#earthrunes

"Well, I thought I had good information. Tell me how it happened?"

He steps away, body tense. He answers as ordered. "I met her for coffee." He has to stop for a bit.

"I was talking to her. I.... I tried.... and then this.... thing came. And killed her. And took her."

A blink. "Killed her? No. Sent her away, perhaps, but not killed."

Adam looks over.... a horrific burden of guilt, anger, and dedication there.

"I'm not lying, Adam. I'm certain of it. Not killed."

"What's the difference?"

A dubious look. "If I banished you to Topeka, would that be the same as killing you?"

A shrug.

"Excuse me?"

Clearly, she doesn't speak shrug.

"Sorry. Maybe."

"I mean, maybe it would be."

"What an odd way to understand death. I'm sure the people in Topeka would not appreciate the comparison."

"You didn't see her....go." his voice is thick.

Her voice gentles. "No. I'm told it was...violent?"

His face crumples but does not break.

She sighs. "Well...I suppose it is like that sometimes."

No response.

"But Adam...I've seen them. In the Dreaming. The mortal souls are not dead. I'm sure of it."

A long wait for response.

"She didn't want to go." soft, hurting "She begged. To stay. I screwed it up. I couldn't help her. And......."

"She's alone now. And ...."

"How does not being able to help her mean that you screwed it up?"

"Oh, my, I hardly think she's alone!"

Adam glares at the floor. Like, it should buckle and crumble.

That dubious look again. "You're concerned she's not with you."

"Yeah. Fine. It's me."

"May I be excused?"

"Well, that does seem the narrative you want to spin. It's your fault, and it's your loss. Mind you, I don't agree at all."

"Yes, Baroness."

She looks at him a moment. "How do you think you made it worse?"

"I tried to magic her away. Or.... the other one. Whatever."

"How? You threw glamour at her, unformed?"

"Ended up tearing......" a deep breath "tearing her ... away."

"No. I tried to use magic to take ... her... away from the other one."

"Hmm. Have you spoken with Sir Bachdion about this? I'm wondering if what you think you did is not exactly what happened."

"No." whispered.

"I urge you to do so." A pause. "Adam, I know you are in mourning. The loss cannot be undone, but...perhaps you would wish to...to memorialize her in some way? I believe you did not know her very well, but it may help you."

"Can't." Hoarsely.

"Can't? I doubt that."

((Pause for cooking and such))

Adam turns hot, hurting eyes on her. "How? What? What would do that?"

She blinks, nonplussed. "I can't know that for you. It would be your memorial. But...sometimes we need to focus our thoughts on a thing that can represent the person we wish to remember. To speak to."

"To...speak to?"

hoofsteps approaching

"Not literally. But...to say what you wish could be said."

"May I be excused?"

"Just a minute, Adam." She looks past to see if the approaching hooves are Bachdion.

And so they are, he comes into view, and bows