#earthrunes

"Minor hurt, your lordship," Delores says, "I .. I mostly want a bath, but I worry about my car being investigated."

"We'll make sure the right of ignorance, and You are protected." The baron assures her

Coradel looks surprised...and only now really registers that she's bleeding.

"We must also replace the vehicle, my Lord. She saved us all."

"Agreed," He says.

Delores blushes furiously

"Deryn? Are you hurt?"

"We'll have to be very sure about ignorance. I.... flew."

"But I'm unhurt. He missed me."

A nod, and again that pride. "Claire?"

"Now, about your wounds," He says and snaps fingers, "Healing magics." The jester rushes off and returns with some sort of glossy gunk on a cloth. He puts it against the Fiona's leg, there's a image of a striped great cat that seems to appear on the bandage and cuts 'away the wound' as if that were possible, the injury shredded/healed.

Shallimar grins 'Tiger balm"

"I'm fine," Claire says "Wore armor, evoked wyrd."

A smile to Shallimar. "Many thanks."

The baron nods to Deryn, "Baroness, thank you for your honesty. We'll definitely make sure any mortals pass it off as a...religious hallucination at most extreme"

"In case there were witnesses, yes. Thank you."

"Now, who wants to tell me what happened?" He asks "In full?'

"My Lord, I very much look forward to hearing who sent him after us. And...how he knew where we'd be."

"I can do that."

And so Coradel does, explaining everything from the visit to LaFair onward. it's only proper she should want to meet others of the fief

She concludes with, "This was not our only visit of the day...perhaps he followed us from an earlier place? But if not...he was informed where we would be."

"We will learn, you will be informed. Use of Chronos, Soveriegn, and , of course, Soothsay wil lbe used not just on him but his weapons. Lady Deryn, I would like to inform you as well. But would understand if you wished to distance yourself?"

There's a great deal of muttering among the boggans and some other servants at LaFair's presence there.

"No. I am part of this. I am a Truthbranch."

A grin at that.

She gives a sort of a half-laugh. "Well, getting out to meet the people was certainly more exciting than I'd anticipated."

"So be it," the Baron says, "Miss LaFair, I am sorry you were endangered. Intrigues of the court should not endanger the un-associated, but alas, should is not as is."

The swan pooka curtsies, "Far beyond my humble comprehension, my lord. I will not tarry here long."

"Of course, Recompense for your trouble is-" he starts to say

But she shakes her head, "Nay, Lord. Folks might mistake, and this time by accident," A raised brow at the gossisping boggans, then she says to the three Sidhe women "I wish you luck in this dangerous world. What I am is known to all, but I am always willing to entertain visits from such fine ladies. Let me know."

Coradel watches the interaction between the Baron and the swan pooka closely.

A nod. "Thank you." She's puzzled by LaFair's resistance to take money from the Baron, "We should attempt to have tea again at another time."

"In the Japanese style. I much prefer that to the western."

"The Western has its appeal, if not for the property damage."

A light bell like laugh from Deryn's comment, and said "You and I have kissed the sky together, that binds us in ways few understand, your courage in flight is something I hope to echo, in a different way." Then to Coradel she says "And you and I ? Well, closer than that I think. " A look to Claire, "Honorable Ailils are so common one scarcely knows what to say. So, thank you." She slips out carrying herself with quiet dignity until she is almost gone, and looking at the servants a shake of her head, then gone.

The baron watches her go, then says "I must begin interogations. Lady Truthbranches, I believe someone is on their way to the hold to greet you. Do see to them as suits? And make apologies for my absence."

A puzzled frown, but she curtsies farewell to Miss LaFair. Then another curtsy to the Baron. "Please allow me to assist should you wish the help."

A slight bow to the departing pooka.

"Somethings you should not have to witness" The baron says cryptically, "But I will remember the offer."

After he departs, Coradel hugs each of the women of the adventure, and Bachdion "...for a very timely lapdance." A wink and a smile.

"THat will be twenty dollars" The satyr jokes.

"Worth far more."

And slowly the court breaks up, they have folks on the way to greet , but time for a shower maybe

Delories own wounds were tended to, she sighs wistfully and chuckles, and mutters 'beats cleaning the toilet"

Sparrow looks for a quiet place to rest after the little court breaks up.

So with a head full of question, and veins still cooling their adrenaline the heroic ladies of the Truthbranches (And one Ailil) tend to rest, shower, and, you know, greeting folks when they show up. But that's another story, or better yet, an exchange of two stories.

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