chances of success, think on that mmm? I bet he'll be home with a few wounds you can fuss at him for getting and then he'll heal up healthy and contrite"

"Oh, I have yet to forgive him for that horn..."

"One scar is sexy, he needn't collect them!"

"Clearly the boy is a handful" Sympathetic

As they make their waay to report to Clem

She nods. "I must mind him so."

Annd he listens to her quite legitimate complaints and stories...for while sluagh are actually quieter than cats, once they are asked to share them, one learns they have opinions, and Earl management is a subject Zara may have many opinions of.

(end scene)