#debukefarmhold

Clem rolls her eyes "Still going for the macabre. Well, you're good at it."

"Thank you" Earl smiles

"We have turned to listening to Radio Free Momzer. Ever pick up that channel?"

"Can't say I have" Emmit admits

"Oh, they remind me of The Uncles and Mother Miriam. Utterly charming."

"Well, do they have weather reports?" Clem says being practical about it

"Aye, they do."

"And interesting news, too."

Clem knows Zara, and suspects something, but being a friend she takes the bait "Such as?"

"Oh, even news on other parts of Iowa" Earl says

"Oh, aye - what was that, the other day?"

"Hawk Holding, wasn't it?"

She sips her tea, idly 'trying to recall.'

Emmit frowns "Gwydion lady rules there "

"Yes, yes... a Countess Teagan Highrod is there. Gwydion. Just so. Ah, Clementine, wouldst thou pass the scones?"

Clem says "Course," She hands them over "The ones on the left side have the proper amount of ... sluagh touch"

"How thoughtful."

"Still, aye, quite a bit of human-interest news. The Countess, it seems, is worried the childlings might have too many snow days!"

"And thus, she has banned any commoner from learning or using Winter and Kryos."

Emmit's jaw grinds "You . don't. say."

"Aye. What an amusing little tidbit, don't you think?"

Clem frowns

"Uncle Emmit... our plate is kind of full don't you think?"

A quiet look at the pair of Farmholders as she demurely butters the stale scone.

"I can make time," Emmit assures "Clem, this is the sort of nonsense our hold has fought against since the founding"

Clem gives Zara a look as if to say 'I know you didn't do this by chance' but she sighs "Maybe someone else would handle it with our support."

"Funny, the radio only mentioned commoners in that ban..."

"Of course, I do not know either of those arts."

Emmit says "Well, more than a few of us know them"

A head tilt, eyes wide and innocent. "Aye? Thou sayest not!"

"oh now, young lady you remember. We favor spring but I myself have dabbled in each at least at a rudimetary level and others know this or that one far beyond " The Mountain MAY know she's playing it up, or maybe he doesn't, but he's happy to go into it. "Why one time, Clemson DeBuke froze the water in a Baron's showers"

"Aye? Clemson, you say."

"Oh yes," Emmit chuckles "Simple but fun. Kids would love it"

Clem gives a look at Zara, "You're not fooling me, you know? Nor Uncle Emmit. It's just this gets under his skin powerful. Magic being 'banned'"

"Clem," Earl says spreading his hands "Uncle Emmit would have found out about it. We can't help what we hear on the radio"

She delicately tears of a bit of her scone. "Clementine, there are ways these things are done, nu?"

"I just shared a bit of news I heard on the radio, after all."

"I suppose we're lucky you're not expecting us to pay you for it" Clem humphs

"About that," Earl says "Since the information IS useful, perhaps that would not be a bad idea. I wouldn't have my true heart cheated"

"Earl!" Clem grumbles, "You JUST said he would have heard about it anyway"

"Principle of the thing" Earl states

A ghost of a frown.

"You are my friends."

"Sorry, dear," Earl looks apologietic. "It might be my unseelie side peeking through there a bit"

Clem, for her part, softens, "A very GOOD friend," A nod "And we SHOULD do something about it. You're right."

"I cannot teach those arts."

"My skills lie in observation, and in obfuscation...."

"But we can teach, and should" Emmit nods "We'll provide lessons, at the least"

"Aye. And if needs be, mayhaps - in theory - aid could be provided to shield such activities and practitioners from noble eyes."

"Now there we might need someone with..good observation and obfuscation skills" Clem admits