#earthrunes

The chain research goes well. Master Steelgarden ap Dougal did create chains that prevented sluagh from squirming free. The first attempts bordered too much on banality, alarming and discarded fast.

The second tried to dictum the sluagh not to squirm but a chain has no rank and it grew erratic.

Finally, it was figured out. A chain that squirmed WITH the sluagh.

The metal moving like mercury yet staying steel like.

And for a time, no less than thirteen chains were forged and scattered to Varich high and low.

Hisssss.

One sluagh managed to get free, and rather than fleeing for a less Varich rich area to hide forever... he made it his mission to get all thirteen chains and destroy them. Семён the profane used methods foul and fair to get the chains. Poisoning Varich and offering the antidote in exchange for the release of another sluagh and the chain turned over for example. He made friends among great warriors, or at least put them in debt, and had them duel for the freedom of other slaugh...if not for the chain itself. He got six before the Varich finally tracked him down ready to yoke him with a 7th

Narrow eyes. Yes, this is a problem for the whole kith.

But that was a long time ago.

Demona, Mire, Gluminsky, Madame Grey... sluagh from many travels...

And with the shattering and sundering, thanks to Семён's efforts, the Varich lost the chains. More important were pacts with Inaminae and treasures that weren't sullied by the whispering traitors

And yet here is one, now, and known.

Indeed. there is a note that Master Steelgarden had a miserable 13 years of not being able to get any sleep. The sluagh did not care that it was 'just a commission' .. they tapped on his windows at night and left odd symbols. They left loose children's teeth floating in the red wine he liked. It is said he was forced to make a truce by buying them off with the magical treasure for the Sluagh in exchange....which will be mentioned in Book 2

Alas, Zara does not have book 2

"Feh."

"Feh" Bronte agrees. Incomplete sets are the bane of the completionist

"Exactly. Still. A start. I shall invite others for Tea, and spread the news."

Zara writes notes, tiny ones, giving them to the spiders to distribute.

And the ladies go out, they will have a warmer welcome among sluagh than they will among cats

A cool silver chain wraps around Zara's ankle... and tiny black eyes blink up at her.

Zara coos at the little snake, reaching down to gently boop its nose.

Black tongue flicks at her fingertip, as Anku tastes the sluagh. She watches the spiders go. Somedays she stalks them in play, but today they seem to be on missions.

Bronte flutters "One day she will devour the sun"

"And what a delight that shall be. I think she will be pleased with the company."

Bronte and Anku have met. Clearly there's a relation, but it's a distant one so the two do not consort much .Anku doesn't seem to appreciate good books, and Bronte has no desire to swallow eggs whole.

Watching the fluttering wings, Anku exhales and her side fins, hidden on land, flutter similarly, though they fall limp in the absence of water, and are tucked back away. The dragon is a relative, but perhaps closer so to her brother, who found wings. Alas, that red serpent finds that he prefers warmer climes, and spends his day in the sun or curled on chairs recently vacated, less so in the cool and clammy library.

"“If you’re listening to this, congratulations! You survived Doomsday.
I’d like to apologize straightaway for any inconvenience the end of the world may have caused you. The earthquakes, rebellions, riots,tornadoes, floods, tsunamis, and of course the giant snake who swallowed the sun—I’m afraid most of that was our fault. Carter and I decided we should at least explain how it happened.”
― Rick Riordan, The Serpent's Shadow" Bronte chimes

A blink at the dragon. It is hard to tell if a snake is pleased, but... she looks pleased.

Bronte beams. it's always nice when one shows another how books are the best things ever.

(Time passes)

Letters return via spider, messages from the other sluagh Zara sent word too

Zara might be too gregarious, but she has made some allies within her kith - and this is a threat to all sluagh.

All are in agreement. There is news to be shared

And information to gather - this Baron, that Barony.

Of extra alarm is tha apparently trolls are involved? They're not..subtle

And the first guest arrives. Marzanna, of Scarsdale.

A table is set with a mismatched collection of tottery chairs (how did she extract THOSE from boggan "spring cleaning" is worht pondering) and a dingy lace tablecloth. Dusty dried flowers serve as a centerpiece.

"Cousin, most welcome. Pray, forgive, if Mr. Whitmore hath found thee. I sent him to Girard's antiques shop...."

Marzanna bows and puts hand over heart, "I was unwise and he noticed I could hear him" A sigh "I brought it upon myself. " A glance "the library looks well"

A sigh. "Well.. he is not ill intentioned. Just.. ah..." Zara struggled for a polite term.

"Very Jeffesque?" She suggests

"Aye, so."

"And yes, the library is a pleasant haven. Bronte grows." A nod at the little dragon - currently snout-deep in one of the nepalese books.

"Oh so she has," Marzanna says "How I envy.SPeaking of Bookwyrms, did you hear that the New York Public Library had a young one returned?"

"I had not! But that may explain Symon's rather cryptic observation. Was a troll involved?"

"Ah, Symon.. yes, promsing lad by word of him. A bit.. rough?" Then she nods "Yes, a troll was involved. "

a soft bend, "Begging your pardon, Ladies" Mister Gluminski has come out of his shop!

"Mister Gluminksy, may I introduce to you Miss Marzanna, of Alabaster Hollow. Miss Marzanna, Mister Gluminsky keeps the most fascinating shop, where every artifact bears a most tragic history."

"Every object a tragedy, every tragedy an object lesson" He taakes his hat off to the ladies

"Oh how wonderfully phrased" Marzana gracefully curtsey's to the grump "Charmed"