#earthrunes

"But we know of this set, and it is in Balor hands."

"Indeed" Marzanaa says "And the balor are no friends to our kith, in truth, no friends to anyone"

This gets nods. Balor thinks it hides its armies in trods, and that their 'badboy ' presentations will be seen as all they are, but the sluagh know of their darker contracts, of their deeper designs

"They squirm? Is there a chance there are souls of slugs - of, of kithmates trapped within them?"

"No. They are not." Flatly. (re: the Balor)

A hiss at Symon's idea. "I know not. That is.. horrific... but.. but do not the dead forge chains of souls?"

"What worse fate than to be bound, and bound to bind your own kin?" He says, darkly.

"they do," a whisper from Madame Gray "I have heard coins shriek when they jingle roughly because of the souls caught inside"

Marzanna pulls forth a fan "But sure, a lord of Dougal would not do such?"

Mr. Gluminski ponders "It is, how you say, conjecture, but it would explain how they learned to squirm to match us"

"This, perhaps, we can solve with the treasure in our possession."

"Perhaps... but then you yourselfhave means even most of our kith do not that are to be treasured , Miss Schwartz. One would not press the publicity of it, gaudy, but it maybe required to study a chain should we get one" Madame Gray rasps knowingly at Zara

"I am not yet a master of that art - I may not be able to undo the working."

"A thousand pardons" From the door, two more figures. Who could not be more different in status among fae soceity. One Mister DeVere, stealer of balefire and friend to the DeBukes... and Countess Ruxandra Harrowstep, a ruler of great rank, but still a sluagh as well as a Beaumayn.

Symon looks uncomfortable. He is a sluagh of the basement, his to is disgust amongst the grotesqueries of life, the gooey and the unpleasant. But this is attic talk, the ghosts and spirits and lingering chains of after. It does not scare him... but it is foreign, a touch.

"My most welcome guests." And introductions are made.

"I won't keep my skill secrets from my kin." He mutters, and offers, "I've learned... a bit, not a lot... but I've learned a little of the art of Chronos. It came from a book, and it's clear that I'll never be as good at is as any Sidhe could be... but maybe I was able to grasp it because I was an elf, once, in a drream. Who knows. But if we DID get one of those chains, and it was helpful, I'd try to look back to see what I could see. I was going to try to see what I could now, but..." He shrugs, his service offered.

There is no reference to the Countess title made by the others as she is guided to a seat. that's not how sluagh standing works and it gains her nothing here. Mr. Devere scoots her in

"Thank you for the welcome, gracious hostess" Harrowstep says

Zara nods. Once the newcomers are brought up to speed, she continues. "I believe it is important to learn what we may of this Balor, to see how best to reclaim the chain."

"Symon's gifts may show us it in action, as Siv's blood witnessed it."

DeVere looks at Symon intrigued "Indeed, a rare and precious gift, Symon. Of course we will not mention it to thosee who don't need to know"

"Not cheaply at any rate" Mr. Gluminski gives a wry toothless grin

"And I have some small gifts for soothsay, and may be able to use that casting to seek tattling eyes upon the Baron."

He can't help it, he snorts.

And covers it as though it was a cough.

A poke in Symon's leg from below. Lily is enforcing manners

He is very invested in his tea for a moment.

"While I cannot reweave, knowing the Name of the treasure might reveal solutions yet unimagined." Did... did Zara just admit to Naming?

But THAT catches his eye. "I've... heard of even commoner-kith, at least one - who can learn Sovereign. But beyond that I cannot share."

"Know time, Know Name, Know fate... one knows as close to everything as possible" Mr. DeVere says "And, of course, a whispering of willows might be as clumply gravy on a molding potato"

"The arts that they grasp so closely seem to slip through their fingers. At least a little." They, being the sidhe.

Zara smiles. "What secrets are denied us?"

Ruxandra says "Sovereign too is in our domain, though I apologize if it sounds crass in this company"

He smiles, ruthlessly. He likes this Countess-cousin.

Maybe high tea isn't that bad after all. Even if he DOES get poked.

"So - I propose we work together in a casting, to learn and see what we may. And then, we must needs plan how to bring this treasure into our possession."

He nods his agreement.

"It is dangerous.. such a powerful working might be sensed by one with the right gifts and learning" Madame Gray points out

"I may veil the cantrip - it would be easier if another led the soothsay, in that case."

Madame Gray ponders "it has been some time since I extended myself."

Symon gives his head a little shake, don't look at me, it says.

"So - chronos first, to see what transpired?"

"Yes, and I brought some dross.. distressingly perky stuff. Glad tobe free of it" Mr. DeVere says

"Symon, how may we aid you in the casting?"

He is nervous, plucking at the fabric of the bag her carries. And he clears a spot on the table carefully. "This is what I have, Siv's clothing, and here is the blood stain. And this discoloration is a hint of the poison of the Balor's blade. I can try to look into the past, ... maybe there was more to be seen. Siv was there, but she was fighting, and then she was dumbed by toxins. Maybe some hint or clue was said, or done, or missed?"

"An excellent notion. " Gluminski says "Perhaps it is even worse than we think"

"Aye, indeed."

They might be a mostly 'attic' crew - but Symon is still a sluagh, and welcomed.

"mmm " Madame gray looks over Symon "I see why you tolerate him, Miss Scwhartz."