#earthrunes

A new copy of Anne of Green Gables is in the library. how nice.. just a novel but those are welcome and..what is THAT COVER?

Hisssssssssssssss.

Publishing date 2013.

Why this cover looks more like a DeBuke woman abandoning shame, rather than her beloved ginger haired Anne

Bronte swoops down to enjoy a new book, even if it's a tale she knows well "Oh Kaloo kalay..."

"A moment, darling..."

Books are not their covers, no... and here, she can use some marbled paper to make a slipcover to hide the hateful photo.

Bronte tilts her head "You cannot judge a book by it's cover?"

"Aye, but we mustn't let the childlings see such things as that..."

Considering what was done to the cover, she agrees in her way, “I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

"Precisely." A little pat. "You may read it now."

A flick and lick on Zara's slender fingers in gratitude, and the bookwyrm flips to the start of the story, her eyes lighting with delight. Book wyrms do not grow bored with stories, they might claim to in order to push for an increase in their horde, but the love between bookwyrms and her books is more like a life long passion rather than a one night stand. They have their favorites, of course, and can enjoy the subtle shifts in translation and publication, but in truth Bronte will no more tire of Anne than one might tire of delightful breezes. They might part for a bit, but in the end, every bookwyrm returns again and again to each book with a love few non readers can ever understand.

Zara smiles, and settles down nearby with her own book.

And soon, both bookwyrm and librarian are visiting worlds so true the Dreaming holds them in sacred trust thanks to imaginations like theirs. Getting lost in a good book, some would say, but truly, one isn't lost in a good book, one just wanders and delights. They only claim to be lost so no one can bully them into returning too soon.

(End scene)

August is almost done with the book, such careful work is part art.

And then, the mortal sticks her head in. She's tall, has a nordic look to her. Troll kinian surely. Quite beautiful.

And she mgiht be familiar if he's been to Rivervale at the right times

He probably doesn't know her, then.

He has, however, poured his heart and soul into this work of scribing.

The enchanted woman takes a breath "Baron August?"

He looks up. "Yes?" A puzzled look.... she does seem.... vaguely familiar.

He stands.

"My name is Sally Mae DeBuke. Kin to Earl?" A breath "I'd like to talk to you about one of your knights"

"A DeBuke." He smiles, gentle and warm. "Please come in and sit down. May I offer you refreshment?"

She takes a seat "Thank you, most kind, whatever you have. I ddidn't expect you to be..well, serving, but I'm not so rude as to say no. I apologize for barging in, but sometimes going to the top is the only way to get things done"

"I usually take tea but I know Rivervale favors coffee. What do the DeBukes enjoy?"

"SImple living and a cup of quiet holier than thou thought process at times I fear. I'm good with coffee, tea, or juice. I tend towards the sweet" she says

August nods and goes to the door to catch a passing servant and politely request a tea set and juice to accompany. "Ms. DeBuke...." he says, returning "How can I help you?" he sits.

"You can tell Sir Carowyn its' okay to date me and see where our relationship is going naturally instead of trying to protect me"

It's a bit testy

Blink.

"Aaaahhh....."

"He says that Truthbranchs, the bannerhouse not the family, are dedicated to mortal love, and his risking my family's love is a betrayal of his duties and he must do the 'right thing for me'" the Iowan beauty steams a bit "Is that policy? He can't date a kinian? Because it sounds like some weird sort of segregation is company policy then"

August rubs his temple. "It...ah, no, it's not policy per se. Could you perhaps start at the beginning?"

"He came to Rivervale where I was assisting Hearth Kerri, wonderful woman, I had moved to Rivervale myself to get some college degree, see the world a bit. Had the family approval on that. So he walked in.. now he treated me like a gent treats a lady, and I had some biases against sidhe but I thought I'd met some nice ones. So I flirted a bit.. he smiled... and the next thing you know...I finally get him on the hook to take me out on a date." A pause "You're not getting all the details but suffice to say he never took any advantage I didn't want him to take"

"Of course not." A bit stiffly and pink'd.

"Thank you" She says. The drinks are here, and she gets up to serve them then she sighs "Hazard of my trade. "

"Please, allow me." rising also.

Drinks are served and she takes her juice and her seat again "So... it gets more serious. he and I are .well, we're not seeing anyone else. he's not just pretty, he's kind. he's just rough enough around the edges I don't think he's some coverboy with pointy ears... " pause "No offense. " then she continues "And I don't know all he sees in me but he SEES me, and not just as a tall leggy blonde who cooks. He's so supportive. And I'm thinking, this man, this man could be ..well, nevermind, let's just say I could imagine some great things for a long time with him. " A sip of juice "Then .. we gave my great aunt a heart attack"

"You....."

"Well, not directly, but she got news I was dating a sidhe and her heart gave out then and there. she almost died. thank fully no." A look at him "you have to understand, Baron, most sidhe encounters are sidhe trying to raid things"

"Well, conquer us. take our lodge.. that sort of thing. It's better than it was, but it's like asking some Americican Veterens from WW2 about Imperial Japanese. they ain't too fond" A shake of her head "Not fair to you and other newer sidhe"

"I would agree."

"I imagine you would" She smiles a bit "Besides" Softening "I've learned that most Liam were neutral, didn't do any harm even if they didn't help. And Carowyn is a GOOD man," Firm nod "But even after I took some heat, and after my relations and I came to an understanding, MOSTLY- Carowyn is trying to break it off. Says he has endangered my family bonds. The hell? Are all sidhe like that? They just.. just assume that in a crowd of two the non sidhe was just nodding along? Damn it. I worked hard to win him over"

She looks at the Baron "Is this some weird policy that he's not allowed to be with a mortal girl romanticaly?"

"Again, it is not a policy per se." August clears his throat. "Our House does.... caution that, ah, romantic entanglements can confuse the issue of our protection of mortals." a small cough "That has to do with the founding of the House."

"Yes yes. I heard. Nun lady gets whammied by another Sidhe of another House, she was mused by King Liam. He charges off to rescue her, and finds her hit by love spells or at least sidhe voavoom.. .she has no right of rescue, but he rescues her anhyway or tries to.. and pays the price for it. I'm sorry, he says the moral of the story is that things can get complicated, that duty can be lost. I Say the message is that mortals need to be treated nicer by the OTHER houses and REAL Heroism means going against the grain of your culture to do what's right.."

"Would that make you a hero then?" mildly.