#earthrunes

Not to mention the weaponizeation of it.

In the hallway, Coradel pauses and looks to Sparrow and August. "Perhaps we should meet in a room close to the Library? Quiet and...convenient."

She nods. "Here are some notes from Slug - very informative." She passes them on to Cora .

August nod and follows to the adjacent chamber.

"Lovely. Poor...whats-his-name." She waves a hand carelessly back at at the dungeon. "If he'd chosen to cooperate when asked, he'd be a good deal warmer now. Slug, come and sit with us." She gestures him into a small but nicely appointed room with a small meeting table. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

She's perusing the notes as they enter the room.

"I believe the librarian keeps tea supplies next door..."

Slug is put in a seat "Ah, thank you.. no no tea please. It's not.. tea is special. "

"Oh, Deryn, would you be so good as to ask her if we may borrow them?"

Slug looks deeply ashamed.

A blink. "Well, I'd like some tea, at any rate."

"oh um.. of course, it's just.. to drink tea together is..." he hangs his head "After my manners, and what I did... treating me like a guest when I've done what I've done"

"Not a sluagh, I do not claim to understand the intricacies of tea. AUgust is more experienced than I am."

It would appear some odd kith centric thing is bound up here

Coradel doesn't respond to his comment directly. "Explain to me what you were saying about your mother?"

August plays mother.

"my mom, she's got medical bills I ca't afford... that's..that's why I took this job. That and.. I always been told the Shadow Court would save us from sidhe tyranny"

He looks miserable "But mostly I did it for the money"

Almandine comes in, a bag of clothes in his hand he bows to both ladies

Coradel is about to respond to Slug when the Eiluned arrives. "Ah, Sir Almandine. Thank you. This is Slug, one of Delores's would-be abductors. And I see you've found the belongings of the other. Can you help us determine more about those who would hire these two to do the Shadow Court's bidding?"

"I took the liberty of casting on it" He admits "Chronos revealed much, but I'd like to cast on slugh as well and thus have two sources?"

"I expect you'll comply with this, Slug?"

"yeah yeah Im ean, yes"

Coradel nods to Almandine to proceed.

The Seer circles about the fellow, widdershins, and chants "Be kind, rewind, be kind, rewind"

And time unspins and... "Redhead... dark purple, long gloves.... Stop!" He makes a gesture "Theree... " As he sees what they cannot "The gloves... the fingers are wrong... she's hiding a deformity. Balor I suspect. Her features hidden or at least she's trying... Stop." He says again "Shoes... lady's boots...but a monogram peeks out.. 'L.D?'"

"L. D." Coradel echoes, and watching August taking copious notes.

"Right hand by the way" He adds.

"She never shook hands" Slug says "Went on about the court wanting justice ffor what was done to it and for the commoners"

"yes," The seer says "her accent... I can't quite place it... "

"Texan" Slugh says "It was texan. I remember now"

"Hmph. Talk about commoners, you should see our Key Club..."

"Yes, I think there are plenty of other avenues for dealing with my 'tyrrany' other than Shadow Court. Safer, too."

"i ... sorry I had bad encounters with nobls.. and the money..." slug says

"Well, he's not lying about his mother..." The Seer says "if it matters. Even now I can see him pounding his fist against a door frame, feeling helpless, impotent, as his mother assures him she'll be fine, but her breathing turns into ragged wheezes"

slug looks exposed and mutters 'bit rude"

"Herr Doktor might be able to make a difference. He did wonders with my wing."

"She is kinain..." Coradel confirms, consulting the notes.

"Faint blood, barely" The seer says "must have mostly skipped her"

"she's my mother" slug says testily at the Seer

then coughs "Sir"

"I don't think he meant any insult, Slug."

"She is ill and in need."

"yes, baroness.. I ..sorry."

The Eiluned shrugs. He's no sentimentalist

"Your ladyship, it woudl seem the Shadow Court have not forgotten you. I had thought the Duke and Duchess' purge had driven them out. It would appear they're rebuilding, or trying to?" The seer says "Forgive me for stating the obvious"

"Hm. Do you think she's really Shadow Court, this LD person? Or merely using the term for some other purposes, to manipulate people into helping her?"

"A good point, it is rather blatant" The Seer says "What do you think, Regent. You and the Baroness have fought them more directly than I "

Slug says "if she was'n't court, wasn't she taking a big risk pretending to be?"

"Mm, yes, I suppose...if you believe in the Shadow Court. Some think it no longer exists, but will throw the name around to scare those who think it does."