#earthrunes

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Coradel did relinquish Isis to Ludmilla's care after they returned to the manor...but she's been visiting the children a bit more than usual in the time since.

Coradel did not let her ire cut loose again, not while she held a child, but Isis was tucked in, and Ludmilla stationed herself near them.

The visits since then have seen Isis act like nothing bad happened and she settled it fine, thank you. Enri seems more openly shaken, and perhaps even ashamed. He failed to protect his sister- there is no greater sin in brotherdom.

Coradel wants to comfort him, but she doesn't seem to be finding the words to do it. The anger keeps resurfacing, and her visits are brief.

Sometimes she can be found pacing the halls near the children's quarters.

Ludmilla blames herself a bit, her fellow warder however thinks that's nonsense, and seems to have a talk wiath her.

August, meanwhile, seeks out Coradel of an afternoon shortly after the raid.

At the moment, she's pacing a little further away, in one of the paneled art galleries.

"Coradel?" Softly, as he enters.

"Yes? What?" Brusque, but then she sighs immediately after turning to him. "August...."

"It's ok." He brushes off her brusque greeting and crosses to offer his arms.

"You're upset." Even he noticed.

"Well, yes." She grasps his hands briefly, but doesn't seem to want to be encased in an embrace, still pacing. "How in the Dreaming do we keep them safe when they wander away before they're ready to do so?"

He doesn't try to hold her. "I don't know."

"I could check the records, see what's worked in the past."

A glance at him. "Perhaps." A frustrated gesture. "I cannot even tell Enri it isn't his fault. He should have stayed, and told somebody if she left!"

"If they were a little older...if they could fight properly...that would be a different matter."

Ahems from the corridor, Inish says "Beg pardon."

"Then you tell him. You tell all of them, gently, the truth. And we buy them time to get older. And we teach them to fight proper..." He stops and turns to Inish.

"Yes, what is it, Herald?" Preoccupied, irritated.

"Pardon the ill timing, but a fae claiming to be a lawyer here to represent Norm the Redcap is here. Then there is the other matter of possibly reforging your treasure?"

August's face goes stony.

She stares at him. "Somebody dares to defend that creature?! Where is this lawyer?" She's already stalking past him, the skirts of her red gown flowing like flames at every step.

August follows, a darker grey shadow behind her.

"Ah, yes, well... he's in the parlor... I had him put there"

"Well, waiting."

The Herald seems to swallow. Angry sidhe are stepped aside for.

She marches directly to the parlor, proud and, yes, angry.

The Boggan is an elderly gent, with a very nice suit. Looking a lot like a plump and short Matlock- not that either wilder is necessarily familiar with the look. He bows very low as the Baroness comes in.

She approaches and stops merely a pace away and towers over the smaller figure. "You come to speak for...him?"

August stands to one side, arms folded across his chest.

"If by him you mean one Redcap known as Norm, I have, Layton L. Layton, your ladyship. You are the Baroness and ruler of this hold?"

Now August glowers.

"I am. I am also one of those who witnessed your client giving orders at an animal-fighting ring."

"A deep honor to meet you, Baroness. And Sir." A nod to August, then "Animal Fighting rings, while deplorable, are not against the Escheat. Might one ask what crime he is being held for?"

"For the capture and torture of a pooka childling, intended for use as a bait animal."

She glares down at the lawyer.

"And was the accused even aware that his mortal accomplice had taken the child who was in animal form? Baroness, I submit you have the wrong man in your donjon."

A pause. "Interesting." She scowls. "Have you already conferenced with your client?"

"And if so, who allowed it?" August cannot hold back.

"Ah, so you admit the accused was not aware of those facts? at least, not that you can determine with certainty?"

August turns to Coradel, and bows with his hand on his heart. "Baroness, forgive me, but I do not accept the premise of this man's question, nor of this man himself."

"I admit no such thing. Answer the question: Have you conferenced with your client?"

She nods to August without looking away from the boggan, but she waits on the answer to her question.

"I must confess I have. " He says "Visitors were not explicitly denied."

He straightens.

"And, Sir knight. The foundation of justice must be based on innocent until PROVEN guilty. Else it is not justice at all. Guilty he maybe of mortal crimes, but I propose he is innocent of the one that violates the Escheat "

"That was an oversight on my part, then...but whether or not he knew is a question easily remedied, I believe."

"One? I figure a possible three violations." August shoots back before clamping down.