#earthrunes

"And me." He points out, lifting the hand with his pencil in it.

"Claire and Coradel were frantic with worry about you." He points out.

"Yes. I know...I know...and I would be the same in their situation... but I feel like the mission is at risk .. it's terrible to say, but my life isn't that important compared to stopping this. "

August gives him a wry look. "I might be forced, reluctantly, to agree with you in extremis.... Claire and Coradel, I think, would not agree under any circumstances."

"No, try changing an Ailil's mind on ANYTHING. The woman still refuses to see that Ketchup is a sauce and there fine on sketti"

The young Baron points his pen at Magnus. "It is a sauce, but it is not fine on spaghetti."

"Et tu, pater familius?"

A hurt look

"I can't help it when you're wrong." He points out reasonably.

"And your father's day gift just got uglier" He says a bit pettily then "back to the subject. I know mtoher wants to be a part of this.. and we might be able to have folks involved... but I need to be calling the shots."

August should never play poker with people he knows.

He looks decidedly uncomfortable.

"Oh you're kidding" He notes the look "is mother that insistent, or is it someone else?"

His expression gets worse for a moment before he smoothes it out to blankness.

He reads over his notes. "So your efforts will focus in Tijuana, with measures in place to stop and sweep up along the line of the trafficking through Concordia to Gardens?"

"Dad? You didn't answer"

"Corade is, yes, very insistent." He shifts his papers, makes a note. "Tijuana?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure where my efforts will focus.. if I can get enough data to bestow on the Duke and Countess there, I will have to ask their aid or at least permission. "

August stares at his map-copies, nods, lips tight and thin.

"Now.. As it happens, I have two possible agents there I can hire. VERY good at what they do, and freelances. But if I do that behind the local nobles backs they might get riled"

"Could you not go to the Countess there and speak to her? You don't imagine she's involved, do you?"

"She's a troll... and in my experience, trolls are about as subtle as a glacier and not much quicker to act unless they SEE a direct threat. "

'Is she unaware of the trafficking?"

"I'm sure she's very aware... and she might make an excellent bird dog..flush out the game"

"Mmm."

"But you would not confide in her?" Checking.

"Dad? You're not wanting to approach her are you?"

"If Duke Tieron accepted her as a Countess; a troll, and unHoused? Then he must see something worthy in her. I trust the Duke as my Housebrother. All that being so, I can only assume she has value and worth. She is a troll; she has honor. And from what I know of Sir Franklyn and others at Rivervale, I would give her credit for being a good person. Why not approach and confide in her, ask her help directly?"

Magnus sighs then muters "Sometimes i't's more FUN this way"

"And fun has its place." August agrees, the 'but' unsaid.

"I'll work on it" he rises "Now, I do have to make some calls to keep track of any changes. You'll forgive me, I hope?"

"MMm? Yes, yes, of course, Magnus. May I ask one favor?"

He rises.

"You can always ask" he says commiting to nothing without knowing the request

"Will you tell me before you take further steps?"

"Depends on what the steps turn out to be" He winks "Later, Dad" And off he goes

August sighs, disappointed at the answer, frowning. He gathers up his papers and heads for the library.

Zara is at her table, deeply invested in a cup of tea... it glows softly, with magic.

August enters quietly, but of course she knows he's there.

"Mmm?" DIstracted, as she is fixated on whatever she sees in her cup.

August waits, respectfully.

The magic thins, the light fades. "Ah. August, hello... I fear I have not any spare tea. But.. good news, it seems Tantalus seems to have chosen one place to stay. He has not left Mexico... of course, where IN mexico..."

"Tijuana."

"I think."

"...Tijuana? Jessica's turf?"

"Jes... Countess Jessica King? Yes, her lands."

"Aye, she is a friend."

"Oh!" That seems to please him. "I have some notes here, but... .Zara, is there a chance we could invite Magnus into our confidence on this? He has been working for some good time, with an extended network of mortal authorities, to shut down the entire trafficking ring. Best to sweep them all up, don't you think?"

A frown.

"I see the merit. He's just so..."