#earthrunes

August pours two large balloon glasses.

He brings them over. "May I sit with you?"

"Surely." He says

August sits, sips.

"I admit, Adam did not seem to be the sort of man to treat a lady poorly. Revenge... that, I can see more easily."

"Not that I can say I know him well." apologetically.

"Adam has always had a selfish streak." Magnus says "I fear this time, it blinded him to what he literally had in his hand....ready to slay innocent will workers along with the guilty all for his pain, when the lady was practically begging him to stop. " A sip "And I know what your'e doing. Trying to comfort me and maybe learn more piece by piece but it's done. Sad part? He really could have been a great one. Maybe he still will be, but right now? Damage control in his wake"

"My offer to help stands."

"How?"

"Sorry, I think he has to help himself now"

"I meant you, really. You said damage control."

"Oh well, he made me promise o watch over his family so.... I will. " A shrug

"How did they take the news of his quest?" quietly.

"Both feel like failures as parents again. Kyle feels he failed to protect his son.. you know how trolls are."

August nods.

"Brenda.. Brenda is... well, I think she's back slid into resenting fae life. All her son knows of it is suffering she says"

"Do you think that's true?" softly.

"I don't know.. I think a lot of what she said was born of satyr passion and mother's fire. Maybe it will cool. I would not be surprised if she got very drunk or very laid."

August blushes lightly.

"Sterotype I know"

"then there is Lily" he sighs

"How is she? Said she was.... unhappy."

"Well, sluagh sometimes enjoy melancholy, even dignified misery, but in this case we have a little girl who went to see her brother finally join them... and instead her mother and father are all broken up. She's tight lipped for one so young, but I suspect she is very ANGRY right now. At her brother, at her parents. At us."

"Would it help if I asked Velvet or Zara to speak with her? Tea?"

"Actually, it might. Adam asked ME to help them, watch over them, but sluagh know sluagh best" An amused look at something "Yes. Like when to duck out of ceremonies"

August nods. "I will make the request." Sip "I had a good conversation with Mrs Thomas at one time. I'd be happy to speak with her again." a soft smile "Adam's request doesn't mean you have to do it alone; just that you have to help and watch over them."

"Yes, but right now i need to be something of a lightning rod"

"For them to strike?"

"No no, for the fall out." he says

"How do you mean?"

"Namer Jodfrey is a powerful man, not just in magic, but in ceremonial position. Whatever the truth, it LOOKS like a lad who was NOT ready for naming was put forward by Earth Runes. Word may get to tthe Duke or Duchess, let alone their excellencies, of this hold's collective failure regarding Adam. Someone has to take the fall to preserve the prestige of the others. Otherwise we can have our right to other fledges taken away... Minerva, Rebekka, Zing and Kaylee."

"Or at least so supervised it won't really be us raising them."

"That seems.... excessive." August frowns.

He drums the fingers of his free hand on the table, thinking.

"It is..and would be.. but it can and might happen... and, they can also ask that Mentorship privilieges for individuals be revoked" He frowns "Bachdion has a near perfect record. Bondraste has done her part in the past and has more.. personal connecions. So I've informed Jodfrey that Adam's ignornce on Prodigals, magic, and oaths lays on me "

August looks up from his thoughts. "Magnus, that's not exactly true. Or fair."

"Fair? Fares are for tourists, kid" A grin at the younger man

A soft quirk of his lips.

"There are some interesting questions that could be posed."

"true. And I'm not wanting truth or fair in this case, I'm wanting others to be spared and Coradel not to bear the blame. "

"Coradel is Baroness; I have no wish to see her bear blame, but I must allow her the due responsibility." August says quietly. "The -due- responsibility."

Sip.

"Hm." thinking.

"Well, DUE is in the eye of the beholder. And what was beheld was a cluster fuck" A sigh

August looks up. "It could be argued otherwise, perhaps."

"I'd like to do some reading, of course."

"August, it's already done. I've fixed it. why are you trying to unfix?"

August lifts a hand, palm out, surrendering. "I withdraw the suggestion."

"Thank you. Besides, I'll do my mentoring the old fashioned way" A fond smile

"Earn it?"