#earthrunes

"And, as yet, unanswered."

"Yes, perhaps she'll be famous for discovering some grand truth" A thought "IF She bothers to share it. Go on, seek her out, invite her. Would you like me to set up tea in here for you? You seem in fine spirits"

"Tea sounds lovely. Mayhaps the lavender blend?"

"I'll get to it right away" he assures

Zara pecks him on the cheek before slipping off to find the shy squire.

Ah, Zara knows of the spots a slugh girl might hide. One of course, the library itself, the art gallery another, but for proper indoor reading beyond those two... the ledge alcove half way up the stairs and 'down' a notch. THe boggans despair of cleaning it, so put a small tapestry over it. They have, wtihout realizing it, made a cave of sorts, one a sluagh can squirm in with a decent sized book and listen in or ignore others at her leisure

"Ah... I see you found a good spot. Should I leave you be, or would you care to join Earl and myself for tea?"

A pause, as if one was ready to protest this intrusion as the last straw and then.. "Tea?"

"Aye. Lavender. And I keep a special reserve of clotted cream..."

The tapestry opens juuust a crack and an eye peeks out "Well, it would not behoove me to reject so kind an offer. One should not give into base rudeness"

"Your manners are impeccable, cousin."

"you are far too kind, but in truth, I have been cross with some of late" she slips out, no doubt leaving her book in it's private nook, and slipping out . she falls to her knees gracefully

"And... might I add? You are always welcome in the library. The one condition is if Bronte grows curious, you allow her to see your pages... aye?"

"Somehow paying a dragon a tribute for passage seems fitting" The girl admits

"One should always pay mind to dragons."

"they are extremely proud creatures, and rightly so" She concurs "Their dream has varied, but never wavered. Why, 'Here be dragons' is etched on the soul of every dreamer where they think of mysteries wondrous and terrible alike"

"Truth! Bronte may be small in stature, but her heart is as grand as the mountains." Agreeably, as she heads back to the library with the younger wilder.

The smell of lavender tea and clotted cream is divine, and they open the library to it

"Ah, Love, you have learned me so well. Miss Velvet, please take any seat you wish."

Miss Velvet does so, Earl eases the chair out for both ladies in turn before scooting them in, "There we go, and I aim to please, my lady" He says to Zara with delight

Bronte swoops down - she does like the younger sluagh. "But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you."

Velvet beams at her, "Miss Bronte, ever a pleasure" And if within reach, a finger scritch along a ridge

Bronte claims velvet's shoulder. (The better for scritches)

"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer." Bronte opines.

"The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." The girl replies, quoting Aesop

Earl says "May I join you?" He has still not seated himself

"But of course." Zara settles in a chair.

"Velvet, do forgive my brother disturbing you. I had sent him to find August, lest her see too much kith business."

"Oh, kith business?" Velvet raises a brow 'Well, we certainly cannot have non sluagh learning of such" A sip then a slightly apologetic look to Earl.

"Quite so" Earl says with tea "Not without proper sluagh supervision and approval at the least" And he makes no inquiry into details

She nods.

"I shall be finishing high school soon, and relocating in the fall. We have hopes of establishing trod access, of course..."

"of course" Velvet says then a slightly worried look "While my liege is skilled and would allow no harm to come to it, have you plans for the library over such a distance?"

"Truth, I was thinking of appointing a deputy."

"oh? who might she be?" Velvet says curiously then as Earl looks amused, Velvet clears her throat "or he?"

"Well... it would need to be someone who understands the importance of books..."

"Aye, an avid reader would be best."

"Of certes" she says "They are crucial"

"Hmm. And they must have a proper sense of decorum. A library is not some place for... hooliganism and bubble gum..."

a stunned look "Bubble gum? Who darest?"

A long-suffering sigh.

"Childlings will be childlings" Earl says with a shrug

"And I shan't besmirch an entire kith."

"Still. So, Velvet, can you think of anyone who has those qualities? They must needs be a resident of Earth Runes, polite, mindful, a book lover..."

"Oh, I know of one who would do quite well, though... her first duty would be to her knight" hopeful

She nods. "And thus, she would need his permission."

"But... her knight also has a tie to the library, does he not?"

"He does" She says "I shall, with your permission, make inquiry with my liege on his mind of it, and return to you" A sip

"Wonderful. I think this could be a most satisfactory solution."

A smile, "I do hope thy trod can be found to give you prompt passage most often"