#earthrunes

• * *

A guest at the library looks about. "How does she have so many books in this library? I mean, I've seen libraries a time and half this size that didn't have so many"

Clem looks at the book she brought as a git, wondering if it's going to look puny by comparison

Bronte swoops to land on Clem's shoulder. "Salutations, friend!"

The greedy gus noses at the book.

"Bronte, how are you?" Skritch under the chin "You're not really happy to see ME so much as what I might be carrying, are you?"

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”

She puts the book down for her to see, it is a weighty tome, for it has not one story, but many 'The Robert Louis Stevenson Collection'.

"Treasure Island's the most famous" Clem says "But you might like the Black Arrow and some others"

"“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in!” Bronte declares happily, as she opens the book.

"Darling, what are you fussing about?" Zara's whisper.

“You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.” The dragon retorts.

"I've been attacked by a Highwayman" Clem turns at the whisper of her friend "Or draconic librum loving equivilent. Howdy, Zara"

"She is a touch shameless. But I cannot begrudge her. Hello, Clem."

"Careful, Bronte, that's a heavy one" She warns

then to Zara she says "I guess I can't begrudge her easily. I was hoping to honey you up by bringing it here for her. Got a situation I was hoping you'd be interested in"

"Aye?" Eyebrows lift. One delicate hand reaches to pet the bookwyrm.

"Well, I don't know what it says about us that we're happy about it, but you know that great storm surge through parts of the midwest not so long ago? Well, we had magical protection. IT flattened half of the aggro corps next door aka banality central."

"Oh, that place." Narrow eyes. "Good."

"Bout how we feel about it. We think they're going to sell... but, what we'd like to do is make sure nobody wants to buy until the price drops..." A flicker of amusement "On account that it's haunted"

"...Ah." A smile.

"I see you have guessed where I'm going with this," She says "The FaRmhold is asking for aid from some of our sluagh friends in making that area utterly terrifying... Mr. DeVere is already happy to help, but I was hoping you would be able to join in? And or suggest some folks? Symon of Rivervale is getting an invite too"

"Symon, aye - and, s'truth, this might be good for our younger cousins. Jacob, Lily, Velvet..."

"Okay. I know Jacob is your brother. But the other two aren't ringing bells to me"

"Lily is from Rivervale, and Velvet is one of my assistants here - August's squire."

"Oh, Velvet, is that the girl Earl mentioned that wants to see an arcadian pass away so she can measure the soul's departure and take notes?" A beat "if so, I see what you mean about her being able to assist"

"It is very good to have ambition, nu?"

"Zara, you're a friend, but I hope you understand when I say I have slept better not prying too much into sluagh ambitions?" Clem says with a wisdom beyond her years

A soft rattle, amused.

A chuckle in return, "I see that you do. Well, she'd be welcome too then. ANyone you and Mr. DeVere suggest is fine by me. Will be able to take part or at least chip in some? "

"I... I have a somewhat pressing quest... but I believe we can help. I can also send my ladies."

"A quest? " She says "Now I do admit to curiosity. If it's pressing especially. You need help ?"

She frowns and shakes her head. "No offense intended, but there are already three people..."

"And one I know not well enough."

"I hear you. But let me make the offer if you need it for supplies and the like" Clem nods respecting her space but wanting to know that they will support as much as she likes "Sounds like you might be part timing the haunting, but part time Zara's worth her weight in cobwebs and fly husks."

"Flatterer."

"Glad you like" Clem smiles "Could you make the invitation to Squire Velvet? See if she's keen on it? "

"I think she shall be. And... mm.. if Jacob comes, Miriam may also."

"Someone suggested Dirk the redcap with Symon's guidance. Miriam's welcome, of course, but would she be any good at scaring?"

"More that she is likely to accompany my brother."

"Oh heck, we get her a spot by a porch and a drink of her preference"

"If you have a project, she will likely happily occupy herself. Methinks she has been working on caning techniques of late..."

"Oh, I have got to let her take a look at what Mara and Bix and.well, the temp nockers did. " She lowers her voice "I'm afraid to take some of it down"

"I still have the knife I forged as a nocker. It... truth, it is a precious experience."

"Right. Poor Mara isn't understood often so I figure tearing it down could hurt her feelings. Also, there maybe a security device that will spit fire or something" A smile though "You made a knife? Not what I'd have expected of you as a nocker."

"Well, Ratchet is a blacksmith. Hirim is the upholder, like Miriam."

"And a knife is.. ah.. basic?"

"And useful in more than one walk" She nods "I guess that does make sense. Somehow I thought you'd try to make a printing press"

"Oh, I think I would like that, aye."

"I wonder Mara would be interested? Her real love seems to be cars and the like." Clem says ,then "Ah, if I might ask? That trip you guys took in the dreaming for three days? Besides Hearth Agnes being a sidhe, is there something big that happened to her? She's been , well, shes' too common sense to be wistful, but she's been humming songs more and watching the sunset. She looks almost apolgetic at the balefire"