#earthrunes

"In truth, they have done little direct harm to me. I have no great claim here."

"Oh. Ah. I, ah.... there are some books of Fae lore and law I have been hoping to gain access to. They are perhaps a bit beyond me yet but ....."

"Name them, August, and that is the ransom. Make a list. And don't skimp."

"Zara......?" it is an offer to share, a request for her own list.

"Well, if you desire lore... here are some titles..." Scribble scribble.

Coradel watches, smiling, as the list grows.

Velvet looks excited!

August grabs paper and pen and puts together a list. Four titles. No, Five. No, four. Five. Yes, five.

"Let us limit it to a total of ten. I have a suspicion that even that is pushing what their baron will be willing to provide for their release."

And when their lists are complete, she makes sure August carries them. "I will let you name them when it is time." And if others are ready, she returns to the main audience chamber.

He takes a breath, squares his shoulders; his expression drops into a nuetral mask and he nods, following Coradel.

They find Senec with his mouth taped shut

Earl says "Sorry, he tried to fuddle me"

Coradel gives Earl a surprised look. "Really? Attempting escape is not helping you," she informs Sennec with false kindness. "Now...I may have been too rash in dismissing ransom earlier. Your liege is Baron Von DornKlippe," she says, glancing briefly at August and then back. "Tell me; are you sworn to him or to any?"

"Yes" Mirwin says "Well, Baroness, We're sworn to the Court"

"To the Court? And what is your oath?"

"A stanndard oath of service"

"Mm." She glances back to August. "So much for ransom. Pity."

August nods stoically.

"Your service to your court shall be delayed. You are to take another task. Have you heard of Count Jude in Pacifica?"

"The guy with the mirror fetish?"

Bachdion says "the guy with the mirror fetish, baroness" Cooly

"Baroness" Mirwin adds

"I'm sure you can ask him if it amounts to a fetish when you see him. Pardon...when you serve him. You are to take oath here before me that you will travel to Pacifica and serve Count Jude ap Liam in whatever manner he deems fitting for a year and a day before you might return to Alabaster Hollow."

Seneca MMUFFS outraged! still with his mouth covered

Mirwin trannnslates"Serve a LIAM?"

"Yes, we'll need to remove the tape for you to oath, thank you for pointing that out."

A cool blink. "Yes."

RIIIIPP

"I could have you serve Baron August here, but frankly you're not good enough."

Baron August smiles thinly.

"And.. if we refuse?" Seneca says

"And so help me, if you even ATTEMPT any sort of cantrip, you will NOT enjoy the result." She flares briefly at Seneca.

Seneca says "We are knights. We have the right to trial by combat"

Then cooler again. "Oh, well...our other thought was to ransom you after all. For some books. I wonder, though, if anybody would bother to pay the price."

"Books? Books sound good" Mirwin says

Coradel glances to August for a ruling on that.

((On books or combat?))

((Combat.))

"They seem eager to avoid humility, Baroness." A whisper.

A slight nod. "It is traditionally granted." he murmurs.

"True. I wonder how humble they will find our dungeon."

"Oh. Well, then...." She flickers a hand, and her blade appears, glinting viciously in the torchlight of the room. "Are you sure?"

August's face remains impassive.

"Not you, Baroness" Seneca says "Let one of us fight your Liam. Since you expect us to serve one. Unnless.. of course, the lawyer need hide behind you?"

Mirwin smirks a that

"Hmm. So...you are demanding that one of you fight for the trial of both? And you are challenging Baron August? I have that clear?"

The sluagh rattle with laughter.

"Sword to sword , Mirwin is better than I" Seneca says "But either of us"

"They challenge -your- judgement, Baroness." softly "As the challenged, you have choice of weapon, location, time.... and champion. Standard duel commandments."