#earthrunes

"I am very proud of her, without any right to be."

"Exactly I had a friend I was proud of but I didn't do anything so I dropped all pride for his sake immediately. Next week, revulsion" A chuckle

That perplexed him but he nods dutifully.

She eyes the gardens as they walk, 'Careful lord, golden hide snugglers roam these woods"

"Golden..... ??"

"Aye, long of tooth, puffy of tail....fierce" A whisper "I hear one stalks boggan maids and devours them"

"Oh, is Vince around?" Pleased, with bright interest.

A skunk tail rises

"Friends here, Shalimar!" He calls quickly.

The tail lowers

"For a moment I thought I waws going to have jump up your nostrils and sacrifice myself"

"Thank you for not doing so." Diplomatically.

She nods "NEver let it be said I won't do nothing when the call arises"

"That....that isn't how it works...."

"Work? nay, duty!" she claps him on the back "So have you orders for me?"

He starts to shake his head, then stops. "Do you recall your duties Before? In Arcadia?"

"If I could remember Arcadia, lord, I'd show you the mat we kept the keys under" A smile, "But... if knife against head I was directed to talk, I would say that patrols among the Daughters of Adam and the Sons of Eve were required, how better to protect their smoochy ways?"

Then I want you to come up with a Concordian plan for such patrols. Thank you."

She salutes "Right way my lord!" And charges off screaming "MAKE WAY, MAKE WAY, I HAVE A QUEST!"

Presumably to.. go make a plan

August sighs, watching her go. Then he pulls whatever-it-is from his pocket and stares at it carefully before continuing on, murmuring to it.

A moment later, Shalimar comes out but on two legs, "Blasted pooka, they're taking over"

"Hello, Shalimar
Every thing alrigjt?"

"Aye, Lord. I was wondering... now that you're an emperor? Can I prank you? I'm getting the shakes"

"I have never been comfortable with pranks, but I understand it is your, ah, mission. I must insist, though, no kidnapping." Firmly.

(🚗)

"But what will we do for your anniversary?"

A silly, sappy grin grows on August's face. " which one?"

A grin "The good one? Oh wait... "

He does.

A chuckle "for a man who does not sneeze you get a lot of blessings"

" I do. I am very aware of it." The young man says soberly.

"you have also sneezed on others"

" Ah.....When I can."

"mmm" A look at him, "The Wife seems to be supportive of this clubhouse"

" she is. I would not have moved forward on it without her."

"So neither of you know do you? about the thing with the thing?"

"what thing?"

Shalimar gestures in a 'follow' motion.

It could be a prank, but the jester seems to be moving with purpose

August does.

They move down a hallway, and then a twist again... he's been in this area once or twice. It's just a storage area right? And yet, the wood of the door now has the Truthbranch symbol engraved on it! That appears to be new

He tilts his head. "What is this?"

"A window?" He says looking at the door

August sighs.

Shalmiar shrugs and gestures with a' go through' motion

Puzzled, he does. Carefully.

What he was sure was a storage area not a moon ago, has been transformed. The banner of the Bannerhouse adorns the walls, as do arms and other displays, maps of concordia and The United States... and there are benches, but in the center of it, a Great Round Table Capable of sitting well over a dozen.

"Someone ordered Camelot?" Shalimar asks the new baron?

" what is all this?"