#dreaming

"Of course."

"I know your kith thrives on truth, but if you would send word that onion cloves are as poison to me, I would appreciate it. Not from your own lips... but rather a scroll for others to find to mislead."

An eyebrow.

"I may plant such in libraries, hidden for those who delve to find."

"Excellent. More than adequette payment to me ...for the meeting arranged. Clearly the trolls will need pay in their own coin."

"I have told them thus. I can make no promises on their manners..."

"They mean well, of course.."

"Trolls often do," Earl says almost apologetically.

Nocturnus chuckles, a sound like bellows for a great forge revving

"And their word is good. A painfully forthright kith."

"Aye. They are great, but are not ..sublime. "

Nocturnus nods "But I can work with them."

"I thank you for this. I am fond of them."

"We all have our weaknesses, I just wish to spread a lie for the next dragonslayer to come for me about mine"

Her mouth quirks. "It amuses me."

"and I," The Dragon admits, scales glittering, "Can you imagine it? I taste onion... and realize a hunter has gotten the word. I stagger..." He motions along, "I shift... I act as if I cannot go on" A wheeze, "And then when they show thinking they have full advantage, sword or axe for the killing blow on what they hope is a weakened wyrm" He whirls and snaps the air "Ah.. the look on the face alone before their death will make the moment precious"

"Delicious, aye. And think, thy foe shalt be so well-seasoned!"

"Precisely"

Earl says "Is there anything else we can do to..well, you've been so kind"

"not unless you wish to lure some of the chimera here away, it does get cluttered..and if word spreads I have not dashed them to pieces"

"You do not care for the company?"

"Well... some of the birds sing such relentless cheerful songs. If they would only Tweet to something more O Fortunata and less 'walking on sunshine"

"Hm. Perhaps they could be convinced."

"I could flicker flash them to the areas near the gardens of Firnost.." Earl says "or other locations."

"Aye... but, say, were I to name them 'gothic,' would the music follow?"

"Oh my.. that I would like," The Dragon says "not to diminish your kind offer, Sir Knight, but a Witch has ways it appears and I like the sound of it"

Zara smiles and rises from her makeshift throne. "If I may, dear friend?"

"By all means... Make the rounds as suits." Nocturnus nods "I look forward to your flavoring the fowl"

Zara nods and begins... to dance? Indeed, the pale sluagh is a shimmering wraith, dancing to unheard music as she weaves through the clustered flocks.

Earl watches her movements, mesemerized

He pines, he burns.... he longs.

The Dragon? He notices _Mammals... _ he thinks with amusement

In an unexpected side-effect, yellow and green plumage turns black and grey and purple. But that might not be undesirable.

Not to a dragon that helped name the night and was the favored whelp of the Great Nox herself

Already their songs shift, as their tweets go into the minor key

In the dreaming, her power trails like smoke. It wreathes her arms and hands and stirs her bone-white hair.

Were a comet to strike Earl now, he would make a shooing motion to swat it away

Finally, her dance is done. She alights where she began, perched upon the tumbledown throne.

Oh how amazing... glorious plumage like star dust had been sprinkled on velvet... and songs that trill of mystery and hidden things, of sorrow, and the glory of trepidation

"Well done, Madame Witch, well done indeed." Nocturnus nods

She picks up her tea cup and returns the nod.

With such matters tended to, the tea can continue in more relaxed and properly dignified fashion. Tales softly exchanged, matters discussed.

A civilised time.

So rarely had , so all the more treasured.

(end scene)