#earthrunes

"Well, actually, we shouldn't be easy to scry anyway , two of us have runes"

The frown goes deeper. "What have you done?" she demands of Zara, not particularly gently.

"It's not what she did, it's who sshe is, and a monster on the hunt" Earl says

Zara flinches, closing her eyes.

At Earl's words, the expression shifts to something closer to determination. "So, tell me."

"Coradel...." softly, gently.

"I...I-i-i... I have an enemy. A Balor knight."

"He... he knows I favor this place, th-that I care for many here..."

"And thus, he... he wouldst... he would bring harm here..." She twists her braid in her hands, not looking at the Fiona at all.

"A Balor." She scowls in disgust. "He's made threats?"

A timid nod.

Earl is by Zara's side.

A sound of mockery. "We have fought off threats before." She folds her arms. "Who is he, and where?" She sounds ready to go meet this Balor immediately.

Indeed, much as August looked recently. With the two of them side-by-side, you might think an army was behind them.

Or you might think Who needs an army?

"The ravaging murdering psychopath is not so easily dealt with by just hunting him down," Earl says

"He is not... he.."

"Why not? Ravaging and murdering sound like two perfect reasons to hunt him down."

"He has many to call upon. Many children to aid him."

"Count Jude could take custody of him, and hold him." August murmurs to Coradel.

"Then we go and get him without warning." An easy shrug. "They can't aid him then.

"I know not his lair, not precisely... itis in the Dreaming, and shielded..."

She sighs. "A Balor who has ravaged and murdered? Well...if he survives the fight, then fine. But I can't say I intend to be gentle for the purposes of capture, if he's made threats against Earthrunes."

To Zara, "He lives in the Dreaming all the time?"

She shakes her head, fingers twisting into a cat's cradle. "He... he has the means to appear... he.. he has a treasure, it makes him seem harmless... ch-charming, even..."

"And blurs him from scrying directly... I have tried..."

"But we've seen him, in person, and we know he'll be at Firnost."

"Aye..."

"Firnost? Why didn't you say so?" A grin. "Handsome and charming? So, he likes to seduce? Well, that's easy enough." She shifts a bit, and even just that slight movement is loaded with subtle sensuality. "So...we can't attack him at Firnost, but...if he's threatened EarthRunes, then he knows me, and would probably want to go after me if he had the opportunity. I can play the bait...and draw him to where we wish."

A soft groan. "Coradel, -no-.... a thousand times, no."

Earl blinks and blushes

"No, no no, no."

She turns a surprised look at August, and carefully echoes, "No...?" It's a challenge.

"I know not... I... he would not wish to seduce you, he... he wishes to dominate..."

"And impregnate" Earl mutters

Zara flinches again, turning scarlet.

"Please." He takes her hands and looks into her eyes. "Please, no." At Earl's comment he flinches too.

A dismissive noise at Earl's comment. "As if he'd succeed."

Then she meets August's look with one of vague annoyance. "You don't think I can resist such an approach?"

"Firnost... Firnost did not stop Golnaz from attacking me. But aye, were we to attack him there, we would be censured for breaking the rules..."

"He... he prefers commoner targets." A swallow, still flushed pink.

"Even better. He would probably want to go after me because of EarthRunes, but not be so interested in raping me as in destroying me. I can work with either, but I think you're all more reassured by the latter." A slightly amused tone there.

August rakes his fingers through his hair, distraught. "No, actually, not ok with either option."

"That's... Coradel, if I may? He's good at disguises. For all we know, he could come at you in the form of someone you would welcome. I don't think drawing his attention romantically would be wise. With respect" He says

"Well, suggest a better plan then, August." She's a bit smug, confident that she's right.

"You must needs guard your people..."

Then at Earl's words, a shrug. "Then not romantically, but merely as a political target. He has threatened EarthRunes? I am EarthRunes, embodied. Still a fine lure, with or without the sex."

"We were just talking about that. Veil Zara, let her stand near with a protector. Earl. I've seen him, I know what he looks like. I'll distract him, and Zara will cast Soothsay on him. Then Earl and I can apprehend him and turn him over to Count Jude."

Earl ponders, he can't deny Coradel's point about protecting her hold.

"You know what he looks like, even if disguised?"