#earthrunes

Rumors that August has died spread like wild fire...

shocked looks

gasps

disbelief

shock

This maybe especially surprising to August who keeps having folks peek in to check on him at his office and looking relieved, then going again

It is puzzleing, certainly.

"Oh thank goodness," Delores says "Sorry, I knew it was crazy when I heard it, but I had to check. Sorry, Baron"

"Heard.... it?"

"Well, folks said you had died" She blinks "Got on the boggan gossip chain"

"What??"

"Why would anyone think that?"

"I'm not sure who started it..." She admits

"I have theories though. I don't think most folks believed it, but they were curious"

"I'd like to know where that kind of rumor comes from. Steward, think of what would have happened if Coradel heard it."

"Oh thank goodness she's out... "

"Yes." he puts down the pen and stands. "Steward, where did this rumor come from?"

"I don't know, Lord." She answers "if I did I'd nip it in the bud"

"But you have theories. Will you share them with me?"

"I think we're dealing with a pooka" SHe says simply "I don't know which one"

August sighs. "It is not necessarily a short list." he observes.

"Well, we have Shallimar, most likely suspect to be sure, Vashti his lady and seamstress who does have a streak for the morbid, Vince.. .though it doesn't seem his style unless he's wearing a black veil and dress, Enri, Isis and Poppy .. childlings can be trouble. Oh, and Zing, the fledge"

"I can't imagine Vince would do anything to hurt Coradel, or be ignorant of the pain such a rumor would cause her."

"Shallimar adores her too, that might take him off the list"

"And through him, Vashti? And the childlings.... perhaps less likely?"

"Never Enri, he's such a sensitive boy"

"Do you know Zing at all well?"

"I know she's skittish one minute, mischeeavous the next and.. oh dear.. she DOES want to impress VInce and Shallmiar? You don't think she might have tested herself? Fledges do make mistakes"

A sigh. "I think it might be best to speak with her first. Do you have a relationship with her?"

"Not.. so much."

"I hardly know her either." he nods "Very well then, I'll speak with her. Will you have a word with the childlings, just in case?"

"I shall" A nod "Ludmila and Baxter will know if they've crossed a line"

And off she goes, leaving August to hunt Zing down

"Hunt"is not exactly the right word, but he does go looking for her.

Zing is wearing dark clothes and carrying a single blue rose in her vest

August approaches. "Reports of my death seem to have been exagerated, Miss Zing."

"G.. G. GHOST!" Her eyes widen

"But.. they put up your obituary!"

"I'd like to speak to you about that, Miss Zing."

She pulls out a newspaper..well, it looks like an advertisement section perhaps for lawn equipment AUGUST HAS PASSED in large letters. Then, below it, suggestions for rakes and leaf blowers! On sale!

A sigh. "Is it possible you had to do with spreading this news?"

A blush "I plead the 5th Commandment"

"Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” he says automatically.

"Somehow I don't think that's what you mean." not unkindly.

"If this rumor had reached Baroness Coradel, there could have been significant and perhaps unforseen consequences."

At that, her whiskers droop "Baroness Corabell?"

"Dell, yes."

((AFK))

"Oh.. she's going to be angry?"

"It is possible." calmly, kindly.