#earthrunes

The pale sidhe raises a few brows, given the stories flowing around of a Balor named 'Paler'

But he's not treated hastily, just oddly

When he asks about a miss Zara, he is directed to the library.

Ivory looks more athletic than berfore, training, months of intense training have given his form a bit more tightness that even his voile doesn't conceal.

Zara looks up as he arrives, hearing his approach.

He enters in, "Hello."

That's whether he sees her or not.

"Hello. Look at you! You look well."

"Thanks. It's the result of several months of Aesin boot camp" He says "I train to have a chance against Paler, how to survive, how to fight, a bit of magic... they even sain me early to throw things off... and what happens? I missed the final book in the trilogy and the dark lord is dead? Is that true?"

"You... were sained early?" A frown. "I knew not. The Dreaming is not safe for a fledge..."

"But aye, Paler is dead."

"You saw... of course you did" He nods, "Is it wrong that my one regret is I wasn't the one who did it?"

"No. Not wrong. I did not do it, either. The Baroness did."

A pause. "If you are sained - have you a name you prefer, now? We need not cloak your identity in secrecy. A Liam, aye?"

"I've gotten used to Ivory," He admits "Works for me...even if it's a bit un PC. And yes... though man, the Count encouraged me to take on antother House"

"Well, Aesin..." A gentle shrug. "Truth, your house is rather irked with me for hiding you."

"If my being hidden is the worst thing that's going on with the House, then we're doing great" Ivory says with wry humor, then "I know you don't owe me anything, you saved my life, but I do wish you kept me in the loop. I told the Countess it seemed u nfair I was clueless and you would think I was speaking ancient Mayan or something to her... she just looked at me and says 'my kith are their secrets' whatever the heck that means" A sigh

"Well, exactly."

"What exactly?" Baffled. Oh so sidhe

"And... well. You had, so far, been relatively free of him. I did not wish harm upon you. You are my blood, at least mortally..."

"The Countess is a sluagh, and a Beaumayn. She is made of more secrets than I."

"No kidding... I tried prying into her affairs once... holy shit."

Then a cough "Pardon my language, just it got scary fast"

"Well - an important lesson."

A wry smile. "I do hope your fosterage was satisfactory?"

"Fantastic, I almost soil my breaches and you approve of my educational moment. Now I really do believe you're my sister," Not without humor "It was... a pain a times. The Count pushed hard to try to make me into a warrior, and the Countess, when it was her turn, pushed just as hard to make sure I was a schoalr, she said it was important to Liams as a House. What, one slacker would break them?"

"Especially so condensed... but, aye, better to be prepared. Have you had the chance to meet housemates, yet?"

"Yes. There's a redcap knight of the house that you might remember. Now talk about interesting house lessons 'If you ever ravage I will bite your damned head off and floss with your hair' is an interesting one"

A soft chuff, amused.

"Anyway I was ready to come to your aid, your assistance, even your rescue, but rumors are it wasn't you who needed rescuing.. .and then I find out it was another Liam. I dont know the guy save by reptuation, but is Sir August okay?"

"He is doing much better, aye. And I should introduce the two of you - he was tasked with finding you, and I would give him the chance to present you formally to the House."

"If that's an official request, then I'll go along with it. I might gripe, I might grumble, but you saved me from a fate worse than death and I DO owe you," Ivory admits

"I fain to contemplate what he would have done, had he gotten you in his grasp. But you will like August."

"Somehow I doubt it, Sir August makes more waves than I plan to." He says "And the countess certainly has plans for him"

She sits up a bit straighter. "Sir August is one of my dearest friends."

"Oh sorry, I thought yo usaid 'be like August'" he realizes his misunderstanding

"Yes, I'm sure I'll like him"

"I am sure you shall 'be like Ivory,' whatever that may mean."

"Right now it means I have no idea what to do with my training but I'm glad I can wander freely or whatever. Now, technically I'm a brother. I hear you are dating a Sir Earl? Do I need to lean on this guy, make sure he'll treat you right? Warn him if he breaks your heart I'll knock him around? " Is he serious? No.. his eyes are sparkling with humor despite his attempt at a straight face. He is not serious.

"Mmm - no offense, brother mine, but I think I may be more frightening than you."

"But I do appreciate the offer."

"Well, it's open, and you probably are." A frown, "the ones loyal to him? Were they rounded up? Or... do we have to worry about less than friendly siblings? Do you know?"

"There are still some siblings loose, and I know not the sentiments of all.... and Balor remains what Balor is, a house of iron and slaves."

"Oh I'm not going to make nice with them any time soon. " He says "Not all Balor are Paler, but Paler wouldn't have been Paler without Balor, at least that's how I see it. If there were one House I'd like to see cease to be, that would be it. " He snaps his fingers "That reminds me, the countess has something she wanted to pass onto you. A gift for your service"

She raises an eyebrow.

He reaches into a small satchel case, and then.. a book larger than the satchel comes out of it somehow. A fanny pack of holding perhaps? The book is hard cover, dusty even after being pulled out of the bag so that she may have to blow or even brush it to make out the title. It looks to be from the 20th century though. SHe's seen older by far.

He hands it over to her "With her regards"

She tilts her head. "Please, return my thanks..." a touch distracted, as she seeks the title.

Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov, first print of the 1959 English Translation.

"Oh!" Delight.