#debukefarmhold

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Clem walks out of the Dreamingg with Zara "Kenzi's got SUCH a mouth on her... but she doesn't have half bad ideas."

"She's rather tame for a nocker, in truth."

"I suppose.. " a look over at her friend "Zara, you didn't.. over do anything when it came to helping my.. uhm "A blush "Love life?"

"You should have called me when the danger was apparent."

"Your love life? I have not touched it."

"I sent a letter because I had to heal and heather balm the area and people ... sorry if it was.. blunt. I guess I felt frustrated. " A blush "You didn't ..fair fortune something?"

She lowers her voice "Because i have had a flood of suitors for a month now"

"I did not."

"Well that settles that" Clem knows Zara is a slaugh. She may evade, or hem, but when she says something is the truth, it's the truth

She frowns. "What happened was not my fault." So she claims, but there is a tightness to her mouth and a curl in her shoulders.

"To my love life? you just said so, and I believe you" Clem shrugs

"No. The Haven."

"Oh," Clem had guessed but gave her an out "Really, Zara? Kenzi migght think so, but frankly, I've always figured a duty someone isn't TOLD about is a duty you can't blame them for neglecting. None of us knew until after. I know you respect her, and I do a little too, but 'Grandmother' is a bit stingy with the basics and that's on her, not us"

"Feh."

"It still stings. I cannot find my joy in it."

"I will do my duty, for it is summer.. but..."

"I noticed" She sighs "You were still sad. I was hoping the nnew rules we sealed into the place would cheer you"

"I shall do my duty. For Lily."

"I get the feeling you think she's a promising one?" Clem asks "I mean, I see a troll boy or girl and I just know how he'll size up if he or she gets a boost. Same thinng for you and her?"

Zara nods.

"And - childlings, nu? That is why the book, that is... why, isn't it?"

"Well, I still think childlings are.. i worry they'll be inn danger if the haven doesn't hold" troubled

"So, I shall work on it."

"I need not my own joy, aye?"

"Had I realized...." She frowns, guilt flickering across her face.

"Stop that, you have every rigght to your own joy, we both do. Seelie code stresses things like Love, Beauty, honor and repayment...where you place duty in that rankin is up to you. And again, none of us could have known. You are one of my best friends and you absolutely deserve joy"

"I should have known."

"I, the Mistress of Soothsay. I, the Namer - even if Kenzi knows that not."

"I should know the nature of things, and not make such foolish mistakes."

"We all miss clues. And it did not fall on you alone. Heck, I've made mistakes as Chief here plenty of times, don't thinnk I haven't. I hate it. It makes me ashamed, but even I am not alone. Got Mountainn and Storm and Hearth to help out. The Haven has three of us. Just because you have the best sight don't mean you are the only one on the look out. We all blinked"

"Mm."

"Well, it's official, stubborn as you are, you must be DeBuke... powerful thing trueheart oaths" A shake of her head "You tole Earl about the Haven?"

"No, I have not."

"He knows I have something, but it is one of my secrets."

"I suppose the fact he tries to respect those is one reason you fell for him," Clem gives a fond shake of her head "It's like the jokes about marriage 'What's his is hers, and what's hers is hers too'.. only with secrets"

"He does have his vault..." Siiiiigh.

"Vault?" Curious "Okay . Not sure I knew he had a vault"

Which might make it all the more appealing , as it means Zara knows things some family doesn't

"We have an understanding."

The earlier melancholy has lightened with the subject change - a soft glow and a smile in her eyes replacing it.

"I love Earl, my favorite cousin, but I never thought he would be , well, smooth with any lady, and, well, Miss Zara, if you don't mind me saying, you have your fancy and high class side which does make it double impressive"

Zara smiles. "You had a diamond in the corn fields, Clementine."

"Yes, and you plucked it up right quick. Hearth Agnes once said of you 'that girl's got a thief's fingers, a gentlewoman's manners, a scholar's mind, and an angel's heart... mind you, she hopes to keep her halo on dim but it's there all the same. Nicked our Earl right good, and let that be a lesson to us'"

And Zara by now, knows that Agnes would have meant that as high praise

She pinks.

"Course if you ask her about that, she'd claim she couldn't recollect" Clem scoffs , elders are troublesome

oh, aye

"Now come on, let's set you down with tea in the library you helped us set up here. It's grown some since the school. We've expanded from one floor to the whole small building. Ladies still meet there for book club"

"Oh, yes please!"