#earthrunes

She thinks, and sighs. "How horrible would it be for me to knight her for no good reason whatsoever?"

"You can do that, if you wish." August observes.

"But...?"

"No 'but.' You can knight her if you wish, at any time."

"But why wouldn't the baron have simply done that?" she muses.

"Hmm...." She pours herself another cup of tea and ponders.

((pause))

"Maybe... ah. I could look to see if he left a record."

"That's a good idea. Also...I should ask Shalimar. I think, if the Baron confided his thoughts in anybody, it would likely have been Shalimar.

"Or... yes." He nods. "You're much better at understanding him than I am."

A fond smile. "It takes a little work, but yes. I can usually figure him out."

August nods, and takes up his tea again to sip.

She watches him a bit.

He clears his throat. "I, ah, I asked Zara to talk to Ms. Shadecandle. Let me know if she thought it would be a good fit. I thought I might ask Delores to talk to Tylar?"

"Both good ideas. Hmm...Zara isn't titled, or she might be a fine one to take the sluagh for a squire."

A shy smile. "She's not interested in titles, but I agree. She'd be great. She cares about -everyone.-"

"She's more than earned a title, if she were interested."

"I agree. She... ah... if not for her, I would not have remembered you." He blushes lightly. "But she isn't. I think the library makes her happy, though. I know I'd be in the weeds without her, there."

A gentle smile, and she rests her hand on his. "I am ever in her debt, then."

His face lights up with a smile.

"I've offered to go on a quest for her, to help her with... well, something going on. She says no." A little disappointed, but not diminishing at all the warmth of his expression.

"Is she in trouble?"

He shifts uncomfortably. "Ah. Not... at this moment. As far as I know."

A narrow look for a moment, but then she shrugs. "Well...if there's anything I can do to help, you let me know."

"It's just... she's very private. She can't help it!"

"Oh, I understand..." A sip. "But...I think she shares with you."

"Some... sometimes."

She's quiet, listening.

Finally he says, "Sometimes she shares. Not everything, of course. But... we're friends. I mean, we have been for a few years now." He blinks. "Wow. Years."

"Yes." Quietly. "A long time."

He watches her nervously.

"Ah. Well. Not... I mean, not as long as you and I. That is, I mean, not as long as we can remember. Kind of. Ahh..." he finally stutters.

A concerned look. "August...why does talking about her make you...." A reassuring smile. "August, I don't mind."

"Make me what?" Nervously.

"Well...you started stuttering."

"That means you're nervous."

"She's a sluagh. I mean, you know that. But ... I don't want to hurt her by ... well, talking about her."

"But...you were talking about you, August. Surely you can talk about your own part of the friendship. Or...your own feelings."

"We were?" He frowns, searching.

Footsteps

"What... what do you.... I mean, how can I be ..."

Coradel looks in the direction of the approaching footsteps.

August glances, but is more concerned with Coradel.

It would appear Willow is trapped by troubadours "All, I'm saying is the song would be a hit with our kind of crowd" Stevi says /// "Not I am part of the crowd" Gideon protests//"Why are you two asking me again? I'm just now, what's the term, chrystalised?" Willow inquires//"That's what makes you perfect for it.." Then turn and then see the two together, and Gideon bows, followed by Stevi. Willow does the same

August rises.

"Hello, you three," Coradel smiles.

"Pardon us, Baroness..." Gideon says "We were discussing summer song ideas for the next holiday"

"Songs for...Pranksgiving?" A dubious look.

August stands quietly.

"Highsummer, technically" Stevi says "But yes, the pooka claim it." Stevi says then for Willow's benefit tells the troll, "The 17th of this month, the hottest part of the summer and epitomizes laughter, joy, and freedom. It also provides an excuse to gather as much Glamour as possible from the heat dreams of humans and while the festival continues the fae are permitted to toy with any mortal they encounter. The Highsummer festivities allow us for one brief day, to use mortals unashamedly as playthings, and indulge in jests and pranks."//"Still no reason to brutalize wholesome songs" gideon says

August looks a little glum.