#dreaming

"Oh" Zane says "Sorry."

"Would you curse the alligators who lurk? They, too, threaten the unwary."

"I guess. I just.. it looks so much like Artax it's hard not to think it's personal" Zane admits

"I do understand."

Earl nods "It uses the gifts it has.. trickery is what it knows but you don't have to like it"

"Well, I don't much care for hydras, either - but they have their place."

"Yeah" Zane nods "I guess I can see that"

"But no, I would not wish to run into one of those, either."

"you are kind.." A whispere

Zara looks!

and sees a hunchbacked crone of her own kith. Of course, only a sluagh is likely to surprise another sluagh. Oh what a magnificent testament to decade...loose folds of skin hang from her like cloth over a skeleton, the wrinkles on her face under the bags of her eyes. Her voile is tattered, resembling a victorian murder victim left by the ripper hisself

Zara, of course, bows.

The old one lowers her own head a bit, odd soft popping sounds, and a gesture of hand to heart. "you are kind" she repeats "To show mercy on your fellow nightmares ...self defense is one thing, but ..well, everything has a place"

"Aye, granddame."

"Come... tea and talk" She leads them along "humor this old one"

"Ma'am" Earl dips his hat and looks to Zara asking with his eyes if they follow

"Well, there is always time for tea..."

And they come to a moss covered hut, the silver trod hooking into it like a barb from the side

"You have a lovely home. Well-weathered."

"Oh, it could collapse any moment" She says proudly and goes in

the others free to follow, if they do, they find something that has a small cauldron bubbling in the corner, a tea set and table... and yes, of course, a book shelf with old knick knacks

"Thank you for the hospitality. I am Zara Manynames, and these are my companions."

"I am Tibithea Gentle." She says

"Earl Hunter" Earl says

"I am Zane Caneworthy" Zane slips in

"Are you now?" the old woman looks..amused, her toothelss mouth opens.

"I shall prepare the tea, and give you my warnings... but tea first" Tibithea says

"A good way to soften the blow."

Zane blinks at the mention of warnings

The tea is lovingly prepared. The old woman's set is a fine matched collection, but wearing the cracks of time "Indeed. " Gentle smiles

Zara follows all niceties, complimenting the china, the setting, the aroma...

And it is all very much worthy. Pete moss scents, that thick chunky cream offered

Perhaps less appealing to the gentlemen, but Zara seems appreciative.

"How long have you been out in this swap, Lady Gentle?"

"Oh for well into five years though time bends here. I ..confess, it was for vanity's sake. Given my years... you see what I have to lose?" Gentle tuts

Zane says "You're afraid of old age..and dying?"

Gentle looks at Zara, "Oh my he doesn't understand sluagh at all does he?"

"No, though I think he may be learning much."

"My dear boy, I am not holding off getting old" Lady Gentle fusses at Zane, "For I am old. Look, my back is so crooked as to be a hunch made by time. My eyes so baggy I could store goods under them. I am wrinkled to near perfection, if you forgive the vanity... I do not fear death . But, I am worried what will happen after. " A shudder "I shall be reborn, as a chubby cheeked cherub. Nary a wrinkle! Oh, to endure cuteness again"

Zane's expression shifts, and he looks to Zara and Earl as if to say 'She's shitting me right?' but he is too polite to say it outloud

"Feh!"

"You are a paragon of decay, madame."

Lady Gentle gives a most hideous and black gummed grin "Oh flattery. Yes, tis vanity that keeps me here in the dreaming where I do not age. But eventually, well, I must face spring anew. All my hard living undone and replinished, the decay wiped clean."

"Ah, but what a journey to see what age brings next time?"

"You are right, eventually autumn, true autumn, must win" The old woman nods "But I did not call you for tea and vanity alone. It is well that one of you is named hunter. For you are being hunted. Even now"

Eyebrow. "Aye, you say?"

"I know these swamps, and I know the dangers. And strangers... strangers are in the swamp.. hoping to catch you before you cross into the further dreaming. They hope to ambush you all, and capture the one of you who has wronged them."

"What? Who has been wronged?"

"I believe a noble of House Leanhaun... she wants the artist who painted her lifestyle unflattering gone..."

Zane looks to Earl