#earthrunes

"I don't think so. But it might not hurt to forestall the possibility by explaining that you hadn't meant them to end up there."

"Confess Jack, it was you , in the library, with the Smut stack" Shalimar beams "Ye gads I adore Clue"

A grin at Shalimar.

"Har har..." Jack does NOT laugh as he looks at the skunk "Look, I am not pissing off the most powerful fatebender in the Duchy thank you... and..other suspeect? Wait.. Vince would never."

Actually a bit protective of Vince

Coradel takes a deep breath. "I hope you're right, Jack. It would be intensely unwise of him, if he did."

"Vince would rather lose his mane than make a lady upset. He and Zara may not interact a lot, but she's a dame, and Vince, I know Vince, vince does not make the girls cry.. never on purpose. And he'd find this tacky, not the magazines per se, those cracked him up... but putting them in the library"

A warm smile. "You're right. Of course you are. Well, good then...so, we need to determine who merely thinks they're funny, but really aren't. As opposed to those who think they aren't, but absolutely are." She gives Shalimar's hand a squeeze.

Shalimar smiles "So you're saying I'm like an all too rare steak? A good vet could bring me back?"

Jack ponders "Okay whoever did it had to go into my supply area. But Vince and I are it...."

A chuckle. "I think it's a fair shot," she says to Shalimar.

"You see why I thought..." A pause. "Jack, do you think somebody might have fuddled you to think they were Vince?"

"Who would DO that though? " he said

"Somebody who wants to upset Zara, apparently."

A frown. "Vashti doesn't bear a grudge against her sister, does she?"

"There's no trouble between them?

Shailimar snorts "My lady is treacherous, dangerous, and not to be trusted" then he coughs "By that i mean, whoever did this risks life"

Jack ponders "They do seem pretty tight. Vashti and Zara have tea all the time. "

"Yes, and she knows better."

"So...it's somebody who thinks it would be funny to upset Zara, which means it's also somebody who has little in the way of self-preservation instinct."

"Jack... show me the store room, the spot where you keep these."

Jack nods and leads her back. There's a smell of boozee, but they leave where the liquors are and find where the 'dry goods' are ... including spare mugs, glasses, and other things

Coradel looks about and tries to peek behind the shelves. Any sign of another physical entryway?

As a matter of fact, she finds evidence!

but it's not what she expected...

She feels victorious, regardless!

It's a doll

one of Isis' dolls

A sigh. "Well...fine, then." She picks up the doll and leaves the storeroom. "Shalimar, would you come with me to speak to a certain young princess? I think she may wish cheering up afterwards."

Shalimar says "Oh, I adore the tears of the young."

"Not my favorite music, either." She starts off in search of Isis' usual haunts.

She finds Isis having tea with several big mugs "Tea comes in pints now" She tells the other childlings

"Darn you, adorable hobbits, you've corrupted the young" Shalimar mutters

Coradel clears her throat and respectfully nods to the party in progress. "Princess Isis, I must take you from your company for a moment, please."

"But of course," She motions to the others "Let the Morale improve so the beatings dont continue" And she rises , adorable ears perked and comes over to curtsy "Aye, Empress ?"And a nod to Shalimar "Stinky Pete of the Vanderpetes"

"Young Highness, I located this and thought I would return it." She offers the doll.

"OH She is the rescued!" She takes it " Naughty Princess Damsel, I shall have to let the dragon win next time. " And she hugs Coradel's legs "Thank you from saving her for a fate worse than bad breath"

"My pleasure. Do you know where I found her?"

"not in the tavern because kids can't go there"

"Yes, you see, that is what I thought as well. And yet...there she was. So now I'm wondering how she got there."

"uhm.. well, tea comes in pints now" She gestures to the mugs clearly borrowed from the storeroom

"Ahhhhhh...I see. And you decided it was smarter to sneak into the storage room than to ask your guardian or one of the kitchen staff for appropriate glasses."

She scuffs her shoes

"I was honing my ninja skils" She offers pu

up*

"And there is nowhere else in this entire manor that provides an adequate challenge?" A dubious look. "What else did you take from the store room?"

"No becuase I put the adult coloring books in the library"

she says

"I see." Coradel folds her arms. "Those belong to Jack. They do not belong in the library. They are for adults, but young Bronte has now read them. The librarian is very upset." Firm and even, not harsh.

And the girl looks confused "But it says adult on the backside...and they're reading stuff so.. they go to thel ibrary. Right?"