#earthrunes

Magnus looks down, "oh shit. Grabbed the wrong one. My god this is comfy though. No wonder she likes it."

"I don't think it really matters much, does it?" Coradel is impatient.

"No, baroness" Ludmilla says, "I suppose not. Pardon. I'm just... yes pardon." She moves to the side

"Thank you, Ludmilla." Still a whisper, and she likewise moves aside to allow Magnus to enter, following him quietly.

Magnus goes in. And looks over Isis who stirs fitfully, her hands tightened into rigid 'will scratch you' position

He begins to whisper, reciting

“I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of meadow flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hair

I sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever see

For still there are so many things
That I have never seen
In every wood in every spring
There is a different green

I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never know

But all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door”

Watching, Coradel sets a reassuring hand on Ludmilla's shoulder.

Ludmilla seems tense, more so when the glamour flows.

But Magnus seems to breathe in the glamour all about him and the childling now, like an oracle of delphi taking in the vapors of prophecy, though in his case, he looks back, muttering "poor child, so terrified"

then his eyes open, "I saw the events "

Coradel nods. "Can you do the same for 'Enri, Magnus? He may have seen what she did not."

He moves over to Enri who stirs even more fittfully, and for a moment the little boy might be seen as awake, but no, he's talking in his sleep.

"Bad dog, bad." he shuffles, "that's two times you let her go in a cage bad bad dog...no biscuits. "

Ludmilla looks tempted to rush to the child and comfort him

Coradel squeezes her shoulder, but understands the urge.

“Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.” the Fiona investigator chants over and over, three times and release

And Enri's glamour flows up, Magnus seems to swim in it one almost expects him to get bouyancy

Then "And I have his story too." he strokes the boy's hair very gently "Enri, you're not to blame for bad men's actions. And you are braver than you know." he rises and rejoins the ladies

Coradel nods, then whispers to Ludmilla, "You are not to blame, either. I know you cannot leave them now, but we should not discuss this where they might hear. I promise you will hear all. Is that all right?"

Ludmilla nods "I will wait . I don't need to know anything, beyond my charges are safe."

And Magnus goes with his mother, saying "Ask away."

Coradel nods, and leaves the room, holding the door for Magnus to follow. In the hallway and some distance from the door, she says, "Why were they outside?"

"Isis got bored, and Enri thoguht he smelled something ..that made her curious, and she insisted. What he smelled exactly, I'm not sure but it was from an open window. Poodle nose is better than mortal. I thought that might be a lure, but truthful? I think it MIGHt have been a stray dog. Regular, plan, but enough to get Andrew or whats his name looking for a spare bait dog. They went out in animal forms so the guards missed them. And... Andrew saw Enri. "

She sighs and nods. "So, no apparent lure, and the mortal did not know what he had."

"What of the redcap? Did Norm see Isis, and know her for what she was?"

"Oh..well, this you're not going to like. "

"No?" She frowns.

"the first time the redcap saw the kitten? was when we rescued her." he says "Andrew did call her, saying he had a cat to feed them, but that was by fphone. Norm had no idea of Isis's nature until, of ccourse, he threatened to kill her trying to escape"

A deep breath...and then she lashes out, slapping a wall. "DAMMIT!"

"Mother, the important thing is that while scared, both childlings are safe now"

He says "You..don't want to know the number of times I have found out a far more unpleasant truth. the times I've come too late."

"Yes, I agree, but...." She sighs. "I want him GONE."

"Who? Norm?"

"Yes. And...Magnus, I'm sorry, I know that this sort of investigation must not be easy to do, and yes, I'm glad that we have them safe and whole...but haven't these childlings suffered far too much? Not to mention the other animals he and those others tortured for sport!"

"they have indeed suffered more than people should in a life time if you ask me" He agrees, "But Andrew is in jail by now."

"Hm. True. And the mortal authorities are likely wondering where Norm is." A frown.

"Yes, I suppose they think he slipped away"

"Well...turning him over to them is out of the question. Though tempting.

"Yes." he says, "Mother, you have every right to be upset. What I odn't understand is why you seem to ..well, he's in your power. In your donjon. You could do almost anything to him. What's devouring you so?"

A sigh. "There's a lawyer involved, now. A Mr. Layton. Yes, I can do what I wish...but now this little man has me considering what the local commoners will thinks if I treat Norm 'unfairly'...I must be able to lead, not merely to terrorize."

"Oh... " A pause "i'm actually sort of proud of you, mother. You want to be a fair and just ruler and not a tyrant. I can't say I'm surprised. I just..." A thought "mmm yes. This is important for a lot of reasons. Order me, and I'll do what you want done. But I think maybe I should keep my ideas t myself"

She frowns. "Magnus...?"

"I mean, this seems lik a test now, one you have set for yourself, or feel is important. You seem to have something to prove to yourself. And I want to respect that."

"Well, I don't know about all that, but...well, maybe. Still, your advice is always valuable, especially if you see me about to step into a tar pit."

Magnus looks amused. "if I help you out with one of my ideas, do I get to be the good one of the family for at least a month?"

"Oh, Magnus, you and your sister are both the 'good one.' You know that. But for now...I should send you back to bed so you can make amends to your fiancee for the interruption."

"All right, All right. And... so I can make amends? "

"Mm-hm." She nods, smiling with amusement.

"Honestly though, darling, do you really need an excuse?"