#earthrunes

August nods, looking at the tabletop.

"I am sure she shall persist for a long time, without ever properly shrivelling into decrepitude. Pity."

August offers a faint smile. "All my prayers are to that end. Persisting, not the shrivelling."

"Don't worry, Zara love. You'll be tthe most amazingg Crone since grandmother yaga herself"

"I could see if there is a trick to have her properly decay!"

Loving eyes up at the troll. "Aye?"

"Ah, no need, Zara. Thank you. I'm not sure how she would take that, ah, advancement."

"Alas."

"Aye" Earl says with confidence "Your skin shall be worn and wrinkled just so. Your nails grown long like old talons, your shoulders magnificently slumped but proud..."

"Such sweet talk from my poet."

HE blushes

August clears his throat. "Would you like some privacy?"

"Ah, apologies, August, didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. So.. who would YOU want for heir?"

"Not at all, Earl." and it doesn't -seem- he's uncomfortable "I haven't thought about it overmuch, actually."

" I figured Hume might have got you thinking" A consideration "Shame you have two squires already"

"Ah. Nelson."

"Yeah. He's already snooping around the place"

"I am.... " She pauses, listening for spies.

"You are....?"

She doesn't hear any. The boggan cleaning creates background noise that should obsure eavesdroppers somewhat

"I am fond of him."

"Me too. " Earl admits "he thinks my paintings are cool. So my ego got a fluff "

August smiles. "Perhaps he could be -your- heir."

Another little laugh.

"Nay - Velvet is well on her way..."

"Yes, Velvet will be a wonderful librarian herself one day if she pursues that path" Earl says

"Mind you, Velvet IS August's squire and happily so" An apologietic look to August "Zara seems to have stolen a lot of your squire's time but I think with your approval?"

"Absolutely." August agrees.

"I'm glad they have each other's company."

"Well, in fairness - August is also a steward of the Library."

Earl doesn't make a comment there

"We all contribute." he lifts his tea cup.

"Precisely."

Earl nods, then blinnks as his phone goes off. He gets a text and looks "Pardon me. "

"Mm." August gestures 'go ahead'.

Zara leans in to peek.

But he's already putting it away "I have to make a call. Maybe a bit. You two have tea talk, catch up" he smiles

Fuss!

And he vanishes!

Oh he's .. he.ooo!

"I'm sure everything is well."

"Feh!"

"It must have been important, Zara." he says kindly "To take him away from you even for a moment."

"Aye. But he kept it a secret."

"I shall torment him later." She sips her tea.

"Something to look forward to." he agrees.

"True."

"Now, what do you think of Hume?"

"I haven't had much time to consider it. I have some sympathy for him, to be honest."

"Coradel..... is not entirely comfortable with the situation."