#earthrunes

"I'll make sure our storm isn't feeling too frisky" She says deadpan at mention of assasisnation, "And thank you. Hearth Agnes wants to make amends to a certain someone and it's somewhat balooned since." A sigh "Now where was I? Oh yes, that was the original reason for coming here. But another cropped up"

August looks a little uncertain, but nods.

"Oh? Something beyond the party?"

"Yes, related to House Liam. Which is why I came to August first . No offense, Coradel, though I figure he'd want not mind you hearing it. I thought about going to Jude but I know your husband better and Sparrow's a fer piece off trod wise"

"No offense taken," she says easily. "I will leave if you wish, August."

August hasn't been slouching but he is more attentive now, somehow. "Your departure is nothing I wish for but at the moment I cannot know if it would be wise to ask you to stay." he says sincerely "If you ladies will allow me, I might stop the Chieftain and ask to meet with you later, should the subject grow, ah, sensitive. If you both agree?"

Coradel smiles and nods, and settle back in her chair to listen.

"Fine, you'll know more of what this means than I do, but does the diary of Sister Melisande interest the House?"

Spider perk!

A blank look from Coradel.

August goes very still and blank.

"A diary?"

"Near as I know the story, High King Liam was dishonored on account of his pursuit of her... a mortal nun that was an amazing dreamer, plucked up by a Gwydion lord for spit's sake if I hear tell? Some Liams say that story is just an excuse tha there other reasons annnd I believe it. But Sister Melisande did exist, and she was, a times, enchanted, mused and so on. Apparently there's rumor of a diary she kept, in French, of her mysterious benefactor"

A blink of dawning realization as Clem recounts the tale.

She reaches to touch August's hand.

August clears his throat. "I... have, ah, heard that story. Yes. Rumor...." at Coradel's touch he pauses and glances at her, then back to Clem ".... Rumor of a diary though.... no."

"Now, we actually have less grief with Liam than most houses, they were neutral in the accordance war it's said. But we are still a might hostile to nobles period despite schooling some of them. But we are trying to change so when this came into our possession..." She hands over a manilla envelope "Took forever to decode it"

"It should be checked, verified... and protected." A whisper at Clem's elbow.

"You decoded...oh! Miss Zara, hello."

That shakes his composure. He does not, however, reach for the envelope. "You .... have it? That is this, ah, alleged diary?"

"Hi,Zara..and no, sir.. uhm Baron. That is a letter from one of your house brothers talking of his search for it and how he found it wand where he believes it is"

"A book quest?"

"Ahh." And then she smiles at Zara's eager tone.

"Ah." He reaches out and takes the envelope. "Hello, Zara." a brief, distracted smile to her, and then "Thank you, Chieftain."

The spider (Unidecim) settles on Zara's shoulder.

"Hello, aye. So... a book quest? A lost diary?"

"How did you come across that, Chieftain?" Coradel asks, nodding towards the envelope.

"well ahem.. not to be rude, but this is not a matter of right of rescue or haven or anything else required of the farmhold, there fore, we would like to point out that if this leads to the true find- there will be a debt of gratitude to the DeBuke farm from house Liam"

August looks the envelope over.

A bemused look as the troll negotiates with August.

"I was going to ask what would recompense you and yours for this information, Chieftain." August agrees.

If he opens it, there is a slip of paper, but the ink is chimeical

"Access to all troll lore of antiquity that we have lost but House Liam knows sounds good" Clem says

Zara's eyes follow the letter. It would be rude to lean over August's shoulder, but oh, she can want to.

A blink. "That sounds like quite a large price. Still...." She looks at the envelope in August's hands.

He does -not- open it.

And he takes a deep breath, nods, and offers it back. "Chieftain, perhaps you should hold onto this for now. I cannot negotiate on behalf of my entire House." with genuine regret "But I will take your information and offer to them."

"Will you allow us to revisit this?"

BIG SAD EYES.

"August..." Coradel murmurs. "Surely Jude would trust your voice in this matter?"

She takes it back "I understand, and, I should say, what I said was an opening haggle as it were. But you can hardly blame us. We have lost much"

"And, surely, troll lore would belong with trolls..."

"Indeed, that seems only just."

"And yes.. though it won' be kept at the farm. Not that I want to say mean things but almos every House seems to have it's ah.. aquisition specallists?"

A deep breath.

"I understand, of course. THank you for keeping it safe. Chieftain, I do trust you to protect that information."

"I will contact my House today."

"I assure you, we're not going to sell it to some OTHER Noble house ... not like we trust many of them I remind you"

"And I hope this , yea or nay doesn't keep you from joining us for that little shin dig?"

August looks at Coradel mildly, his expression bland.