#earthrunes

"Oh, _that- is where he went..."

August leads her out of the manor house and into the forest surrounding. "I've been running through here."

Zara follows, looking around. "Tis lovely."

Through warm, dappled, green and brown. The air smells of warm loam, here, and the sunlight is muted by the journey through leaves and branches.

She can hear... hm. Yes, water over rocks.

Zara perks.

"Oh..." a gentle tug on August's arm, towards the water.

He is already leading her that way and soon they come upon a trickling stream in the warm woods.

"Is this what you wanted to show me?"

"Yes." quietly.

"Wonderful!" She pulls away to kneel on the bank.

He releases her to do so. "Yours."

"Pardon?" Pale fingertips trail in the water - still cold and bright beneath the sun-dappled air.

He sits and removes his socks and shoes, rolling up his pants as he says. "It's yours. As much as it can be. I know it's not...... but.... I talked to Coradel and she, ah, enthusiastically approves. We want you to have it."

She tilts her head. "I don't... "

The sluagh trawls her hand in the water. "Mine?"

"Yes. So far as it is in EarthRunes."

"I don't know what to say..." But a smile hints at the corners of her grey lips. "I did not know this was here..."

"I found it on one of my runs." He wades in. "Cold!" A grin.

"Aye! It should be!" She follows suit, folding up her leggings and kicking off her shoes. She flexes her uncannily long toes before wading in after the Liam.

He offers a hand with an easy smile.

She takes the hand and enters gracefully - she's sure-footed here, able to grip the rocks.

August seems familiar with walking in creek-beds, anyway, if he's not naturally equipped for it. It IS cold. "You accept? With.... my eternal gratitude?"

"Why the gift?"

He blinks. "You saved my life."

"Coradel did. I helped, mayhaps... and, oh, I would always help. I will always come for thee."

"And I, you. But from what I've been told, she would not have succeeded without you. You are powerful."

"I think she could have. She was in a good position when I cast..."

"Now, the soothsay may have drawn the force that dismantled his castle..."

"I have no doubt." He balances his way along the rocks, holding her hand. "She says you were as much a part as she was. I believe her. You are too modest."

"The plan was to break thee from a cell, but you were... were already there..." A slight stumble in her voice, remembering something.

"Bachdion told me." Gently. "It's ok."

"I hate that he hurt you."

"I'm not thrilled either, but... I'm healed. I feel fine."

"Good. Yes."

"Vashti seems most well."

"Good. She and, ah, Shalimar......?"

"They also seem happy. She.... when she fled Paler, she tried to protect him by pushing him away."

"I am glad that they can make each other happy once more."

He nods. "Good." He stops and turns to her. "Are -you- ok?"

"I...? Ah. I am fine." Brittle smile.

He looks at her closely and then shakes his head. " you're not." Rather than pull her to him, he steps closer to her, carefully.

"I am..." She falters. "You are safe, healed. His lair is in ruins. He is dead. None of the rescuers were seriously hurt. It's over. It was a triumph."

"But you're not ok. You're upset. That... that it had to happen."

"...Yes."

"I... I am not sad he is dead." A frown. "Relieved, maybe. Like how one feels when a knife has been pulled out."

"Deflated?"

"Hollow."

"I... I am not who I was. And I know not who I am, without... after..."

"He was happy. In the end, he saw this as a triumph..."