#earthrunes

"Or, no, of course, you'd want to be in Scarsdale. Or near Vassar." Apologetic.

"Well, I thought... a'times, I could.. aye.. be here more often?"

"I have a room..."

"Yes." Firmly. "More than one, if you wish. I think. And... and if you need accommodations outside the Freehold, that can be arranged."

"Earl may need his own space... "

"But I could spend more time here."

"Whatever you need, either of you, we can help with." Firmly.

"Aye?" A little smile.

"So - the difficulties, but - you seem to have found a solution!"

A gentle smile. "Will you take them out?" He makes space on the table.

Zara lays out the delicate items.

"I thought..... " softly ".... I know your friends have made their own spaces. But if you wished to give them dedicated, hard-shell homes..... these might suit. Depending on preference. They could be spider houses?"

"Oh!"

Zara is not a beauty - but when she smiles, she comes close. Her dark eyes shine like stars.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"That is.. oh, August."

"How wonderful. Ladies, do you see?"

They scramble... and peek and cooo

"They are separate, but can be combined. Or not."

"And of course they could be improved with webbing."

"Oh, I trust they will find the best way..."

Some of the spiders like the idea of having sisters as room mates, but Zara can guess which ones prefer a bit more privacy

Zara fusses and murmurs approval, quite pleased.

August smiles.

they already section off the library.

He takes a sip of tea, watching.

"You are wonderful."

"I was inspired."

"Indeed!"

A soft sigh, content.

August drinks his tea, and eats his (soggy) cookie, content.

And then a knock on the door "Baron August " his squire "You're needed"

A flicker of annoyance flashes across his features....

"Go, go - I shall see thee again."

Then he nods, and sets his things down. "Happy Birthday." A soft whisper, and he rises.

His squire Tylar bows and leads his liege "This way, it's about the paper you ordered... it's all wrong.."

and the two go off.

Yet... Zara hears footsteps approaching now

Earl's voice "I am sure she'll get a kick out of meeting you. She's a big fan of your work"

"Well, we've met before!" A laugh, she knows this voice, though it has been a time. "Who HASN'T met at Firnost, oh, though it's been ages..."

Her eyes go WIDE. OH no.

The soft clip of hooves following the footsteps Zara surely knows as well as the back of her own hand.

The spiders offer to drain her blood she she'll have to go to Emma rather than socially interact

"A lovely hold, and where else to find her but the library..." A giggle.

they are so kind

"Oh she's very proud of it, she's the librarian here, and..."

Tiny quiet panic!

Is there enough tea? Biscuits?

Seats?

"Is she now?" Pleased surprise! "Well, surrounded by books, I could not imagine to be in better company."