#earthrunes

"Sorry, forgot some of you like bugs" The Eshu corrects

"Sluagh are different." A simple shrug.

Her eyes widen at the Atlas... "Curious.."

"Tziporah?"

"the update, there's a blank spot.. near it" She shows "Blurred out"

Her brows draw together and she crosses over to her si-... to the eshu. "Curious."

Yes, looks like at the edges of Brightwinds. Curious indeed, a magic must be shielding the area there. The Atlas is normally quite good

Zara touches the blank spot with one hand, and her temple with the other as magic gathers.

"Magic reveal to me, that which another would not have me see..."

For a moment, she feels resistance that's most impressive, then... a glimpse of steamtech mine carts, dark tunnels light by balefire castings ... nockers and ..Wichtels?

The sluagh's grey lips curl into a smile.

"Wait, I see it, there's another hold I.. annd it's gone again"

The Eshu's voice bring's Zara's attenntion to the Atlas which has smudged slightly a that same spot

"Tis hidden. From casual observers, at least. Wish you to see it?"

"After all, we have Jinn to meet for Miss Lily..."

Tziporah taps her foot againns the floor "I feel rather challenged to be honest. Eshu go where they will, and only fate blocks OUR Paths"

Earl looks amused, for her has heard similar boasts about sluagh from his trueheart. He gives Zara a tickled look as if to say 'remind you of anyone?'

"There is no easy trod to Bright Winds, and as a fledge, they would imperil you.... ach, Mine Love, thy face is loud." She sticks her tongue out at him, without rancor.

That just makes his eyes sparkle all the more

"Huh?" Lily looks up "But he's not saying anything"

"Trolls hath their own language. A sluagh might even envy its subtlety."

At that Earl gives a head bob of respect and thankns for the praise

Tziporah arches a brow, but gets back to the subject "Can Earl take us close?"

Zara's eyes sparkle back at him.

"Mine Love knows the way to Bright Winds, aye. What think you, Earl? Should we turn an uncaring eye to this mystery?"

"I think it pleases my lady, it pleases me" He takes her hand and kisses the knuckle.

LIly wrinnkles her nose.

Tziporah blushes a bit. Possibly the Eshu has a romantic side of her own

Zara glows. It seems there is summer, still. "Well! Shall we go? If I take some of our duplicates to 'donate.' that should talk us past the Baroness and her Gwydion."

"Her Gwydion? You mean Catir? the only childling who took your creepy witch of the library role as a challenge?" Earl teases and admits "I always liked her"

"Oh, Caitir is amusing enough. But yes."

"She was not properly terrified? How rude" Lily observes

Earl gathers some dross, readying a bunk

Zara collects a basket of books - some from Fen, some from her own acquisitions.

"Oh, she learned respect well enough. I do not fault her manners."

Tziporah smiles "Sounds like a story."

"Let's just say, Catir did not win, and learned her lessons, but she always came back for more lessons still. " earl tells Lily and tziporah "And Zara played her part exquisitely despite my teasing. One day my lady shall be a crone that children of kith and man alike whisper of... they will play games where they spin around a midnight and call ou the name she has told tthem so they can imagine her image... then panic as she whisperrs their name in the reflection"

He sounds proud, and believes it!

Another quiet smile. "And thou mayest watch it all from thine imprisonment in my garret, Love."

Lily tilts her head, okay THIS doesn't sound so gross.

Tziporah on the other hand raises a brow "Different stokes for different folks I guess. " She looks eager to go

Zara slides her arm through Earl's, and offers out a hand to the childings - whichever may take it first.

Earl smiles wolfishly "Ready, my love?"

And hands are held and....

a rush of energy

and they are away

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

August gets waylaid by Leonora, well, okay, she grabs his arm and gives him a kiss on hte cheek

"Ah. Hello?"

"Hey. Fought crazy cold one wizards. Happy to be alive. Did you know Cyborgs were a thing?"