#earthrunes

Zara does not often go out to the front of Earth Runes hold, oh maybe the gardens by moonlight, but mostly it's her library , perhaps the corner of a court room or a visit to the seer. Yet one morning, while looking for Earl who is supposed to be about somewhere, she goes out front, looks down the early morning road and sees Shalimar pull up in a car...

a much nicer one that she recalls him having.

He pulls up, hands the keys to one of the valets of the hold, gets out, kisses his hand then pats the car, and heads in for work.

Velvet whispers, "As far as I know, Miss Zara, the Baroness did not buy him that car... and he could not afford it ..." A pause "before"

She raises an eyebrow. "...Vashti."

"I do not know, but if she were my sister, I would make sure she were not being taken advantage of" a small hmph

"Indeed."

Velvet says then "it is good to have you back, miss zara. while I am fond of many here, there is always a shortage of those who are shall way say fully educated in certain ettiquettes"

She nods. "Others... well, they mean well. But no, their manners are never quite... " Eloquent shrug.

"sadly" she agrees with a headbob and watches the valet drive the car off more skillfully than the skunk did. " I am most curious as to the demise of Paler, when one has time?"

Her lips thin. "I am afraid I did not spend especial attention on his passing. It was... swift..."

"Ah, a pity, that you have few details, not that it was swift. as a generality, i wish no suffering on any creature, perhaps the baroness will remember more," she seems very disappointed

"The Dreaming is not great for details, unfortunately."

"alas" she agrees, "within the mists one might find the greatest secrets of all, and then lose oneself in the finding of them. cruel balance. should i learn any more details from the baroness, would you like to know of them?"

"Ah... thank you, but I needn't. I would prefer to hear more of your research as a whole."

A rictus and toothless grin on such a young face "oh, i shall. it's nice to have others understand. i should leave you to your pursuits. Tylar and I tried to keep the library as you left it, though some of the younger ones made it difficulty .. apparently because there is a book called 'good night moon' Enri insisted there must be a 'good morning, sun'

"

...

Sigh. "Of course he did."

"But Bronte minded you well?"

"Bronte is a joy, and while she has her own mind, in the defense of the library she is adamant" the sluagh admits

"She is a fierce guardian, aye."

"the childlings certainly think so." She agrees, "one tried to eat a rather leaky PBJ in the library, oh what a lecture that little dragon gave"

"In... I am gone for but a few days, and the library becomes a commissary?"

"thanks to squire tylar, myself, and bronte, it did not- though efforts were made" A sigh "I fear I lack your reputation for dangerous witchery" a sigh

"Ahhh, you must needs cultivate it. It shall grow, surely."

"one dreams" she says "it will be so much easier when we are proper crones, stooped with age and dark knowledge, our whispers crackling like dull embers sizzling an auger work" a happy thought "perhaps i shall develop a hunch in my back"

"Hm. Perhaps you need a familiar?"

" i have considered it, cats are traditional but so far i just do not have the knack others of our kith do for gathering a companion of ill omen"

"Have you considered a quest?"

"yes, but i'm saving my quest for secrets of souls departure, the dreaming won't like it if I pester it constantly with quests i suspect?"

She raises an eyebrow. "Think you that you get but one quest? No, no - we learn from every deep trip."

"well.. sir august needs me" sheepish

"Of course. But... do not limit yourself, aye?"

"oh, no, I suppose it's just, well, i have not made it a priority and there are so manythings to learn. still" wistful look, "I am told my great aunt used to have a nightmare chimera, a great black unicorn that chased virgin maids by moonlight assuring them their purity was no protection from the dark. Ah... envy"

"There is time yet. You will see." reassuring.

"you are kind, thank you, anyway, i should leave you to your own interests as I have intruded enough. I fear tylar is a bad influence" a sigh "boggans you know?"

"Aye. I know." A smile. "My mother is boggan-kin."

"Ah yes, then you know how contagious they can be in their way, meaning no offense to thy mother. back to studies for me," she spreads her hand across her chest in a sort of kithain salute of farewell

Zara splays a hand on her chest. "May you learn much, cousin."

"and may you always find your shadow loyal" and Velvet slips away

zara is left with much to question, the source of a new car, and which childlings are deciding to make a commissary of her library as soon as she's away?

A sigh, and she goes too check on her tomes... just in case.

There is GUM under a table!

August might hear a very soft litany of yiddish curses from under a table.

August opens the library door and takes the tray from Tylar with a nod of thanks. He steps inside and heels the door shut softly.... and listens.....

Not just one gum either. One here, one there... two molded together in the same spot!

Hisssssss. Scrape scrape scrape.

August sets the tray down on the desk and slowly, softly, crouches. He looks.