#earthrunes

"And a trade with Alabastar Hollow ?"

"Books."

"We have some Dougal resources which are... well.. mostly technical, and hold little appeal to Honoria and Agincourt's interests."

"You.... would have Adam, ah, help with .... the O'Connels?"

"He's Fiona... might as well let him learn how to please mortal women properly"

Then he raises a brow at Zara "What of the new nocker? Betty?"

"Ah, I had not considered."

At that, August blushes and mumbles "You are his tutor, Sir."

He finds something to watch closely on the desk, something he was reading.

A frown.

"Ah, Betty is learning from the Dougals. So probably not a concern" the satyr says "Apologies, Miss Zara. I overstep. Lately I find myself feeling ..well, extra mentory to the wilders of the place. I know you are one, but you're thriving without this old goat's oversight"

"I had not considered Miss Betty. I shall consult with her."

"While she could access them at the Hollow, I am sure that would not be ideal. And a change in books will require a renegotiation."

"Mmm " Bachdion says "I hadn't considered, but perhaps I could help you two? I am well traveled, and can flicker flash. Are there any particular books we don't have you want me to look at or for?"

Suddenly, Bronte's ill mood vanishes, and she flutters over to land on August's head as a perch and look at Sir bachdion who has suddenly become useful!

August holds very still.

"Well, there's a great demand here for fiction - romance, adventure, other novels."

"There is?" Bachdion says "of course there is..." He says "How silly I feel. I'm a fan myself of the romances."

"And, well, the Dougal have little use for frippery..."

Bronte looks down at August almost sheepishly "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" and she gives him a lick on the top of his head

August rolls his eyes up to look at Bronte. "For you, Darling Miss Bronte, anything."

A smile.

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” Bronte says. The quote making Zara think of a dream... memory of a paddlewheel boat

Sir Bachdion smiles at the little creature "Guess she is is forgiving the abduction"

"Abduction?"

Bronte makes a growly sound "Come not between the dragon, and his wrath."
- William Shakespeare, King Lear"

"Someone checked out a book and forgot to sign for it while you were questing.. and... I believe, it was over due" Bachdion's eyes dance with amusement but he tries to hide that amusement, not from Zara or August, but from Bronte

August's eyes go wide. "Oh dear."

Bronte flutters to the sign out log and gives a soft triumphant roar. She won her battle.

"You got it back? Or signed for, at least?" he asks.

"Who dared?"

A young Gwydion's signature is scribbled there...

one who has tangled with Bronte before

Bronte hurumphs "Capulets make blood in the market place"

"But you caught her and all is mended."

"oh, but this was no ordinary clash" Bachdion says "To hear a young Gwydion, it was a battle of wills. A hunt for a dragon using bait!" His amusement leaks out. "And so, the brave dragonling was nearly lured into a trap! "

Bronte looks majestic or tries to "“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
― Albert Camus"

"Oh, dirty pool!"

August frowns heavily. "Should I speak with her?"

"In the girl's defense, she's a bored Gwydion who wants to fight a dragon for glory.She's enthusiastic..and it was a clever hunt. She's probably bummed that Bronte escaped her snare and.. " A pause "How DID you win?" A look at Bronte curiously

"She should not hunt a defenseless bookwyrm..."

"I agree, Zara." with grim finality. "I will speak with Derynwydd."

Bronte flutters and huffs "“A damsel in complete distress was a burden to her protectors; one familiar with self defence, not as much.”
― Grace Draven, Eidolon" and stamps her little paw/claw

"Are we..sure your little dragon is truly.. helpless?" Bachdion says looking at the Bookwyrm with curiosity "After all, somehow she DID win"

"So, how did you escape?"

Adopting a whisper in a voice that is... really quite good impersonation of Zara herself, the little dragon replies with a wicked curl to her spine "“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House"

"Oh! My clever darling!"

Bronte flutters into Zara's arms and gives her a lick at the praise

The young Sidhe lord lifts an eyebrow.

Sir Bachdion looks nonplused,, then to August to see if HE understood that