#earthrunes

"Yes, and no..." she says "But I'm enough of her that I think the message will count" A pause "maybe if I tell him he dresses like a 1970s jiggalo with delusions of style?"

"Please don't."

"You are too good for that pretentious overbearing toad to have your loyalty, he's not your liege and don't tell me you like ALL Your House brothers. Every face has a wart... that's Jude, House Wart" A sniff

It is not Zara, he's sure of it, and yet so many of the mannerisms, the way she jerks her head slightly up when she sniffs, the way she turns on her heel just so.

Those are Zara's motions

"Who are you?"

"Who... Zara... who are you?"

"I am that which has been hidden even from the hider, I am she who on the underside of the riverstone, I am the unspoken thought given voice." she dimples "How's that?"

A fond smile. "Cryptic."

"Thank you" She spreads a hand over her heart "now enjoy thy reading"

"I will." Softly.

A thought "I'm going to steal that sash Coradel has, the purple one.. redheads can't wear purple anyway" And she heads off

"Wh... wait, what?" He follows, a reflex.

"Zara......."

And gone.. while outspoken, she certainly HIDES as well as Zara, or at least almost as well

In the hallway, he staggers. "Zara?"

"It wasn't zara, my lord" A whisper

"No?"

" a chimera" Velvet says stepping out "Albeit a most curious one. I would pay nothing it said much mind. "

"I am sorry."

"For what, my liege?" she seems surprised

"I think.... that was... untoward." He stands, straightens.

"Zara, then she is... well?"

"As far as I know she is still in Tijuna tending to Sir Earl's full recovery."

"Good." Softly.

"most likely, my liege, that chimera will eventually fade."

Though she does not sound as sure

August focuses, first at the little sluagh, then at where the chimera went. "Is it a danger?"

"I don't think so, Baron" She says "It might get caught by the count with a spray can but that seems to be as far as its mischief goes"

"Do you have orders for me my liege?"

"No." Softly. "No, Velvet, thank you."

"Tea" she says looking at him with a frown "you seem distressed. Tea will help"

A brave smile. "It will. I'll get some. You needn't worry."

"I am thy squire, it's not proper for you to get your own tea while I, a sluagh as well as your squire am here. Propriety , my lord" a whispering tut

"Of course." Properly chastened. "Could you bring it to my study?"

"of course, my liege" And off she goes

Slowly August makes his way to his study.... and some solitude.

And Squire Velvet has things she needs tend to after the tea is served. Matters for a sluagh.

(end scene)