#debukefarmhold

"True... though... mayhaps a tattletale without the eye?"

"Dimmer, but..."

"Tattle tale in the Dreaming doesn't work well or at all in my experience... faded flash shots at best"

He hums "But we could perhaps pool it again, this time without the eye. Lord knows I could find Clem in most situations"

"I've had some luck with it, though, aye - it's difficult."

"Okay, Zara, are you all right? This whole raid must seem very personal to you for obvious reasons. That tower has me concerned, of course, but you looked a shade whiter than usual at talk of it"

"It... we couldn't stop the Tower."

"Maybe the raiders can" He says "There are over a dozen DeBukes, the Rivervale sent some of its toughest , and Mistedge sent its calling. "

"Aye, aye..."

"I'm worried for them too." He admits "Those who we will lose, and the survivors who will wonder if thye could have done more. Trolls tend towards guilt when others are hurt"

She twists her fingers into a knot. "Not just trolls."

"Mmm and both are taking too much on themselves, Zara."

He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Zara, we can't take every injury to the ones we care for as if we caused it"

"But... but I am the cause. For this, if they die... look at the tapestry, tis my thread..."

"Vashti gave us this chance, Vasthi told us. And while she loves you, I think Vashti did not do this just for your sake. She wants to stop the evil of House Balor. She wants to do right and make amends. I'm sorry, Zara, but one of the hardest truths to learn is to say to yourself 'This isn't about me". And this time, I don't think it is. Tied to you? Oh yes... but neither your fault nor your credit"

"Balor has hurt her. He is sadistic. When August was here, I... I said I was scrying, aye? I saw him. He's angry. He's angry, for she escaped him..."

"That is his sickness... rabid dogs do not become rabid because someone evaded their bite. They were rabid already." The troll says

"He was... hitting..." She frowns. "I could not tell if it were a man or woman... barely human, twas naught but blood..."

"Oh honey, I'm sorry you saw that. "

Emmit gives a sigh "Whoever he killed with that beating, their blood is on HIS hands, not yours. Remember that."

Hands still knotted. "I am a sluagh. Nightmare. Should not bother me at all, no..."

"You're a person, and a damn nice one. Of course suffering from innocents bothers you. Kindness, empathy, compassion, these are good things, rare qualities we should hold onto. But the blame is his. The wrong is his doing. Not yours, not Vashti's. Do not evade the chains of temptation and intimidation only to be yoked as a slave to guilt for HIS actions."

"I know. I just... I wish it to stop. I wish... I've never killed, not even chimerically... Death is an abomination, it is G-d's to deal..."

"But sometimes, I think he'll only stop when he's dead. But sidhe don't return... "

"I'm not going to tell you to kill or not kill. I am not going to say here are the things you can do worse than death itself.... but I think one day, Paler will get his. Maybe not at your hands, but he is accruing a heavy price"

"You would think... yet..."

"Yet when...and how many will be hurt until then? Aye. The wicked thrive and innocents die. Where then is Da'an's justice and what good is it if it only comes after the villlain grows fat and elderly?"

"I don't... I don't want vengeance, truly. I want it to stop."

"I want Vashti to go back to her jester. I want Miriam to be free to come home. I want the Uncles to rest."

"Well, our loved ones are often very stubborn. But maybe I can help with one of those things... " He says 'Tell me about this jester?"

"Ah... he... another pooka, aye? They made each other happy. But she made as to spurn him, to break his heart... so he would be safe, so he would not be targeted by Paler..."

"Odd, you don't mind me saying, Vashti doesn't seem very ..typically pooka."

"Nor am I very much a typical sluagh. But she is a pooka, and the draw of company of one's own kith, a'times, can be hard to explain to outsiders. I know there is aught I do not understand of trolls..."

A chuckle at that "Can't argue there. This jester is loyal to nobles? I mean, you say jester I think official"

She nods. "He is. The hold is traditional."

"mmph. Makes it unlikely we'd let him on here... so I guess there's only one thing to do..." He cracks his knuckles "We'll have to find some small place and I'll ward it, probably won't last more than 6 hours... but six hours where they can meet and talk and be...ah..honest with each other. What do you think?"

"She might not agree... if she knew..."

"But, well, if she happened upon it?"

"mm she'd need someone to hint at it's existence somehow..." He says "Someone who knew what would lure her for a good cause."

"That I can do..."

"Well, let's see...temproary warding for her safe travel... a haven in a private place not associated with we DeBukes where a 6 hour ward wouldn't be too stretched... and..the jester. "

A sigh. "August lacks subtlety..."

"I could lure the Jester, mayhaps, and you her - tell her she is going for her penance, nu? Send her to a place to spy for carnival?"

"He's a court jester, probably not able to leave noble hold for Carnival"

"On the other hand.. yes, to lure her to a place before it under that excuse. AH, sorry, I was a bit thick there for a moment"

"Aye, but... aye! You send her, I bring him?"

She rubs her hands together. "Let something good happen. She deserves happiness. So does he."

"I think you have it something good." HE nods "What the hell, I don't know this Shalimar, but if you think he's good enough for your sister I suppose he's all right"

"Even if he did prank my library..."