#dreaming

"precisely, to throw knowledge about slap dash is to disrespect the knowledge itself" He say "fortunately, a large chunk of the population around here are trolls and they at least can be.. reserved"

"Incurious, a'times..."

Earl sips his tea with quiet dignity.

"I have noticed that very thing," Forlorn says "It is good to guard one's counsel, to say little more than needed, but oh my...I don't know how so many of them," a glance to Earl "Your pardon, Mister Dis, you maybe an exception, can so easily settle for being so focused on what they guard or patrol that they neglect the puzzles further out waiting to be solved. Begging for it, really"

Earl smiles "We can be... creatures of habit, it's true."

"There are, of course, exceptions." She shifts to gently hip-bump her troll.

Earl smiles "I was lured into a life of untrolish inquisitiveness... and quite glad for it, I must be honest"

"Indeed, sir, but who would not fall for such a beauty?" Hades is... not being sarcastic.

Zara pinks and hides behind her teacup.

"you sir, are a man with keen senses, and excellent taste," Earl says "but as you can surely grasp from just a moment of speaking to her, the lady's form is as alluring as nymph, but it is her intellect that is truly Olympian."

Zara does not have the fan required to hide behind for this sort of talk!

So the teacup will have to do

Alas!

"well put, mister dis, a touch of poet in you" A raise of his own cup, and hades says "but I fear I breached good manners. Forgive me, Miss Persephone."

"Forgiven, Sir Forlorn."

"Ah, but allow me to make amends, for while the news of this hold is relatively easy to get, the fact you are interested in troll news? Oh that I can assist with...and thus repay for news of the dragon confirmed. " Forlorn says "One, not one of us, is missing, and rumored to be captured and in the hands of nobility in another part of the state. I fear our Zeus would get involved if he knew, but I am hoping instead to enlist outside help that is discrete enough not to link us to the rescue. "

Her eyes narrow. "Captured by sidhe? I would hear more of this."

"Oh, the hold is a perfect blend of despicablity. Understand, I bear no grudge against most unseelie nobles anymore than seelie ones. Tween Gwydion Arrogance and Ailil Smugness, is very little difference to me... but the hold in question consists mostly of Balor and.." A frown "varich. You see why I wish to proceed with caution?" A sip

"Indeed."

"I have no love of Balor. And no trust for Varich."

"Well marked are they by the sun, they would in their hatred wipe away all shadows of our kind if they could" Forlorn says "Milwaukee has more than one hold, but this one, the hold know as CurdleCream is the most corrupt and suspect. It is believed the lady troll in question was captured for bounty and directed there, for a crime two fold. One, for championing a sluagh childling, and two? oh it's too delicious if true... for knowing naming."

Earl's brows shoot up

"Those are no crimes."

"They hold her unjustly, aye."

"Aye, " Forlorn says "if you know those capable, and, more importantly discrete, tell them there is ample reward... be it crass finances, some dross, or, yes, a sluagh's whispers available for a half year."

Earl says "This last is.. most generous."

Forlorn looks at Earl, "most non sluagh would not realize so, Mister Dis. If i may say, you are rather intelligent yourself."

"When we are defended... well. Yes."

"I trust you not to mention this to Zeus. He is.. he would want to go, and risk us all. "

A soft tut.

"I understand."

Earl says "Mmm One can see why he might be tempted? but ah, yes. We'll respect your wishes."

"The sluagh is safe?"

"Oh yes. In fact, I took the liberty of arranging the child's transport to another duchy. " Hades nods "again, discretely."

"Of course."

'Prudent, forgive, did the troll have a name?" earl ask, "That you feel secure sharing?"

"She called herself Bennath Wildheart" The sluagh says "Though I cannot say I'd ever heard of her before"

Earl almost, for a moment, drops his tea.

"...Wildheart?"

"That was the surname, yes." Forlorn says "Do you know the lady?"

She shakes her head.

"me neither" earl says quite smoothly given his near slip.

"One who protects our kith is owed our protection. They are rare enough."

"Quite" Forlorn agrees, but it is clear he is troubled at not being able to do more directly himself.

"We have an obligation first, to this rath... but..."

"oh, I quite understand. I wouldn't wish any sluagh to go there, a varich infested hold? death is preferable to what they concoct for our kind" Forlorn says "But forgive, the conversation grows overly morose"

"Such matters needs be."

The rest of the talk is on more pedestrian matters, regarding the hold. While Zara might want to check out , with the ear muffs, she might also decide to resume their journey on the trod

Zara would rather avoid too much noise and fuss. but understands if Earl wishes to meet the troll leader.

Earl decides it would only be polite.