#earthrunes

-----------

A knock at the library 's entry way

"Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen."

"Bronte, I doubt they speak elven..." a whisper follows, before the sluagh undoes the latch.

"No I don't but I get the feeling I should," It's Leonora. The archer has come a long way from her confused first days at firnost

"Hi, Zara ,you have a moment?"

"Of course, Miss Leonora. Do you seek aught?" It appears Zara has been drinking tea and reading, to judge by the table.

"I do. I hoped for your help in a little bit of a ..well, something I'm trying to set in motion. " A smile

She raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Making her way in further if allowed, and closing the door, "As you know, Pranksgiving is soon. "

Siiiiigh. "Yes."

"I feel you, pooka can be great fun, and Shalimar is champing at the bit as are the other pooka, and some non pooka but one can be a bit well, worried about them going overboard here. That's why I found them an outlet, at least, I think I have. But intell on the outlet would help, and, unless you object, you're just the person to help"

That eyebrow creeps higher. "Do tell."

"I understand certain Dougal at Alabastar Hollow used to torment Sir August? I was wondering, what if I hinted ..suggested... certain targets to some of our jokers and jesters? "

"And Fiona. And Eiluned. The Hollow is... unkind... to those low on the totem pole."

"And fiona and Eiluned" She nods a growing smile

"Any..memories of names you would be willing to reminisce about? The cruel, the unjust? The hurtful towards a liam friend of ours?"

"Does August know of these plans? He would not approve."

She winces "No..he doesn't. And you just pointed out the reason why he doesn't."

She nods. "So you are aware. Now, I don't know if I should encourage such... if I were to say Edmund's crew and the Heathers, you might do something that went against his sense of honor..."

"Well I..." then a light comes on an she looks sheepish and grateful, "Of course. very wise of you to see that"

"I mean, August would never want anything done to Edmund ap..." She lets it hang

"And truly, the Weaponmaster... " She purses her lips. "Surely, what choice did he have but to spurn August when he defended a sluaghs honor from slander?"

A nod taking it in, "Naturally. He's a master of weapons, not ethics."

"Precisely. So while... misfortune.. has befallen Edmund... the weaponmaster? Why, what reason has he to regret his actions? Indeed, he made sure to beat the Liam's lowly status into him..."

"No puffing him up with false praise..."

"No allowing him to shirk any chore, nor do anything below the highest of standards - no matter how many attempts it took!"

Flicker of something in her eyes "what a gem..." Lower mutter "Flaws and all"

"Aye. And, truly, his rank granted him such wisdom and authority... August would do well to remember that..."

"And the Heathers? I mean, we ladies are so deliccate allowances must be made"

Zara narrows her eyes. "August was not their only target."

"And though they were no delicate flowers, how they wept when he struck back..."

"I think my former host would blend in with these Heathers" A sympathetic look at the mention of other targets " I like to think of myself as the rose that burst from that particular rich brand of fertilizer"

"They... yes, she is much of their type."

"I feared them once." Dispassionate.

"Once" She agrees, "but no longer I suspect. what names did these heathers have?"

"Alas, none are Heather. But it suited. Names you would expect - Kayleigh and Bronwyn and Marisol... Lioness and moon and hammer..."

Leonora is responding slower to talk aback than she would, but then, that's because her brain is filing away important information. "they sound like real peaches" A pause "You know hard little hearts inside of them?"

"Not so deep, for they care much about the surface."

"Their shimmer, their shine, they see that as one with a star in the sky, so far above earthly beings."

"Well, I shine myelf but I try not to be a ...ahem, pardon." She nods, "You do bring up something intresting. I mean, if one believed in karma, surely it would return for more than just one poor Liam lad's sake. "

"Surely, it was not just one Liam."

"It wasn't, and dont' call me Shirley" A pause "I'm sorry about that, I've been hanging around Shalimar"

"You think?"

"Despite slander about my house, yes" Only a hint of a smile

"Well, few houses are monoliths."

"And kiths often considered nightmarish can be good friends and allies to sidhe lucky enough to earn their trust. August has a lot to teach other Shining Host" A nod

A soft smile. "He does, if he ever realizes it."

A nod " I think I have what i need for now" She smiles

"Well, a library is the place to learn things."