#earthrunes

..........

Coradel steps out of the trod, in all haste... the sluagh like guise on her , now touching the mortal world once more, starts to break apart... the effect is oddly cinderella like

She enters the Autumn world at a sprint, bursting free of the silvery flakes of the false mein that had encased her with hardly a break in stride, and flicking her blade away as she calls out to the Thane on duty, "Where is he? Is he safe?" She keeps running for the hold even as she asks.

"Halt, whoever you... "A pause from oswald "Baroness? Is that you? Wait, who is in your chamber then?"

She cannot be bothered with explanations, and races for the door. She bursts in, calling out, "Where is August?!"

"This way, Baroness..." a voice whispers, Velvet the sluagh squire then a sigh "I fear your wonderfulness is falling away, forgive rhe indelicacy.... my liege is in Emma's care, after the boggan of Greaser did help a bit more."

The possum is rather frantically at work - she's already stripped august to his smalls, and is washing filth from his wounds.

Ray is there , his own guise gone, now uglhy oncee more...

August's worse damage is about the head, blow to blow, choking...

but some of the healing , first at Greaser, and now from Emma has made him at least recognizable

Ray, to be fair, has been gifted with a flower crown AND a kiss on the cheek.

Coradel follows Velvet's lead, and cries out at once on seeing August's wounds again. "August..." she flings herself to her knees at his side, reaching to grip his hand. "Healer Emmaline, what can I do? I'll do anything...."

"But you won't do that? Oh, surely, it might do the least passing bit of good to speak to him. So little good, why would you even bother, cherie?"

Ray says "he's sidhe. He'll be pretty again."

She spreads a sharp-smelling green goo on the worst bruises.

Coradel looks briefly over at Ray, a grateful smile as she seems to notice him for the first time. "Ray, I am indebted to you for your service. You excelled in your work. Thank you." But then her focus is absorbed by August again. "August...August, it's Coradel. You're at EarthRunes, my love. You're safe at home. Home. You're here, safe. Paler is gone. And...Zara is safe, too. He cannot hurt her anymore."

Ray nods "I'm ah... gonna go eat a table or something..." He says "If you don't mind me hitting your larders? The hunger is still... strong"

August...perhaps hears, or perhaps the goo Emma uses is working to clear up a face, because.. a smile might be there just a little at that news

Coradel looks up and nods, then says, "Velvet, please, ensure that Ray is given much to eat, at my orders."

"See? Talking does nothing!"

Coradel half smiles herself at the glimmer of a response, but she's weeping as well. "And...and now Emma is healing you. Many worked to rescue you, August. Many helped. You will recover. I promise. And I'm here...."

She hums a little to herself as she threads a wickedly curved needle.

Velvet nods "This way, Goodcap Ray" Velvet says "Tell me, did you kill anyone in the Dreaming? Do you remember the look in their eyes perchance?"

Ray eyes her "You're a weird kid" But follows

As thsoe two go out, another comes in, Delores "How.. how is he do... "Then she sees the damage "Oh" Distressed

"Bonjour, Dolorous Delores."

"Oh, Delores...it was so much worse..." Coradel turns an expression of pure pain to her friend.

And... careful stitching, drawing now-clean wounds closed.

Delores embraces Coradel "He's going to be fine. Emma's the best healer around"

"Ha! Because I am the worst gardener!"

Delores chuckles at that ,but her own eyes are wet in sympathetic tears with her baroness and friend

Coradel is weeping openly, but managing to continue talking to August, holding his hand. "You will be better, August. And...and we have home shopping this summer, remember? And...our wedding to plan. And then college here, next year. You will be well recovered for all of it, but first you will be better, and then a good summer's rest, I think."

August does not respond.

But Delores soothes and agrees that yes everything will be fine.

And of course, she weeps beautifully. "He...looks so much better than he did, Delores. And better still since I've arrived, Emmaline, thank you."

"Currently Claire is wearing your face and in your bed room keeping the act up. Oh she's not happy wit hthe part. Leonora actually lured an agent of Paler's out.. oh did he regret that. I have more reports but they will wait unless you say otherwise"

"Just you wait, he'll be a regular topiary when I'm through..."

"No! No, Delores, I want to hear. So does August, though he may need to be reminded. But somebody should release Claire from her duty. I perplexed Thane Oswald as I returned. Oh, August...if you had seen. I wore Zara's appearance, and we defeated him together. She was brave and clever."

Delores says "I'll give the report, in here so you and your beloved can hear. But let me flag someone down to send word to Claire" SHe steps out only a moment

"Thank you." She has never released August's hand, and she strokes and soothes it. "Oh, you will see, August...you will feel so very well, I promise you. This, now? This is but a temporary pain. You will recover so completely that this will be...be only the faintest memory."

"Amnesia!"

Deleores comes back "Word is on its way. No doubt she'll rush straight here. Sparrow will be told too... she was the one really in charge, of course. But we couldn't let folks kknow that or the ruse would fade. She's been handling things beautifully. You'd be proud. Both of you" She remembers to talk to August

Coradel nods. "August and I will see to it that all are suitably recognized and rewarded for their great service." A gentle squeeze of August's hand.

"Now... this is VERY precise work, no room for error..." She places a cool cloth in Cora's free hand. "You must find the exact words and stroke his forehead with this."

"And we have.. a new sidhe. Said he was ready if needed. The Countess sent him. Ivory"

delores does smile at mention of the 'very precise'

A grateful smile to the healer and a nod, and she leans closer to dab the cloth gently over August's bruised brow. "Ah. August, the Countess even sent aid to help retrieve you, do you see? Delores, I wish to meet with Ivory, but not just now, I think you'll understand."

"Of course" Delores smiles "He can wait a bit longer. " Then to August "Sir August, your squires have been amazing. Velvet was waiting for your bride's return, and I can't begin to say how much my kithbrother has done"

"Yes, August, you have chosen will in squires. Velvet was ready as soon as I returned. And...you may remember Ray from Greasers? He was here before. He's the one who brought you back when we got you free of Paler. He followed orders perfectly."

Delores ponders "Perhaps a commendation, or a knighting? "