#earthrunes

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A Sunday after Beltaine, and August sits in a secluded nook, reading.

Zara enters the library, with a tea tray.

"Oh!"

August looks up, with a warm smile. "Hello, Zara. It is good to see you."

"Likewise. Good afternoon, August. Ah... would you care for tea?" She sets the tray down.

"That would be wonderful, thank you." He closes his book (not bothering to mark his place (!)) and approaches.

"How fare you? Did you call your mother?"

Zara sets about pouring two cups - good thing she did grab fresh cream...

"I did." Dutifully. "And I know you called your mothers."

"Aye, aye. Miriam said Jacob made her breakfast...." A wry smile.

"Oh dear."

"Well, she has a strong stomach."

"She would have to." Soberly.

She extends a cup towards the Liam, made just the way he likes it.

He takes it with a fond smile. "Thank you."

"As for Mama, I was home for Sabbath, and only recently returned here."

"I am sure that was a joy for her." Utterly sincerely.

"It was nice, aye. And finals are done, so..." Gentle shrug.

August nods. "We're done too."

"Will you be here over the summer?"

"I think mostly, aye. Visiting family as I may. And..." Frown. "I fear I have a bit of a mission to attend to."

He lowers his cup. "A mission?"

"Aye. I have been gathering information."

"Your friend, the Count? It seems he deemed Tantalus rehabilitated." Nose-wrinkle. Sip.

August looks staggered, then... recovers. "Well. Then. I'm sure he is. And that's good news."

"No. It is not. Rather, I was made aware of this because your Magnus found him entangled in a web of human trafficking."

Now he looks THUNDERSTRUCK. "Magnus?"

"Is Tantalus the one who shot Magnus??"

"Nay, though one of his lackeys? That ziege is running the network, working with mortals to steal women and girls..."

"Trafficking." Grimly.

"Aye. And thus, I must needs stop him. And make certain he remains stopped."

"May I join you in this?" Deadly serious.

She smiles a bit. "I thought you might be interested, aye."

He smiles back, like the sun warming your skin. "What is the plan?"

"First? Gather information. Then... I aim to lay the full power of Da'an upon him. Though for that to be effective, I must needs be in the same room as him - something so powerful may not be applied through tattletale."

"Should we contact Caesar?"

"We could, aye."

August nods. "Magnus and Coradel will want to help. Claire too."

A little frown.

A head tilt. "But... you'd rather not?"

"It's just... so many..."

He nods. "That would be six."

Then, a gentle grin. "Seven when Caspian joins us."

A distressed look and she sips her tea.

"Too many." He agrees. "Three, then. Four, with Caspian."

She warms, just a bit. "Caspian seems a bit inevitable, doesn't he?"

"Seems that way." A warm smile.

"Though perhaps you could wrangle Magnus for information? WHat he has already gathered?"

A sigh. "He has been very closed mouthed about it. Refused to say anything to me, to Coradel, even to Claire.

"Mmm."