#earthrunes

"August...I think we should let them get back to their work. They're very busy." She takes his hand, and nods graciously to the kitchen staff.

"Thane Oswald?" "No w sir, I'm sure we'd rememberi f Thane Oswald sang with us"

Coradel gently draws him away from the kitchen.

Another Boggan whispers to the baroness "how..long has Sir August been in the hold? He might need.w.ell.."

But they leave it be if she pulls away

"August..." she murmurs "Do you feel well?"

"I'm not .... yes, I feel fine." He struggles for calm as he follows her. "Thane Oswald was in the hallway, they didn't see him, or he them."

There are two other thanes in the distance , but there is Thane Oswald and approaching, he bows

"I was in the library most of the day after work." With practiced steadiness. "I talked with Vince while I was there. I lost track of time, came to get something to eat, and the whole kitchen went into a production number."

"I left to get someone else, to help, and met Thane Oswald in the hall. -He- started a production number too, after I asked him if he could get Almandine or Magnus. Then I left to find you." He frowns, touching her cheek with the back of his hand. "I was worried about you."

Pardon Thane Oswald bows

"I informed Seer Almandine he is in the middle of a ritual but will be free soon"

"Maybe what happened was some kind of .... blow-back from the ritual?" Hopeful.

"Happened? what happened, sir? I didn't notice anything odd" Thane Oswald says

Coradel looks concerned for a moment, then smiles to Oswald. "Did you hear anything...unusually musical?"

"No, Baroness, did you want me to send for a troubadour?"

"If you wanted music"

"No, no, thank you." She rewards the Thane's attentiveness with a smile and a touch on his arm, then draws August further down the hall.

"You see to be the only one to have seen or heard these things, August," she murmurs.

August sighs and rubs his forehead. "You don't remember ... singing?"

... and is then drawn further down the hall.

"I know." Dully.

"And you're sure you're well? You're not...you've been spending time outside of the hold, among mortals, so it's not bedlam...right?"

"It's not Bed..... " He takes a breath, tries again. "It's not Bedlam."

Inish is aproaching, "Good morning, Baroness. Ready for tommrows schedule?"

The knight with the Baroness looks distinctly haunted.

"Oh, I..." She looks torn between August's issues and duty. "Briefly, Inish, please?"

He nods and unrolls his scroll "You get up at six, cause the day will be jumping..." And sings "You're gonna need a good breakfast to get that heart a pumping because you've got tasks that just won't fade away" yes, singing. Good voice

Coradel's eyes widen, and she grips August's hand.

August's eyes widen again and he makes a "Look, see!?!?" gesture at Innish.

"Getting the report from your Seer and Reeve, they say they've got news you just won't believe.... I figure that will be from 7 to 8..."

"But I...Inish, what...?"

"Then at nine you're you start hearing requests, complaints, petitions and bequests from your common folk who have a lot to say!"

August squeezes her hand back.

"Inish, stop!"

"But while that will take at least three hours, you have the wisdom you have the power, and you're going to make them feel quiiiite okaaay" "Work hard all day, is the way you'll be ruling. but we all know, you had decent mentoriing ing and schooling... you just use your head, and let your hard drive it. With the help of good staff like me you might eveeen survive iiit"

"STOP!"

"Shhhh...." He tries to sooth her. "I don't think it hurts them, and Oswald was able to go to Almandine and Magnus after he finished, so...."

For a moment, Coradel feels the urge to join in like a redheaded Dolly Parton, but unless she chooses to givei nto that, she won't.

And August holds bck from line dancing

An abrupt blinking and... a frown. "All right," she calls out. "Who is doing that? I want you hear in front of me, NOW."

No one responds, but fortunately Inish's song ends and he blinks, "And that's the schedule"

"Inish...are you aware that you sang that entire schedule?" she asks slowly and clearly.

"I beg your pardon?" He says "Did you just say I sang it?"

"It rhymed and everything." August confirms.

Unlike the others, Inish believes them, then again he hs TWO sidhe "You think I"m being pranked?"

"And had rhythm." Coradel affirms.

"It's possible, yes, but you're not alone. Still...." a sigh, and she calls out, "Shalimar! I'd very much like to see you here...right now."

"Well, clurichaun are the second most musical kith"

"Not you." He says to Innish, then looks at Coradel. "Me."