#debukefarmhold

Agnes!

"Now, Zara" Says the balefire in her body "Manners, Sylvi asked you a question"

"..I.. pardon..."

"She's in there?" Sylvi says anxiously.

"Nay, methinks I am everywhere?"

"Oh sure... you can hear her if she cares to but that's because the magic was meant to let the bale whisper." An amused look "Careful what you wish for I reckon"

She tries to focus on Agnes again.

"Uh...we've got to get you back where you belong." She might be talking to both of them.

She also takes a closer look at the flames...are they still strong?

The fire whispers absently. "Aye, this is not... no, I do not wish this... I feel most odd."

Blazing

That's reassuring, at least.

and as Zara focuses on Agnes... she can feel the faint fae spirit in the old woman's body. It needs her to stay aware, almost constantly now. Zara feels like a living crutch with her

"Can you go back?" she asks Blue Zara?

"Never happened before to me like this" the balefire in Zara says "Maybe if we try it again? Can't last long though... otherwise farm will start to change a bit"

"Oh...OH. Oh, boy...yeah, uh, Zara? Can you try Whispering again from in there? We've got to undo this."

"Aye, one second... I can't.. Let me focus."

Tea leaves are starting to form

"Okay..." Sylvi sounds doubtful.

"If thoust wouldst reach out..."

Zara feels Agnes resolve, Clem's Compasison, Murray's anger, and Emmit's regrets.... threatening to imprint on her

Sylvi urges Blue Zara closer to the Fire. "Please, do it."

The Balefire in Zara says "First... let me say, no never mind to me if Agnes goes into the fire. I'm doing fine. Got enough troll in me I want to protect her back. that what you wanted to know?"

Zara tries to 'reach' though she has no arms...

the flame curls forward towards the body that was Zara's

"For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss..."

"Yes, that. I can tell Agnes that. She may still want to do it, but she'll know she has options."

"...as she should, aye."

"Lord Exile wants her for himself and... the folks here might see that as a betrayal... taken out of the loop. She might not return HErE if she returns at all"

Zara wonders what Mountain Dew tastes like?

A blink, not certain what that part's all about. "Please...hurry?"

"Could you send her to him?"

The Zara body reaches out and touches the flame "No, but I could store her so someone could take her to him, and maybe make a path for a short time that gets you mostly there"

"If she so wished?" The flames wrap around Blue-Zara's hand.

And there's a woosh

"what the holy hell is happening in here?" Clem's voice can be heard as she stomps to check

And Zara is flat on her back... in her own body

Sylvi at least was close enough to break the fall?

Sylvi is blinking stars out of her eyes.

".......uhg."

"Whoa..." blink blink.

"why did one of squash patches get full of tea leaves?'

"Um..." Sylvi shakes her head to clear her vision. "I think, uh, everything's okay...?" she checks with Zara.

"That soil is ideal for pekoe..." She murmurs.

"The resulting brew will be fruity and aromatic, thanks to the ph..."

"Sylvi... you're a holder yourself so I expect you to know balefires aren't to be tampered with... or to let it happen in front of you. And Zara? what did you do?"

"Zara, let me help you up." She does so, then gives Clem a guilty look. "Tampering wasn't the intent."

Zara allows Syli to help her, though the slender wilder looks a bit... wobbly... on her feet.

"Nay. I would never tamper with the fire."

"I just wished to ask it a question..."