#debukefarmhold

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When Earl and Zara return, they find the Farm in an active state. Buzzing like a beehive as it were.

Zara is still clutching her prize!

A voice, one nocker might be heard protesting that her saining is so soon, surely she can help set up this new fortress. And fussing when denied

(Maybe 😉 )

And The Mountain greets them as if he knew now was the time they'd return, "Well well, what's the story?"

"Banneath."

The older troll is a troll, stoic, a graybeard, having experienced much and not as easily shocked. A man of power and learning- surprised.

His expression betrays him- only for a second, but it does betray him.

The sluagh responds with an eyebrow, patient.

"Bennath? Mm pretty name" He says

"Bennath Wildheart."

"Well, I could hardly be the only one to use that I suppose. " He shrugs.

Earl isn't buying it, "A troll namer, named wildheart? Uncle, what's going on?"

She would fold her arms, but they are full of books.

"Nice books young lady, is one of those titles... Danish?" The mountain raises a brow

"Aye."

"Hand-scribed. Illuminated."

"You may look at them... after you talk."

"You two are poking into some personal matters here," The mountain frowns, "Leave it at that"

"She defended a sluagh."

"A childling" Emmit says "it would be a childling"

"Varich do not spare childlings."

"Varich?" He raises a brow, "She tangled with Varich? Is the childling safe?"

Earl says "The childling was saved"

Zara frowns, troubled.

The Mountain says "Is she okay? Did you meet her?"

"She is not okay..."

"And?" Emmit says.

"And I do not know her well enough to scry."

"But you do." A statement, not a question.

"Yes. But I can't." He says.

"You can't?"

"What do you mean you can't?" Earl insists "You're a shaman so powerful there are thing in the Deep Dreaming that whisper of you decades after you pass. You are a qualified sorcerer.. a namer, if I found a crystal cave in your outhouse I wouldn't be surprised."

"Can't or won't?"

"Cannot, I swore an oath never to scry on her, she.." A sigh "Have a seat."

He motions them to a private area in his cabin if they'll follow

Zara nods and follows.

He sits down, and pours himself a shot of whiskey, "Zara, you want tea? Earl? Anything?"

"Answers" Earl says "With our without tea"

"The Varich have her." Zara tries to sound neutral, but she, too, is betrayed. That is a quaver of fear.

"The Varich, which Varich, " Emmit sighs, "Fine. The young woman in question thinks I'm her father."

"Thinks?"

"Yes. " Emmit says "I am not. But I let her think so for.. reasons"

Earl gapes at the man "You surely can't think that's explanation enough"

"Damn. For if it were true, I could scry her. I found Paler through blood-link."

"I took no Oath."

"I..." the old man looks troubled.

"Here..." Emmit sets down his untouched whiskey, then gets a needle from a tool box, "She is not my daughter, but you can use my blood"

"We.. I recall, on the trod... we did something to help, but..."