#dreaming

"Mayhaps. And I was... distracted, then."

A kiss on her forehead "It's okay. I don't you ever got anyone ELSE a pomengranite so I'm feeling surprisingly secure" A wink

As they move on Zara's keen eyes spot something, fallen off the path, metal glinting, not silver

A raised hand to still Earl and she peeeers.

Earl had missed it. He pauses and does not speak.. yet

A handaxe... mind you, one fit for a troll, which means for most others it would be a battle axe

"Could be bait."

"Yeah," he whispers "It's off the silver so even I'd have to extend "

"I don't like it."

"So leave it be? Or try to fish it out without touching it?"

"Mmm..."

Zara crouches and incantates. "Axe fallen from a giant's hand, whisper secrets to the two wanderers of the land..."

And the magic..does not work. Zara is sure her cantrip is fine. but somehow it it did not work

Brow-furrow and she kenns.

It's not.. this is not a an axe

It's a part of a creature!

"Clever girl."

It's ruse spotted, the huge creature, like a cross between a giant salamander and an Angler fish rises out of the much and snaps the air, the axe waving at the end of it's stalk. It can't touch them... silver is strong

A sniff and she starts walking away.

And Earl joins her "Good work figuring that out. "

THe axe turns into a new book, only slightly soggy

"Too late," Earl calls back.

The monster grumble gnashes

A gentle chuckle. "Luckily, it chose the weapon first.."

"Properly prepared personalized presentation matters" he says as they go on a bit

"I hope it did not take any of thy kithmates..." Walking and watchful.

"I hope so too" Worried frown

She slips her hand into his.

It eases his frown.

But then they hear something in the distance that might surprise them.. laughter

A little tug on his hand, and she quickens her steps to investigate.

"Impatient" loving though, teasing and he moves

Cheers and good times "To the lodges we loves..." "To the loves at our lodges" "To new lives for old souls"

The voices are somehow both throaty and soft

Zara releases his hand to slip ahead - curiosity quickening her feet!

"Hey wait up..." He picks up his pace

at a great stone table, transluyscent, but not faded, are trolls... they have meat and drink and seem to be sharing what they have

"Unfleshed! How fascinating!"

"You and Velvet" He says

The figures turn at Earl's voice... and while they do not grab their weapons, their hands linger near "Hold then, friend. Name your lodge and your line!"

Another , a woman, keen eyed, "And the whispering girl next to you."

A defiantly pointy chin.

"Be at ease, shadowwalker, I do not mean insult. " She says "I have indeed in my time gained good service by treating with your kind"

She relaxes a bit.

Earl says "I am Sir Earl, of the DeBuke clan, of the farmhold that bares the same name, though you may not have heard of it. It is likely the dragon devoured your lodge before ours was founded. My lady is as a most precious gems, each facet a name and a face, but call her Raven if you wish."

One spirit chuckles, "Ah, I"ve less liking of sluagh than our friend here, but good name that... Ravens are favored messengers"

Zara places a spidery hand on her chest and bows.

The woman who spoke up sighs "I wish I knew my name, it is harder and harder to recall."

Anothre spirit, still in the form of a childling, she speaks too "Oh we are but memories of a past life now gone wrapped around a fae soul. It is natural"

"You must needs find a waiting mother. Perhaps... perhaps many, aye."