#earthrunes

"And you do this, you complicate you.. " Delores bites down on something then "I would prefer you alive if slightly punctured."

August nods, accepting.

"He would have help on the quest" earl assures, "probably more than one."

"Great, more blood on my hands" Delores sighs

Another friendly smile and a staying hand on Earl's arm. August looks back to Delores gravely.

Delores eyes him, "I'm going to ask the lady of house Gwydion to read you for lies.. .and I want you to answer a question. All right?"

He nods.

"If I accept an apology, a public one, and a banishment of three days from the hold... the baroness must approve, and obviously you will still see her outside of it, do you truly believe you will respect my station and obey me when trueheart is NOT imperiled?"

Perhaps to his credit, he stops and gives the question careful consideration. "I do."

"The boon is not infallible, but he believes it to be true" Dame Nansaidh says

"Of course he does" Delores sighs "Then that is what we'll do. IF the Baroness agrees to have me accept your apology, and allows me to banish you for three days from the hold. Then accept it I will.. and so help me, if you ever endanger others under my charge again with your blatant disregard and render your honor worthless... I will take steps, because then I will be convinced you are a threat even to Coradel, trueheart or no and I will show you exactly how dangerous a 'mere boggan' can be, not for vengeance, but her sake and the sake of others."

August looks a little confused, but he nods.

"What part don't you understand?" She sighs

"Steward... you know I didn't -intend- to endanger anyone, don't you?" Timidly. "I wanted to help. And... my memories of the night aren't very clear. I -am- sorry, and I'm -not- making any excuses.... but I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

"Lovely... I Hope your memory improves, for all our sakes, or your intentions are worth less than nothing to anyone." Delores rises and looks at Dame Nansaidh "Thank you for agreeing to be my champion, Dame. It would appear it won't be required, assuming he has truly agreed and isn't simply nodding because of some spasm between a memory lapse"

"Hey," earl frowns 'This was hard for August. "

"It's ok, Earl."

He seems dejected. "Steward... forgive the question but how do you want to take this to Coradel?"

"I'll take it to her," Delores says "She might be furious, but at least the message won't get mangled. "

"Yes, ma'am."

Delores bows to the troll, "Sir Earl, I admire your support of your friend. I hope he's worth the hassle. Pardon me. I must be off."

"He's totally worth the hassle" Earl says "I mean..." A sigh

August bows to both ladies, eyes down.

The boggan goes out...scuffing past.

August keeps the bow until they've gone.

Dame Nansaidh puts a hand on the Liam's shoulder though "You are trying to do what is right, Sir August. to atone for mistakes. Both comendible. It pleases me I will not have to destroy, or humiliate you in a duel as you surely would have lost against a daughter of the High House. Give Delores time, if the apology goes well, her temper may ease."

He nods.

She walks by.

And once she is gone.

Earl says "Gwydions... how come their 'attaboys' make you want to smack em?"

He shrugs. "It was true."

"Earl...?"

"yeah?"

"Where -are- we??"

"Oh... a hotel. Want to be somewhere else?"

"No! No, that's fine.... what city, please?"

"Oh, Still Jefferson City."

He nods. "Ok. I guess I should.... ah... get back to what I was doing. I'll walk, though. Thank you, Earl." Sincerely.

"You sure you need to be alone? I can walk, you know?" He says

ANd they both head out..for how long it is together is up to August

(End Scene)