#earthrunes

"...Earl, that is a costly gift. Thou knowest."

"i'm been getting there, yes" He says to Sir August, then a look to Zara, with a smile "zara, i love you. costly isn't the worry"

"Change is good, I know. But.... change is scary, too."

A faint frown.

"Well.... good."

"What will the Uncles do, with me gone? What if Miriam comes home?"

"I think, especially if you asked, your Uncles would call you right away if Miriam came home."

August nods agreement.

"...Aye."

"It's silly, to want to stay home..."

"I'm seventeen. I'll be an adult in July."

"Not silly, "he shakes his head "You are loved there. You worry for them."

"It's a difficult thing, even for me with my parents. My host's parents."

"Aye. But part of me... part of me wants to be away. Yes." Cheek flush a pale pink and dark eyes flick briefly over at Earl.

"That's natural, Zara."

Earl gives a reassuring look back

"I do not know what it will bring."

"It is inauspicious to read one's own da'an..."

"Would you want Uncle Emmit to read it?"

"You could ask someone else to rea... yeah."

"Jinx?" A chuckle at August

"....I could..."

August nods. "Jinx."

"zara, I think everyone who loves you wants you first and foremost to be happy. You want to be a librarian. It's the first thing that came up when August mentioned priorities. I think that's not an omen, but it does reveal something important. You have friends, family, resources, and.well.. me. You pick the college you think will help you realize the dream of being a librarian most , and we will all help with the other areas."

"That's.. my opinion, of course"

August nods agreement again.

She bites on her lower lip and nods.

"Somewhere quiet, then. A good school, but... not so crowded. Not a sea of people shouting all the time."

He nods and pulls out a piece of paper and a pine, and writes down "Quiet. Good school. Not crowded"

"And somewhere you can go to ... retreat. When you need to."

He looks at her to see if she agrees

A fervent nod.

"A haven."

And writes "haven"

"Access to a bale, to trods.... that would be nice."

"If I can get to Firnost, I can get anywhere."

"Trod Access, Bale in short journey" he writes

"Part of that 'good school' should include Library Sciences, specifically." August adds.

"that's true, Firnost opens up almost on a whim and lasts for years"

"Well, in the end that's a Master's... a good ENglish program could also serve, for undergrad."

"True."

"Anything else a factor?" A tilt of head "Maybe less important further down?"

"It needs to be a good school."

A fond smile. "What would make it -good-? Reputation?"

"Aye? To make Papa proud."

"Somewhere Mr. Schwartz would approve of. Hm. Could just make a list based on these other reasons and let him pick?"

"No! I know what the good schools are..."

"Oh... ok." Hesitant.

"I think Papa might secretly be rooting for Harvard."

"How do you feel about Harvard?" carefully.