#earthrunes

"Oh. No. That is well. Thank you."

"Well enough" She says

And the tea goes quietly and pleasantly..

(End scene)

Minerva returns when it seems the tea is done and then some, and the Baron and his squire are gone.

Spiders, and a dozing dragon await.

"Hello again, ladies" She says softly to the Spiders so not to wake the dragon.

Four or so skitter to inspect her.

She moves to the shelf, then sees four "Oh I do wonder how many of you there are? I shall have to bring crickets from the garden to give you a grand hunt." A pause "do spiders tally ho? No, I suppose yours is a hunt of patience, of luring" A sigh "I should learn patience of a similiar kind"

Quatre gives the sidhe's hand a reassuring tap.

"You're too kind" She observes to Quarte, "But I fear I have made quite the over sensitive fool of myself to your library's mistress. I cannot afford to close myself away from a library. Libraries are how one explores the world without having to step outside. I need to know more of this world"

"As a fledge ought, aye."

She startles then sighs "I wonder if I'll ever get used to that."

Then Minerva turns into the direction of the whisper "Mistress Zara? Is that you?"

"Aye, tis."

"Well, Mistress Zara, I apologize for any- rudeness I may have shown at our last meeting. I was still shaken from my near death and not open to differing opinions. Not only rude, but stupidly so ." ALready she has a sidhe Lady's polish.

"Sidhe chrysalis is a rather traumatic affair. And I doubt any here were civilized enough to offer tea..."

"Oh, for the most part I have been treated very kindly. Baroness Coradel has all but given me run of the place," An amused look "Albeit she was quick to place me under Seer Almandine."

"I have great respect for the Seer."

"And he for you. He said you were a source of much knowlege and not just for the books. I hope, whether I will be graced with that knowledge or not, that you have accepted my apology?"

"I do." A deep nod, acknowledging. "We all misstep, a'times."

"I pray I don't make a habit of it "Nose wrinkle, then she says "I was here earlier and reading through a few more books. The history of this hold is quite engaging. Yet, finding reference on you and your part in it is..nebulous. It mentions you as librarian, yet does not say exactly how you came to embrace that. It mentions the quest to rescue Baron, pardon, then Sir August... and yet it feels as if there is a whole story under the story of the Baroness' vengeance.... " Curious tilt "And yet you are referenced .. once or twice but again, vaguely."

"Ah, well... a Librarian is not a central character, nu?"

"I catalog, I collect..."

"And yet everyone respects you despite these 'non central' duties" curiosity...Zara knows it well "But humility is a virtue I am told. One I am not sure I am eager to master"

"Ah, but you are sidhe and I am sluagh."

"Yes, though I've really only been given a brief summary of the kiths. Perhaps you'd tell me of your own? I need to navigate among all, and to be honest, Pooka baffle me"

"Pooka take artful listening - they are, ironically, often very honest. Their tongues twist words, but the meaning may be derived."

"Vincent ..or does he prefer Vince, is the one who made me doubt the use of Minerva. But I think I understand better why." A sigh, "But what of sluagh?"

"Oh, sluagh? Creatures of whispers and shadows and tea."

"I will give one piece of advice, unsolicited - manners matter greatly to my kith. Decorum will serve you well."

"Then I shall pursue greater skill at it," She inclines her head, "For example, regarding the tea, is it custom to give it as a gift ?"

She blinks at something "did one of the spiders just get into my hair?"

"Cinqua..." Gentle rebuff.

"Tea and books are most excellent gifts, aye. But tea, too, is... mm..." She considers. "Tea is a gesture, a dance - a hospitality and a court and more."

"I'm fairly certain the mortal I replaced would be screaming by now, but I rather like spiders" She admits "Near Arcadia there was a forest of them that caught moonlight for webs and if you were polite could read omens from them for you"

"Yes, I suspect you are of one of the sister houses." Zara smiles, just a touch.

"You make Tea sound like a language of flowers"

"It is not dissimilar."

"Sister Houses? Ah, Eiluned and Ailil" A nod "Seer Almandine would agree with you. From what I've read I'd not object to that. " Then a smile of her own "And I know a bit of the language of flowers. I see, so the type of tea, and the order it is served in, can send messages. That makes sense"

Zara nods.

"But the language is not one taught, it must be learned."

"Thus encouraging comprehension from both your young, and those who wish to deal with your kith. Interesting" A realization "a certain degree of control is thus gained by your kith. Clever. "

A sphinx smile

And she lets her fingers touch her hair so Cinqua can clamber on if she likes

"Does every kith have such a ceremony? "

"Alas, no."

"Trolls are frightfully direct, if laconic."

"The big blue ones? Yes. I've noticed. Laconic is the word"

"They seem attentive, keen eyed. I hear that's why they're so often thanes and guards"