#earthrunes

"Aye. There is. But you would be wise to leave Bronte in peace. She is sleeping."

Catir is in a hunter's crouch.

"Is that little one , Bronte?" Making sure

"Yes. And I protect her. And she protects the books."

"She is." He affirms. "And she's under my protection, too, Catir."

"Books?" Confusion, she takes her helmet off and stands, "I'm sorry, I thought dragons were like, huge, bus sized, and they had hoards they stole of gold and gems, and they ate maidens. Got any of those here?"

A grin. "In the books, perhaps."

Catir grimaces "But we saw a huge one in the hall, well, we saw its shadow."

"That one visits."

"Well, I'm not going to hunt a little bitty dragon that doesn't hurt anyone and only stays around books," SHe puts her weapon to her side, "It wouldn't be honorable." Frustrated, "This is not a good day."

"Well, I am glad that you will not hunt Bronte. You may wish to read to her, she likes that."

"Well, maybe," Begrudging, "if the huge dragon returns, someone tell me. Leonora wouldn't me go hunting Ragerback boars with her. Said I'm still too little and not yet sained. I figured if I got the dragon, That'd show her, but...well, geez." A huff, and then "Sorry to intrude, Sir August, miss.. uhm, sorry. I'm Catir."

August glances at Zara.

"I defeated a Dragon once. On Pennons." She picks up her tea to sip.

"I am Zara. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Caitir."

"Catir, this is Miss Zara, my best friend. Zara, Catir is one of Derynwydd's friends." He introduces.

Her eyes widen at Zara, "You... you really mean that. Wow, but you seem so scrawny."

A catlike smile, and another sip of tea.

"Catir." Reproving.

He rises. "Zara, I'll go freshen the tea. Catir, I'll bring you a cup." And he slips out.

"Thank you, August."

Catir now seems in awe of Zara, "Sorry, I didn't mean... anything bad. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Zara."

"Likewise, miss. So you are a fledge here?"

"yes," She sighs a bit, "I'm not sained yet..so...I have to wait. They tell me I'm Gwydion and it's true i can tell when folks are lying most of the time. I take classes, try to remember what I was like, my li... Baroness Derynwydd knew me in the before time. Now I'm a ward here getting training. Sometimes Dubh comes by. He's a fledge too but all grown, and we knew each other. How..how did you defeat the dragon? Could you tell?" Raptly fascinated

"Well... not with a sword. And there is no shame in being a fledge. When else are you expected to ask never-ending questions?"

"Well, I suppose. I sometimes have trouble being patient," She puts her gear to the side and takes a seat on the floor, "I do have a lot, and mostly folks answer, but they let me question but not do, well, that's not true, Baroness Coradel has me working on assembling the childlings to see how we can help. We cleared up litter at a local play ground the other day " Proud. "Beauty is life."

Grey lips curve into a faint smile. "It is."

"But beauty can also be in lots of things. Sometimes overlooked."

"Like how different kiths find different things beautiful" SHe says, "I don't know many sluagh around here, but I hear they like very old things. Is that true?"

She nods. "As a rule, yes. Old things often have stories."

"Probably because they have memories and memories can become stories, and then someone takes the stories , and passes it on, and when the story out lives the memory, the memory becomes a tale, and when the tale grows bigger than any memory could be- it becomes a legend" She says nodding with approval, and it is clear someone told her that.

"....about that, yes."

"You said you didn't beat the dragon with a sword? How did you beat him, or her?" Eager to get back to dragons...the big ones.

"If you are a fledge here, you may borrow books. but you must promise to be careful with them. The back room - they are old, and delicate, and mayn't leave. But the front?"

"With my wits, miss. How else?"

"Well, I thought you might have a magic orb that let you control dragons, or know where the dragon kept its heart, or have found the dragon's true name," SHe says, "But wits is good."

"And oh, the back room, that's the one that makes Sir August whistle happily?"

"I don't think I would be fond of a magic orb... it is a sin to enslave a thinking being."

"And aye. Some of the books there are centuries old and quite rare. They are treasures."

"I suppose you're right. Bad folks tried to enslave us kids. THe folks here rescued us," At the mention of the books being treasures, "I'll tell the other kids to leave the back room alone. We like Sir August. He's..." Tries to find a good word, "Spiffy?"

She bristles. "Someone enslaved children?"

Smoothes, mostly. "August is nice, yes. He is my good friend."

"Yes, Miss Zara, the Shadow Court. " A nod, "They're very bad people and one day they will regret that I lived. Because I'll break their chains and bring them to justice." Then a nod, "Yes, he said you were his best friend. He doesn't say that about anyone else."

She quietly beams. "He is."

"And... a good attitude about the Court. Remember, patience - I know, anger makes it tempting to strike at the first chance, but the wise predator waits for the right moment."

"Yes, I know I was a hunter in the before time, and a healer. Sometimes it surprises me. I'm not very patient for a hunter, " A blush "And sometimes I want to tell my patients to lay still and let me fix them or I'll clobber them. So I'm not sure how good a healer I'll be. I'm trying to learn healing cantrips, but they're advanced. Steward Delores just conjures up cookies that make you better, and Miss Clem could probably make a 6 month old stick come back to life." Envy

"Patience must be learned. Watch hunters - see the spider, or the lion. And like prey, skill and magic take time."

"Of course, my teacher would say I lack patience, too..."

"We have a lion, he's new" A nod, "Isis says when he dies she gets his stuff. I'm not sure it works that way." THen she says "What are you learning?"

"Magic, mostly. Ask August - I am a soothsayer."