#earthrunes

"Oh" He says "I forgot, you didn't... oh it's bad" they head out and he explains "Okay, near as I know, some jerk comes up to Sir August... pretends to be a DeBuke.... smearing their good name... he's actually one of the man sons of this nutbar bad guy with a family cult thing going. Anyway, this guy uses Sir August's friendship with Sir Earl to lure him in... clubs him.. and carried him off. Then this OTHER offspring of said Balor cult guy, presents herself all brassy and big mouthed to Baroness Coradel and says 'We have your trueheart and if you mess with us we'll kill him, we want Miss Zara' only it wasn't that nice"

Sylvi's eyes go wide. "Miss Zara? What did they want her for? Is she okay? Is Sir August okay?"

"Short version yes and hopefully he'll be fine. You want the long version?"

She nods. "Yes. What happened then?"

They move on down the hill in the faerie tour of the land... the Baroness has influenced the dreaming and there seems a perpetual rainbow over the hold they can see behind them.

Sylvi pauses to appreciate the rainbow, but she's still focused on the tale.

"Let's see.." He continues "Naturally, the Baroness was FURIOUS, and scared... what everyone thought she had done was collapsed and shrunk into her room weeping helplessly. Good ruse.... it fooled the bad guys. Actually she snuck out and got help from folks that the Balor cult guy didn't know. Hadn't spied on. And she, and Miss Zara, and the others made this plan.. three front attack and deception mixed."

"Wow. That's pretty sneaky for a Fiona, if you don't mind me saying. I'd sort of expect her to go RAAAAAHHHH and charge in, wouldn't you?"

"Yup. She had advisors but I don't know what they said to her.. but yes , it was subtle. And we may not know the whole story for weeks... but the barones wore Miss Zara's face, and while she distracted The mad Balor .....Miss Zara and Earl worked inside the hold... and..when it was all done... The Mad Balor was cursed, and slain, and Sir August brought home, very wounded, very hurt, but alive."

Sylvi takes a deep breath and lets it out with an amazed whistle. "That's...wow...I know that's the short version, but it sounds like something that a bard would want to take a stab at."

"Oh you better believe they're pondering... Shalimar was there... but.." A sigh "You ever try to get a straight saga out of a pooka?"

She rolls her eyes. "You've met Connor. Sometimes I've had to babysit him."

"Anyway, Sir August was in a coma for a bit, but he's better now... Healer Emma saved his brain is what folks are saying. But who can be sure of what damage lingers? " They are now outside the hold proper and in mortal lands and a car pulls up.

"Brain damage...that's...oh, I hope not...." She frowns, then regards the car curiously. "Somebody you know?"

"Kind of..." He smiles "We live outside the city by a bit"

The window opens, and there's a sound of horses straining at the bit

Horses? Curious, Sylvi tries to get a better look at the inside of the car.

"You ordered a Hoofer?" the driver says

There's a horse pooka inside. The lady has a driver's cap and a long face

Sylvi smiles. "Oh, that's excellent."

"Sure did" Colton says "Thanks, H.R."

They slip in the back.

"H.R.?" Sylvi asks Colton.

He does open the door for her. "It's all she answers too. I think it's initials but..." he shrugs

"H.R.... stands for Henritta Riley" The horse pooka says

Colton mutters 'Last week it stood for Holly Rebecca"

Skeptical but nodding, Sylvi says, "Nice to meet you, H.R. I'm Sylvi."

"NO.... " she sahys stunned, "My cousin's roomate's second cousin has a gold fished named Syvli...wow," the driver is agog "Small world" And they drive on "So, Hoofer rides... first time, or have you been swindled before?"

"She's joking, the price is fair" her boyfriend says

And OFF they go.

And somewhere during the ride, Sylvi does sneak a kiss from her boyfriend.

oh he's happy she's being 'sneaky'

(End scene)

********************
Later.........

A knock at the door again, softly

August, laying prone and watching the ceiling (not in the NICE way) blinks and says softly. "Come in?"

Once more, a head, wet slick blonde hair, lovely large blue eyes.... One he knows but not in this way, peeks in "Hey, thought I'd give it another go..."

"Ah......."

"Karen. From study group?" She brushes her hair with a gloved finger.

"....oh goodness, she looks better."

The selkie blushes "Bad time?"

No, August hadn't noticed the sluagh, but there she is...

"K.... Karen?" Startled, shoving himself upward..... oh, not that good an idea.

"Zara...." captured.

"Zara?"

A sigh, and gentle hands to keep him down.

"The opossum said to adjust the bed. One moment, aye?"

"Are you ok?" Urgently, and he reaches for her.

"Hello, miss. Please, take a seat." She pats August's hand and croons. "It's alright. Let me fix the bed, nu?"

"Oh," Karen turns, "So you're Zara. Ah, nice to meet you?" She steps in cautiously.