#debukefarmhold

"Not really, no," Emmit says

"The hell? Rape is illegal here too" Earl says

She frowns.

"Immoral, unethical..." Earl rambles

"I know," Emmit says

"is the son of a bitch alive?" earl says

"Not anymore, maybe he did pay a price" Emmit says

Bennath in the image makes a motion, trying to counter Zara's scrying

Zara fights it.

And Zara wins, but what a challenge! it's so blured now...

but she can see it

She squints, focused...

They are heading towards Olympus...the themepark hold

Emmit squints too, but "Where the hell?"

"The new trod connects to three holds. This is the first."

"Oh" the old man says "Commoner?"

"Aye. Trolls at all three, but not all are lodges."

"Colton is at Rome. THAT is a situation yet to unfold..."

"Heard about Rome... " Emmit sighs "She's safe. Good enough for me" But he drinks the whiskey anyway

"Heard/ Did Olgar show?" Earl says

"No, messages from Rivervale by phone and such. The trod, we didn't know it connected" Emmit says "Good find. Thank you both"

"The third is in Jutland."

"Jutland? Oh the book makes sense now" Emmit says "Good good.." As if ignoring the situation with 'wildheart'

"How long has she been lost?"

"You mean her capture? If I'd known I'd have sent someone to do something about it," Emmit says, is he being deliberately obtuse?

"Mm."

"Again, Teacher, that is not what I asked."

A sigh "She's not lost, not if you ask her. I did not know she has taken the name Wildheart. But I suppose she's due it. I haven't talked to her in ..10 years"

"I see."

"How old is she?" Earl says surprised, "She seems a wilder."

"Fae eternity, rare gift. She's going to outlive most of us if she's smart" a rumble from the magician

Earl mutters "Look, the real rapist is dead, why not tell her the truth? That you're not the monster here?"

Emmit gives a sour look

but says nothing

"Why do this?"

"How does it help her to think her mother's rapist roams as Mountain, untouched, untouchable?"

"It might even be seen as a threat to the farmhold, if she comes looking for revenge, no, not reveng, what she sees as justice.." Earl says.

Emmit says "Her actions will never endanger the farmhold. I made her swear to that as part of the teaching"

"Now please, leave an old man to get drunk"

He seems very tired. "Go..tell Clem about the trods, but not about this. Not about her."

The image has faded, the troll safe, the corby paid.

Zara watches him, dark eyes opaque.

Emmit says "Please, Zara I'm sorry your mentor isn't perfect."

"You too, Earl. I never claimed to be a plaster saint. " The wildheart doesn't seem so wild or carefree right now.

"I never thought you perfect."

Earl takes a braeth but, whatever he was going to say dies on his lips

"Well, congratulations on the trod work, good..good work that. Thank you. You two carry on. I need some alone time" The old man says

"Aye, Rabbi. May you find peace tonight." She rises.

"Thank you, beloved student, beloved great nephew" He does not sound like he will

Earl walks out with Zara, troubled