#earthrunes

She shakes her head.

He squeezes her hand, dropping the one at her cheek. "Zara. Ok, look... if you were Veiled, and he were distracted, and you were hiding.... could you strike him with your magic?"

She nods.

"Ok, so what about at Firnost? Or just outside it, to avoid violating the Escheat? Earl could hide you and stand with you to protect you, I can distract him. Then I'll take him to Count Jude, like with Tantalus."

"...Jude released Tantalus."

"But he hasn't been any trouble since, right?"

She frowns.

"Paler is a murderer, a rapist... he should never, ever be allowed to hurt another..."

"And... rumors, aye, of Tantalus... collecting people again..."

"Soothsay is... unpredictable. I cannot be certain what Fate will land upon him. I can guess, can hope - karma earned, aye? What is due to him, from his acts..."

"But... rumors of Tantalus?" Clearly, news to him. He's flustered, sitting back. "Ok. Ok, well. I could speak with Count Jude, ask that Paler remain in custody."

"We know he will be at Firnost, he says as much in his letter..."

"Well?" Eager to leap at it.

"You, and I, and Earl..."

A pause. "Coradel is a Baroness. He could not Dictum her."

August recoils slowly. "I... I don't want to put her at risk."

"And... no." She frowns. "Sovereign is... unfair. Too much risk for you, with that on the table."

"I'd point out that he's used the same, or worse, but you're right; we should rise above that." He pauses. "Count Jude, of course, is likely to use it to secure his capture."

"I mean... he might be able to hurt you with it. You are both knights."

August lifts his chin. "I'm strong."

She nods. "You are."

He nods back. "I might be able to hurt him!"

"Aye..."

"Ok, so?"

Footsteps, familiar to Zara as a heartbeat in her chest by now. Earl is coming into the library

She hastily scrubs at her face again.

"What?" Intent at her actions.

"Earl..."

"What about him?"

Earl enters in "Zara I..." then he blinks to see August, but only for a second, this is an open library and who else would it likely be "Hi you two, bad timing?" Then his eyes fall on Zara's face where she's rubbed.. and been crying

August is obviously concerned, but turns and nods. "Hello, Earl."

"Love." A whispered greeting.

Earl moves to her and kisses her hand "I was going to ask if you wanted a meal, I can bring a small specially prepared bowl for you. " A glance to her cheek, which he touches only lightly "but you may not be in the mood. Are both of you okay?"

August nods.

She nuzzles her cheek against his hand, eyes closing. "I am not hungry, but thank you. And.. I.. I was telling August of the letter..."

"Yes, wise." A nod and he says to August "What do you think?" His eyes drift to the doorway while they talk

"I think we should take him, like we took Tantalus, and deliver him to Count Jude." Firmly, even aggressively. He wants to DO something.

"Just the three of us?" Earl says "I almost pictured you calling the trumpet and getting us a score of House Liam's warriors. Not meaning that cruelly, I admit a p[art of me would welcome it"

"I don't know how he is in a fight, not truly. I know he deceives.... "

"He's a craven, a coward. I doubt it would fight, or not fight fair."

"Not fight fair, not at all..."

"Which is why we need to... to overwhelm, aye?"

"Let's not forget he's a psycho and thus we can't assume too much. He's mad, on edge, and ..well, not unpredictable so much as his own madness some crazy things will make sense."

August nods, running his fingers through his hair. "Maybe... maybe we should call on someone of greater rank."

"I thought... I thought, mayhaps, to call fate upon him. But there is great risk to you and August, aye? If you were to be there to distract him? I would wish, perhaps, other warriors..."

"And... and I cannot... if you were to be harmed..." Her voice quails.

"It would be a wound I would carry with honor." He says gently.

Earl looks at her, "Lover, August and I have taken dings before, even wounds, and we have bled. I can think of no greater reason to risk harm than for the woman I love to take down a monster like him. "

"And I've been hit pretty bad." He grins, and nods agreement with Earl.

She swallows. "I hate this."