#earthrunes

August scoops up Curiosity and introduces her to Dagmar.

"You are too tiny and adorable to be real..."

Another gentle smile as the kitten pats his cheek and mews.

"Odin is more of a grumpy house goblin..."

"You have a cat?" Politely curious.

"Yeah. Odin was rescued from a hurricane - like, Frank and Dad and folks went down to help and brought back different animals who'd been lost. He's a Siamese, and only has one eye but has a LOT of opinions."

"I can imagine."

"Dad kept one of the dogs, her name is Two-Bit. She thinks she's a real dog, but she's a terrier."

"And then Chief and Frank, they agreed to keep Brown Dog at the Lodge..."

"Siv has a cat, too - Mackerel."

"It sounds like a friendly menagerie." Pleasantly.

"It is!"

Bronte huffs. "Pearls before swine" as folks deem a cat more important than her finding a book for them.

"Bronte, she's just a baby." August protest. "She cannot do all you can."

Bronte mmphs, in a fashion not unlike a certain sluagh

August's expression goes tender at that.

"Bronte, you are wonderful." Earnestly.

Bronte preens but then jerks her head towards Legends of Steel and Steed!

"I think she has found you a book."

"You can lead a horse to water," She says, "But you can't make it drink"

"Oh! Thank you, Bronte. Is there a sign out or anything?"

(August would know Zara has a ledger...)

"Yes, over here...." he shows the troll.

"Thanks." She fills out the line. "I should get moving - catch up with Siv..."

"Of course. A pleasure to meet you, Dame."

("Mew!")

Siv does show up at the door "Oh you found it, good! Zara's right proud of this place." She waves "Hello, Bronte."

"Yeah! Real nice meeting you!" A smile. "And you, too." To Curiosity.

The kitten climbs out of August's arms to perch on his shoulder. The Sidhe holds very carefully still.

Siv looks ready to go. Bram with her "Baron, Bronte, Curiousity, always a pleasure" And she moves to follow Dagmar out saying even before they are out of earshot "Glad you like the place. Most everyone here is nice, if a bit odd."

"Oh, very nice, yeah..." A pause. "But you aren't moving here, right?"

"No no" Siv says "I'm hoping to become a Fiona not join the barony here nice as it is. Sides, House Fiona could use more representation in Rivervale I bet. Someone's got to fight for love, right?"

"Bronte?" Quietly.

“Good-bye and hello, as always.” Bronte says with a draconic smile for August

"When you see her, will you tell Zara hello for me? Please?"

Bronte flutters to him and nods, then nuzzles him reassuringly “We are loved way more by some of the people who have not contacted us in the last twelve or so months than we are loved by some of those who contact us every twelve or so days … or hours.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana"

"I hope so."

Bronte licks him.

A chuckle. "Thank you, Bronte."

Moving carefully due to his wee passenger, August returns to his reading, heading for his study.

To his surprise, his study has a new addition. There is a sword on a rack on the wall. Sharp and ready for use.

Puzzled, he approaches carefully and examines without touching.

It is an expertly crafted mantle. The blade itself, the hilt it shaped to resemble the Truthbranch symbol, lantern with tree inside

It looks sharp.

No doubt , it is as not as magical as his regular preferred sword, but it's a fine back up blade.

"Where did you come from...?" He murmurs.

The sword doesn't answer, but while no weaponsmith himself, he recognizes the maker mark. The Hold's own smiths did this. But why?

He goes to find out!

He finds Honoria talking to Ivory. While Dougal and Liam do not traditionally get along, it is obvious they are, even if she looks a bit frustrated.

"So... I need a better password?" he says looking at his tablet.