#earthrunes

She frowns. "He fought off my dictum at the slaughterhouse. I could try again...but the drug may be a wise recourse. Still, how would you administer it?"

"mm good point, Caps can digest anything. Vapors maybe"

"Yes....that might work."

"Though I do not want it to affect me at the same time it affects him."

"oh I imagine you'd come in affter it was in him but cleared. shouldn't take a minute. If nothing else it will make him less resistant to your dictum. And to answer your concerns, there are ..rumored to be arts by unsavory sorts that foil soveriegn."

A curious look. "Rumored, you say?"

"Oh, there are always rumors" He says "You have faced foes tied to those same rumors. It's why I don't take them lightly"

Her lips arc into a delicate frown. "Point taken. Then...yes, please prepare that drug. How long will it take before it's ready?"

"Less than an hour I have the ingredients here. " He says "The lawyer may object...if you tell him."

"He may." She frowns.

"So don't call it an official questioning, this is clearly a 'first run'"

"Yes...but it will be no less binding."

A shrug, "Understand, I am an Eiluned. We tend to have very specific ideas on who needs to know what"

A pause...and a sigh. "Sir Almandine, understand my goal. I want to punish Norm, and make the punishment stick, but I also want to minimize any sympathy he may gain as a result of his punishment. I don't want this to turn into a commoner-versus-noble situation, where my people distrust me."

"Oh that," He says "Yes, pardon, I suppose I should take Fiona sensibilities more into account. Yes.. I can see. Mmm.." he says "have you considered gathering some commoners not of your hold, but of your fief, and asing for their advice? What would THEY do to such a man? without surrendering final say, ask about . Someone will suggest something graphic, eventually,a nd that's all you need to say "Had it been up to some in my fief among the good common folk...' and then you seem not only to heed them, but make yourself seem almost merciful."

"A...jury, of sorts? But without power; the final say remains in my hands...." She considers this. "Perhaps that would be wise."

"Of sorts," he says, "May I suggest you don't tell Mr. Layton about this until the jury is assembled? Lawyers are very careful in picking Juries that will go the way they want"

"Hmph...I'd rather not even have him present for that part."

"then don't." The Seer says

A nod. "Yes. First this inquiry, then a discussion with the commoners. Good."

"Anything I can do to make things easier for you beyond that?"

"No, these have been excellent suggestions. May I wait while you prepare the drug, and then we will go to see Norm."

"If you wish, please hang back and don't touch this." He breaks out a mortor and pestle, unmarked vials and some water are thrown in, whilee he works. Almandine inquires "Your ladyship, Mr Layton will protest being left out. If I may make one more suggestion? "

"Please, Sir." She nods from the edge of his workroom, where she's perusing some of the items on the shelves.

"Sometimes tecnology has it's purpose. Record what he says while we do this. Don't tell anyone else of the recording. Fae don't have a 5th Amendment, if he says things, then it is more than just the word of one fae if he betrays his crimes."

He continues to work on the admixture

"Hm...and allow Layton to have the recording? " She nods. "That's good."

"Well, I wasn't going to suggest that part." He says "But as you will. I'd keep a copy for yourself at the very least"

There's a bubbling.

"Well, allow him to have a copy if he asks." She nods.

A nod, and he is closing up the creation of unarked liquids and powders and the bubbling stops, "This troubles you, I can tell."

A wry grin. "Which part of 'this'? Do you mean? That a childling was abducted and nearly killed? That I am not able to dole out the punishment I wish without seeming a tyrant? That there's a damned lawyer in the building?"

"Yes," he says , a bit of a smile himself.

"Hmph. How very perceptive and insightful of you." Wry, not critical.

"Oh, I'm sharp. " he says "I keep abreast , once i actually learn something. Apologies for that, I'll try to interact more."

"Well...you have been settling in...and I have been preoccupied."

"I am not so reclusive not to notice that your people are rather happy, Baroness. If you measure succcessful rule by that, then you are doing very well indeed."

"Thank you, Sir Almandine. I intend to try to keep it that way. But I think this redcap would disagree with you."

"The wart is the first to complain about beautification efforts" He says "But the rest of the body agrees "

A laugh at that. "I must remember that one."

A smile "I learned that one from a mentor. Feel free"

(Pause scene?)