#earthrunes

Of course, Velvet was delighted to go on the hunt, and thanked her lord. She also mentioned to zara that if an 8 leggged friend wanted a ride along, she might not might something arachid in her hair

And of course, Quatre is very fond of Velvet...

and so, Quatre slips into Velvet's hair , and , well, it's possible they don't tell Mr. St. Yves it's three not two

**********************************

August taps on the door of Coradel's working space; where she tends to Barony business. Not unlike his own study but with a very different atmosphere.

"Enter!" she calls out lightly, her tone distracted. When he comes in, he'll find her sitting crosslegged in an armchair, her shoes tossed aside and her knees peeking slightly through her distressed jeans. She's reading information in a folder.

She glances up as he comes in. "Ah! August," she smiles.

He pauses to take the sight in, and smiles at her in return.

"Hello."

"If you are busy, this can wait. Nothing of great import."

"Oh, no..." she sets the folder aside and gestures him to the neighboring armchair, reaching to take his hand as he approaches.

His hand she shall have, as he sits. "I spoke with Velvet; she's gone to accompany Mr. St Yves."

"Oh, good. Yes...I'm glad to allow him to pursue his investigation, but I expect that EarthRunes will be informed of his findings."

A quick smile. "I think Zara will make sure of it."

"I do hope so. I know that there are understandings among sluagh. Secrets respected, and so forth."

"Oh, certainly. But I believe she will care for EarthRunes as well."

"I believe that." Then a sigh. "I wish I had known more about the arrival of other centaurs, and of their rescue. I'm learning more about it now," she gestures to the folder.

"May I?" he gestures to the papers.

"Oh, yes, please..." she reaches for the folder and passes it to him. She picks up a nearby wineglass and has a sip as he begins to read. "Do you want anything to drink, August?" she indicates a drinks cart in the corner.

"Mm... no thank you?" He skims across the dossier.

Within the folder are reports of a collaborated effort from three separate holds in Apples, a two-pronged attack, and a daring rescue of many centaurs and the capture of Leech.

He nods as he reads, falling into the words the way he does, oblivious of other things for a brief time.

She watches him read, sipping her wine. She appreciates the wave of his hair, the sweep of his eartip, his serious expression...oh, it's not hardship to enjoy watching him read!

He looks up, setting the papers aside. "Unsurprisingly, this matches and adds to what I'd heard about already. It is of some concern, if Leesh had a secret hideout here."

She nods. "Makes me wonder what else he was up to. I very much look forward to seeing what St Yves discovers."

"Part of me wants to go looking as well." August admits.

"Part of me wants to find where he's being held and take a riding crop to him, and that's just for starters."

"Ah. Probably best we don't know, exactly, then."

"Oh, you can't tell me you begrudge me the wish."

"No, certainly not." gravely "Leech seems to be a most vile creature."

"Absolutely. They'd better have a good plan for how to punish him."

"I admit, the idea of his longevity is... fascinating. I would like to know more."

"Yes, it seems strange to me. I always thought those who lived long had somehow found some sort of balance, some kind of peace...not someone who wishes such ill on other creatures."

"Classically, it's not that one person has increased longevity; rather, that several people take on the persona of a single person, in succession." he smiles shyly "The Dread Pirate Roberts, for example."

"Well, yes, of course," she says, returning the smile. "But that's not the case here."

"No?"

"Well, don't you think so? What do you find so fascinating about it, otherwise?"

"We have accounts of his capture, but other than that it's rumors and stories. I don't know if there have been more than one Leech, or one long-lived Leech. Either way, it is interesting."

Coradel takes back the folder and looks at the contents again, frowning slightly. "Something about this....hm...odd. for some reason I got the impression it had been just his one life."

"I did scan quickly." August admits.

"Well..." she closes the folder. "if it turns out that it's a tradition of Leeches, we must make sure to interfere with his sucessor."

August nods. "Without question. Hopefully Mr St Yves will have more information."

"What did you make of him? St Yves?"

"Rather.... dashing, in a windswept and mysterious kind of way."

"Yes, he says that is part of his nature, that additional...atmosphere. Very dramatic."

"And... a bounty hunter."

"I wonder if Magnus might know anything about him."

"Oh, very likely. We should certainly conference with him about this."

"Perhaps dinner with him and Claire."

"I know they have been occupied with planning the future; have you spoken with her recently?"