#earthrunes

A soft chuff and she embraces him.

they hold onto each other delightfully

a soft knock on the door

"Mmm. Who is it?" Her whisper might not actually carry.

"Squire velvet" a whisper back barely heard and only by another sluagh

"Come in." She steps back from Earl, for decorum's sake.

Earl makes sure her garment has no trace of fuss then does likewise

Velvet enters "Pardon the intrusion. When I realized you returned i htought you might wish an update to.. well, it's been an active time since you returned"

"Aye? Very much so. I see you did an excellent job cataloging and placing our new accessions."

"thank you, of course you may wish to put your personal touch on those. However, it is of the noble acquisitions I thought you should know"

"Aye?"

"Yes, you see, while the Baron and Baroness were gone- well, Lord Hume was acting Regent. And Squire Nelson was held for.. liege napping"

"Oh dear! Is all well? Nelson saved 1122...."

And Velvet catches them up ..phrases like "quite timid for a baron... " and "bargained for ice cream..." and mention of "Vince, being the velvet purr in the then regent's ear"

"Ah, Vince."

"So... Squire Nelson is still here? Have you made his acquaintance yet?"

"only briefly. He seems a precious lad with a penchant for stealth ..for a sidhe. His curiosity may make him a challenge to deal with however.. having found a liege for myself, I am sympathetic to him for his hopes for a knight"

"Mmm. The Seer is Eiluned, but we haven't many others here."

"Minerva.. at least we suspect. Still, yes, what knight he might get remains open if he gets one at all. I do not think he will want a Dougal knight, not after Alabaster Hollow" Velvet considers

"Well..." A sigh and a nod.

"Perhaps Jennette, but I don't think she wants one" Earl says

"Mayhaps. But EIluned and Beaumayn ought to be a fair match..."

"Maybe" Earl says

in the shadows just outside, a boy strains to hear his fate being discussed

and then..zara realizes something shuffled EVER so slightly outside the library

"Still, he would be a welcome addition - should his ears survive the burning."

Nelson touches his ears. Good. Still same temp.

However, Velvet and Earl both get it.

Velvet looks..annoyed.

"Eiluned, Velvet."

Earl says "Though if you ladies want I can flicker flash him back to that time out you mentioned"

"I'm allowed in the hallway" A protest then the sound of a kid covering his mouth

"It would be polite to knock."

"but then you'd know I was listening" he points out

'We DO know" earl says

"Drat"

She smiles.

And there's a knock

Zara opens the door.

"I wanted to see how 1122 is doing" Squire Nelson says a the door "How's he feeling?"

"He is doing well. Would you like to meet the Sisters? I could pour tea..."

"Velvet, you will, of course, join us?"

"of course" Velvet says

"the sisters? Uh sure" the boy says

Una, unsurprisingly, is the first to descend on a silken tether.

"COol" he says and they have a happy introduction indeed

And it turns to a time of spider introductions.. and tea. Which he can enjoy if it's laden with sugar

(End Scene)