#earthrunes

A look at Zara from Karen, and she doesn't speak out loud, but a look of understanding 'you too once?'

He reaches for Karen's hand.

And seeing those looks he pinks even deeper. Zara feels a squeeze, but he doesn't look.

A shrug.

Karen takes his hand. "Far as I know it's just Karen still... could go 'something wicked this way comes ' and call me 'Narek' but not sure on that. Coradel is... she's a fairy tale princess and she clearly loves you. I'm glad."

"For what it is worth, I am Zara and Zara."

"We have .... Coradel and I, we're..... there's a long history." He explains delicately.

August turns to the sluagh. "Yes."

"Zara and Zara... good, Araz would not fit" Karen smiles "nice to know you, Zara"

"I am glad to see you in possession of yourself."

"It's good to be myself, even if it's a new me. Oh my gosh the trolls of Rivervale were so nice... one named Tove knew so much about old legends and such...and Dagmar, that's her daughter, she's like a hero... and so young. I mean, she looks like she belongs on a warrior anime poster or something. But there's still so much to get used to.. the kiths, the kinain, the courts and houses... it's like Game of Thrones meets D&D meets Alice in Wonderland. Earl tells me that I should take it all in with Tea... might help."

"Earl.... is Earl ok?" Urgently to Zara.

Karen looks ready to answer but realizes she wasn't asked.

"Earl is fine." reassuring. "We were... da'an was kind, none of the rescuers were harmed."

August is obviously relieved.

"Good, ok, good....."

"Aye. It... truth, it all seems a bit unreal yet."

"earl's your beau?" Karen asks Zara

"But then..." A sigh, darke eyes going to August's bruises.

"He is, yes."

"He's a nice guy." She says "Seems like a lot of nice guys in this new world. It's quite a change from the old one"

"I am?" He squeezes both hands lightly. "I'm getting better."

"We have our rakes and our rascals. But.... we shall find a place ot foster you, where you can be safe and protected as you learn."

"Karen, I'm not much but anything I can do.... Anything." Firmly.

"That's August, always rushing to the rescue even when he should be resting. Boy scout" Karen says "not much? you fought for me.. I remember that much. Not because I was special, but because you're the kind of guy who would fight for anyone who was helpless. 'not much'" A scoff

He shrugs.

Zara is quiet, looking down.

"I need to talk to this Baroness of yours and tell her you're over doing the modesty. She's your lady, it's a lady's job to do ego control on guys. Deflate them when they're too full of themselves and inflate when theyr'e too darn..."

The infirmary door opens again, and in comes Coradel, looking far more rested than she has recently, and wearing a delicately tailored sundress of the faintest pink. The effect is casual perfection.

"August? Oh..." She notes the others there. "You have company."

"... modest" Then the Selkie turns "oh" She rises "I forget, do I bow or..."

Zara ducks her head. "Pardon." She stands, pulling her hand away from August's.

August perks, sitting up... or trying to. He does not lose his grip on the ladies he has. "Coradel?"

A gentle smile to Karen. "You may, or curtsy, but I often a simple nod will do. We're not in court."

If Zara wants away, she may have it.

"Zara, good...I think August didn't completely believe you were safe." She doesn't seem bothered by the holding of hands.

Karen lets her own hand slide gracefully, and nods "I was just telling August... pardon, sir August, that he is a good guy and I remember him fighting to free me. And... you, Baroness. I hear went full Xena on the villain? Thanks"

She tangles her hands together. "I kept watch over him as you slept."

"Full....?"

August smiles at Zara. "Thank you."

"Thank you," heartfelt, to Zara, as she moves to August and touches his cheek, a delicate stroke.

To Karen, she says, "I'm not sure what that means, but...well...I did what needed to be done." Her smile is gone.

He turns into Coradel at her touch.

Zara fades back, out of the thick of it...

"Oh" Karen says more subdued.

"What?" he asks.

Coradel shakes her head to August. "Nothing you need to worry about, my love."

"Zara, besides the casting you did on me beforehand, you were doing some powerful workings, too. I felt it as he....there was something that contained him, I think, near the end? Or...something like, anyway."

"....I used soothsay upon him. I called upon da'an to rain fire."

The Selkie has grown quiet, her already wide eyes even more so as she drinks all this in, trying to make sense.