#earthrunes

Doubtless August glances back at the abandoned book like a toddler being drawn away from a pile of puppies...but they both do leave.

And Zane readies to talk to Zara, hoping they can save the cane. And worried he's going to leave this place cursed with impotence unless he's wearing funny hats.

"Soooo" he says uncomfortable

"So."

"I'm sorry I didn't push harder to get this too you sooner. I didn't want to spy on you to do it. I know better than that, but I should have left a vague note with Bronte or something. "He says "I think part of me was caught up in the passion of discovery, and ..." Embarrassed "I didn't want to tell Mountain Emmit about it"

Eyebrow.

"Oh come on, you have to at least understand that part" Zane says

"You understand that this feels most personal to me, aye?"

"I do" He says "And I never meant to take anything away from you. You had broken it.. mother of all bunks... and discarded it. I thought its part with you was done. I thought it was a quest I could take up in my passion for magic. I needed.. I needed to knwo if I could... and to give something back to the Dreaming. To set this to do good."

"It may be possible, with the breaking and reforging. Though if it i still linked to me, well.."

"I think you can sever that" He says "And maybe even transfer the link if you want. Which is, I know, a risk. Best if we could sever it entirely then reattune the cane's passion harmonics to liberation... not liberation like 'I'm frree of my morality' more like freedom itself. Dreams of individual strength so it can restore those victimised by magic? Or, we might be able to turn it into a sponge that soaks up negativity from others"

"Agreed. I desire no such tethers."

"Okay, so safe removal of the tether or transfer of the tether to someone willing is priority one. Beyond that, unless you want me to handle what comes after that, how do you think we could turn the purpose of this ?"

"And to what?"

"Well... you are better at chicanery than I." She concedes. "Perhaps knows its name would serve to guide - can you affect treasures normally, or did the healing of this take the investment of dross?"

"Dross" he admits "I'm getting close.. so close I can taste it, but" A sigh "yeah, needed dross."

Zane ponders "From a Chicanery point of view, the passion should be tweaked easily enough. I Just need to start casting with it a lot to slowly attune it. It's true name would... wow, really speed that up. But right now I'm worried it would give YOUR name instead. "

Hisssssssss.

he backs up "Yes.. yes.. hisssss boo hisss... but notice at no time do I hand this over to any namer?"

"You should have brought it sooner." Sulky.

"Yes" He says "But in my defense, you can be a hard woman to find at times. "

"Feh!"

He sighs "At least I know you can hear me, the echoes of this pit I'm in probably carry. I just..trying to keep names with who they belong"

"Indeed. I would be.. wroth... if my name were to escape."

"Okay.. is this a threat? Not that I'm going to get huffy if it is, but after I jumped back at the hiss , I think we're hitting redundant territory. Nevermind I do have honor you know? Sides, if you think you're the only one who would tear into me for that, let's remember both share a mentor and he likes you better than me"

A smirk.

"And we've gotten silently gloaty " He observes, then sighs "I think I can transfer it over to me with a contract cantrip if I get advanced enough"

"Set it so it is linked to you?"

"I would prefer it not linked to anyone, but it seems to be fair that if I put it together, I take the risks. Don't you think?"

"Agreed."

"Can you sain already?" He says realizing what she said earlier

She nods. "I cannot reweave yet."

"oh, you can't rewrite reality yet... gee, slacking off.. " Agog "The fact you can SAIN already is.. you're not that much older than me and.. okay. Yes, as if you weren't scary before" He ponders "Then, maybe you could sain the cane and see if it's your own name.. or if you can get the cane's own name like you hoped. I'd love to watch but I get the feeling you might be ah.. reluctant"

"I would prefer to do it in seclusion, aye."

"Well, then. I guess I trust you with the cane and hope you dont' just sequester it away where I never eever see it again despite my hard work" A breath and he slides it over to her

She picks up the cane.

"Well. In truth, I do not want it."

"I held it for many years, and it has served its purpose with me. I fulfilled what I said I would do - I promised to destroy it."

She gets a bit dizzy holding it now . the link

nothing she can't handle, but it's like holding a lock of her own hair in her hand

A little flutter. A frown.

"Oh, I dislike that."

"Well, I hope once you're severed from it you would return it to me. ANd you did keep your promise. I just.. wait.. you're getting feedback?" A grin "That's SO cool!"

Satyr excitement mixed with the enthusiasm of an apprentice

"Aye. 'Cool,' in the vernacular."

"I'm all about the vernacular" He says "Okay... wonder if I can make the treasure forget that it's linked to you? "

"You know, make the link dormant for a short period"

"Nay... that will make it harder to work with, I think."

"Let me seek its name."

He nods "I'll step out of the library. " A look at one of the spiders 'Hey, let me know when she's ready?" He asks "Would you Sexa?" He knows which one is number six?