#earthrunes

"Ah." August is disappointed, but nods "Would you ask Squire Velvet to attend us?" then, to Laurent "I hope my Squire will provide entry to your local society in Mistress Zara's place."

"How kind" The sluagh says

Benny bows "Yes Lord, right away" and he runs off

"Are there any sights of inyerest you would care to visit while you are here?" Politely killing time.

"Biographies I suppose"

"We have those."

"Our library is open to you, of course..." August starts "Zara?" He smiles warmly "I thought you were away."

A turn, Laurent St. Yves fashionable gothic cloak whirls as if whipped in the wind

And he bows low, hand on chest

"I have returned." Zara inclines her head.

"Yes, of course. May I present a visitor, Mr. Laurent St Yves. Mr St Uves, our Mistress Zara."

"an honor, miss zara."

"Likewise, I'm sure. May I help you gentlemen?"

"Tea?" August offers.

"Cursed by conscience and driven by pursuit, I am seeking a matter regarding one of our fallen, which may have links here, Miss Zara. "

She raises an eyebrow. "Indeed. Please, enter..." She slips past them to open the library door.

"I will go see when the Baroness might be available. Zara, Mr St Yves has accepted our hospitality. May I impinge on you to see him quartered when you are done?"

"I shall implore upon Miss Ivanka, aye."

"Thank you." He bows and withdraws.

"A most extrodinary fellow for his kith," Mr. St Yves says after August is gone, "As mannerly as lace, but there is a strength, like a strong hand under the cuff"

Zara nods. "He is a good friend."

"Yes, those are gone so..." It seems the scent of rain has entered the area, "Far too quickly." Tea is served as Ivanka sets up a tray in the library

The maid departs, and St. Yves pulls the chair for Zara, "You have heard, I trust, of a legendary member of our kith now facing justice?"

"I think 'infamous' more than 'legendary' would be apt."

"He was a hero ... once, I suppose he truly did long enough to become the villain," A sigh escapes him like a rustle through the reeds

"I have heard naught of his heroics."

"I've done my best to hide his lore at times, for good or ill, this time he asked too much," A sigh "I have, among other paths, acted as a bounty hunter"

"This time, I denied him, it was too far," A sip "But I could not bring myself to fight him. Now I hope to make amends in small ways"

"Indeed?"

"I come seeking permission from the baroness here as it is her demense, and also as it smooths investigations when you can say "I have spoken to the local lord and...' ... it's a way to borrow their name without bending too far too them," The dreaming seems to flux a bit about him. Just as some might have musrhoom rings form about them, his appears to be more gothic. it's soothing

"To an extent, aye. But our kith has our own rules, and our own hierarchy."

"I am aware" his dark eyes glimmer with a touch of sad humor, "And that is why I speak to you as well beyond the good company and hope of access to fine books. I have reason to believe one of Leech's bolt holes is HERE in the Barony"

"Indeed?"

"Indeed, miss Zara, I am.. i fear I am offending with my verbosity" A blush "A gentleman shoudln't spill the tea in a gaping rush after all. How fare you? How like you the area?" He has nearly monopolized the converstion, a Dickersonian crime

"Ah - I do find it most agreeable. I have a library, after all."

"And it is a breath taking repository of knowledge," A happy look "Not a CD or DVD in sight."

"Oh, no.. no.. though perhaps a media library would be a good project for Hume..."

"I suppose," A wrinkle of a nose, "My biases are rather affixed I fear."

"Hume is a Dougal. It is best to manage them by directing their energy."

"Lest he decide to improve the library."

A shudder, "OH yes. I see your point. I find the steam punk craze tolerable" he admits "Not that it matters what I like, Dougals will dougal. I wish you luck directing him."

"He has been scanning children's books." A gentle shrug. "It keeps him busy."

"Ah, well, for the childlings" A soft nod, "If it interests you, I am seeking many of leech's books. Would you do me the honor of purusing a few I find?" He is not offering to give them, but still

"Mm. We have already started seeking them."

"Ah, pride goeth before the fall, my hubris made transparent," He inclines his head "Of course you would have. It seems everyone is, even non sluagh. I therefore take advantage of the edge I have"

"Now, collegial courtesy... we help each other, lest some Eiluned snatch the prize?"

"It is my hope your books will help me narrow down my search," He confides , "Hence my offer to allow you to look over my findings. Would this not suffice?" A glimmer not of amusement, but of enjoyment of this exchange. He senses she wants more than to merely be the arrow on his quest's compass.

"If they reside on our turf, why should we relinquish them at all?"

"Delightful, you are as resolute as any Bronte heroine"

A chirrup from above!