#earthrunes

The male centaur looks about, a big burly fellow.

And seeing August he says "Hey, little buddy, sorry to trouble you. I'm a bit lost"

The handsome, quiet Sidhe blinks. "Ah. How may I help?"

Although the idea of accepting help from this one is.... wrong. Somehow.

"Ah, well.." The big guy scratches his chin, "I understand Clem, that is.. Chief Clem? She has a friennd here, a librarian. I was hoping to find her bu I'm lost"

"Our librarian is Mistress Zara. I can take you to the library, Mister......?"

"Buck, just Buck.. say, pardonn me, but are you sick?" A curious look

"No. Why?"

"Sorry, somehing feels off about you. No offense meant though I can't blame you if you're annoyed by that phrase"

An oddly humble nod from a Sidhe, even odder from this one in specific. "I am of House Liam." mildly, without shame or false pride.

"Ah, yeah, I feel bad. I actually know a troll Liam, decent guy. Apoloigies.. hey I don't know your name, Little Buddy"

"There are not many trolls in my House; perhaps I am acquainted with your, ah, acquaintance. I am August Truthbranch."

"Sir Franklyn... Good guy. " He gives the name "Formerly a Mountain if you know wha that entails. Anyway, nice to meet you, August. And yeah, love to see the Libray"

"Sir Franklyn King of Rivervale." August nods "We have met. A most revered member of House Liam. If you will follow me?" and August leads Buck to the library.

A spider drops from above to alight on August's shoulder. Not 1122, more delicate - one of the ladies.

But does August notice?

He follows, trotting along "Okay, this place is nice. Wide halls"

"On behalf of Baroness Coradel, Mistress of EarthRunes, I thank you."

"Said to be a beauty and a fighter" He nods.

"I hear stories over drinnnks. Even trolls can get chatty once the booze flows" A smile

"Mm."

"She really figght a Shadow Court Siege?"

"She did." with quiet pride.

"Damn" Impressed grin "Love the farm, but it can be quiet. now that I'm sained maybe I'll get a bit of a tussle to help folks"

"Unfortunately, it seems there is always combat somewhere." he agrees.

"Oh I'm not big on bleeding, but I'm even less good with folks who can't defend themselves getting victimized" He comes to the library door "mm looks a bit tighter in here . But thanks"

August knocks softly and cracks the door open to call in a whisper "Zara?"

"Salutations!" chimes the bookwyrm, as Bronte swoops down to greet August.

She circles Buck with curiosity. "A Centaur has a man-stomach and a horse-stomach. And of course both want breakfast. So first of all he has porridge and pavenders and kidneys and bacon and omlette and cold ham and toast and marmalade and coffee and beer. And after that he tends to the horse part of himself by grazing for an hour or so and finishing up with a hot mash, some oats, and a bag of sugar. That's why it's such a serious thing to ask a Centaur to stay for the weekend. A very serious thing indeed."

"Okay, that's just neat" he says eyingg the Chimera "Hey, I have an appetite. Sue me"

"Bronte, darling?" A whisper as Zara emerges from the stacks. "Be polite to our guests."

"Ah, Miss Zara? you may not know me well... I'm Buck? I think we'd seen each other at the farm once?" The big centaur smiles

"Ah, yes. Greetings and salutations." A hand splayed over her heart and a small bow.

"Hey" A nod back "August here was nice enough to guide me. I was hoping for your help?"

"Aye?" A smile for August.

"I'm.. there's this centauress.. and .well, not to tell tales, no pun intended, but we hit it off. I mean, what a woman, but she always runs off after. I was hopinn you could help me find out WHO she is? It sounds ccrazy but we've been 'horsing around' for months. She likes me. I like her But I can't figure out where she comes from. I get she might not want to have just one fellow but I'd like to find her, plead my case. I've heard you're great at mystery solving."

A soft sigh. "Ah."

"I can pay. I'm no charity case" Pride "I've learned to work the smithy, been saving up dross"

"August, could you excuse us?"

"Oh, of course." he nods respectfully to Zara, and in farewell to Buck. "Excuse me." and he withdraws.

Buck ttells August "thanks again for the directions, little buddy"

Then he turns to Zara

"My thanks, August."

A nod, and he is gone.

"So... if you'd help a guy out? I'd b grateful"

"So... tell me of this mystery lady?" She gestures at a rug - an open enough place for Buck to 'sit' as she prepares tea.

"Centauress... a mane like golden wheat. Eyes so blue you could drink from them. Sassy toss to her head like she's here to have fun...fit, no frail thing.. but with a midriff so sculpted you'd think a master molder forrmed it. She's a .. not a tease, but she challenges you, wants you to put in some work, and she's show some energggy too. " He smiles "I think she has a lott more on her mind than she lets on... but she tries to play the carefree sort. Truth is, she does care. I've seen it. She visits that farm, but not for me. She loves it. you can see it in her eyes"

"Mm-hmm. Visits, you say? From where?"

"That I don't know" he admits "She appears , catches me alone and.." A big ole grin comes up "Well, I TRY to be a gent"

"Ah." Polite!