#earthrunes

"No...but Layton did. He is working very hard to try to influence me."

"Certainly not, certainly not." He murmurs.

"She was taken just outside your Baronial Balefire; she was not low on Glamour, she was flush with it. An easy id to make. She would have -obviously- been Glamorous, a creature of the Dreaming; Fae in some way. Either he was criminally negligent in not recognizing her, which puts any Fae in the Barony in danger where he is concerned, or he knew, and proceeded anyway." Reasonably.

She nods. "Still...we would be negligent if we did not interrogate him properly." A sigh. "I do not think I like lawyers."

August chuckles, stroking her arm from elbow to wrist. "I am not surprised."

Vince shifts his weight, but says nothing.

*paused*

A slight grin at August's touch, but she's preoccupied. "We either need somebody whose skills with Dictum are more reliable than mine, or I may need to try it several times. But I will find out what that creature knows."

“Perhaps the carrot, before the stick?” He offers, then rejoins, “it’s not a an innuendo. That’s an eggplant. I could perhaps see if he wants to talk. Although he didn’t care for my latter night hug.”

"I have... insight to the Kith. If I can help with that.... "

Coradel looks to Vince and considers a long moment before nodding. "Be wary of his words, Whiskers. If Mr. Layton has already spoken to him, he has been coached. That shouldn't have been permitted." A sigh, and she reaches to give the pooka a hug.

He tenses just a moment, still keyed up a little but then wraps her in his arms for a moment of comfort, resting his chin atop the top of her head as only the very tall may do.

August waits, soberly.

"Thank you," she says quietly. "You did so much there, and I have not thought to thank you." Her tone is a bit sad. Then she steps back out of the hug and takes his hands and squeezes them gently before releasing and moving to August.

"Thank you, Vince." Softly as he opens his arms to Coradel.

“Thanks are required, of course. And I expect a ceremony honoring valor. For this not for the sake of what must be done, but for accords alone I needs must behave in a beastly manner.” A pause. “I also accept hugs as currency, though I may need to return some change.”

That gets a grin as she slips into August's arms, beginning to relax slightly. "I also need to find a way to recognize Ludmilla's actions. She saved me, but all she can think of is her failure to keep the childlings from harm." A sigh and a shake of her head. "How do you protect those who will not be protected?"

"An excellent question." ... is that... humor... in his tone?

“One might as well ask, how does one think the unthinkable?” Awaiting a response.

A glance to August, and a bit of a faux-insulted pout. "I am no childling, August."

"No." Gently. "You are not."

"As to how one thinks the unthinkable, Whiskers, perhaps you and August can both glean that from our captive in your conversations with him. And yes, August, I think your particular insight will be very helpful." Another sigh...and then a blink. "Oh, I am an idiot. Of course. Nansaidh...I need not be concerned with Dictum." She shakes her head. "I have not been thinking straight."

August chuckles.

"Well see if she can come. I think she will. And when we know the truth, from both this lawyer and the redcap, you can make your judgement."

Another pout. "Don't make fun, my love." However, she's clearly embarrassed.

He kisses her cheek. "I did not mean to tease. I'm sorry." Sincerely.

"My concern is that Mr. Layton has given him something to resist efforts to make him speak truth. Or something to make us sympathetic to his cause. In either case, the recap is banished and geased for his attempt on my life at the least...but that is not the crime he should be punished for."

"He may lie to us, but I don't think it will work against Dame Nansaidh."

A brief snort. "Watch, he has oathed Eiluned while in his cell."

August chuckles again. "That might not be a first, but it would be... unexpected."

"At which point, the Dictum is our recourse."

He nods. "One of them."

A curious look.

He shrugs. "There might be other ways. I haven't looked into it."

"Geas will take one more powerful at Sovereign than I."

"Yes, it is beyond my ability, as well. Perhaps Sir Sergei?"

"We should certainly ask."

"I would rather not have to seek out the Count and Countess for this...."

"I understand. I could write to Dame Nansaidh herself, ask if she might take a leave of absence, discretely, to assist us?"

"Would you, August? Thank you."

"It would need to be done quickly...I want him out within three days."

"Of course." He pauses, looking regretful. "I... I, ah, I suppose I should get to work, then."

He glances at the silent pooka, then at Coradel, and nods, slowly unwinding his arms from her. "It will be a while. I will see you at breakfast."

She stays close, leaning in to claim a kiss before he slips away.

He kisses her back, with need and longing, then turns and, with a nod to Vince, departs.

She lets him move away, and then strokes Vince's cheek as he also excuses himself to go speak to the redcap...and paces off herself to speak with Sir Sergei.

*end scene*

Coradel also makes sure that Bachdion is notified of Mr. Layton's presence in the hold...and that Coradel would like to speak to him (Bachdion) at his earliest convenience.

*************************

Much on her mind, Coradel finds a knock on her door.