#earthrunes

The nocker may have missed Nelson, but her companions are noisy.

It takes her a bit to notice the sidhe kid she just joined. He's a boy, dressed in an assassin's creed kind of outfit , IF that outtfit came in black with silver trim. He has a note pad, and pencil, and is trying NOT to be noticed

And yes, the Never Chimes and draws more attenion

Mutter. "Didn't see you."

She pushes up to her feet.

"I was spying" He admits "Why are your spirals gray?"

"They're fine."

"If you say so, but WHY are tthey gray?" Curious "I'm Nelson, Squire to Sir Earl. He's a troll. But he lets me practice my snooping." A look up "You have cool hair"

"Are you an Eiluned or Ailil?"

"I asked you first. See , Miss Zara would have us sip tea and trade questions, but she's sneakier than she looks, she hides MORE questions in her offer of tea, and you can give up 10 answers before the first sip and official trade begins" A whisper "She's sneaky. I learn a lot from her"

"I don't know. They just change."

"I'm Eiluned" He answers "But Dame Claire is Ailil. She's a warrior and kind of Captain of the guard here. I heard you're from Silverwolf. Are there a lot of Ailil there? They're Eiluned's brother house, you know?"

"The Baron is. But just him, really."

"Baroness is a Varich."

"Just one? Huh... " A cough "Your turn to ask a question now that you answered"

The boy seems to be trying to play by some rules here, at least for now

"Is... Miss Zara Eiluned?"

"Miss Zara is not Eiluned, she should be, but that's neither here nor there" he says with a tisk, sad that somethings that should be aren't, "She's a sluagh, and a librarian, and... more. " Then he asks "What do you like most about Silverwolf?"

"A sluagh? Aren't they scary?"

"Ahem" A brow "You have to answer my question before I answer that"

"Um."

"They're nice."

He wrinkles his nose, clearly he hoped for more, but he nods "Sluagh are very scary. They're a nightmare kith. Sir Earl says they're far more Edgar Allen Poe than Stephen King. They like creepy things, and wigging you out. One time, I tried tto snneak into the library without Miss Zara hearing, but of course she did" A sigh, but he brrightens "She had her back to me, but she turned her head like an OWL ... kinda and said 'your breathing gives you away, maybe if you stopped breathing?' and it was cool and spooky " he grins "But that's her being nice. If a sluagh wants to scare you and doesn't like you? It stops being fun. They have a bad reputation as a kith. I guess you could say no one trusts the Sluagh plural, but the lucky folks find A sluagh they trust"

He mutters somethin to something skittering in his cowl "Yes yes, I realize you're prrobably reporting this. I'm sure she understands"

"We have sluagh, but they don't go to the hold."

"Well, Varich make them nervous. Bad blood between them" He sighs "Such a shame. Sir Sergei isn't so bad, if grumpy." A thought and he asks "I saw you guys went to see the Seer. What did he help you with?"

She frowns.

the boy looks up at her, big eyed and curious

"Arty needed help."

"Well, that's a who not what, but..." He lets it go, for now "Your question, please? And thannk you by the way. this is good practice for me"

"I don't have any."

"Oh, questions are easy... very frustrating with pooka though. I tried this with Enri, and he asked me things like 'Why is blue sad?' and "Why do folks say they'e just being honest when really they're just being cruel?' I mean, really? how am I Supposed to know that?" Eye roll

"Pooka can be tough."

"I know, but fun ttoo so it balances out. After I got banished, i was worried I wouldnn't have friends, but the pooka here are. There's Poppy and Enri and Isis for the kids, but Zing and Emma, and Shallimar and Vince arre cool too even if they're old. Oh, and Vashti, but she's kind of on the creepy side too . Moth pooka. Anyway, nicee thing about pooka is you cann talk to them, ad sure they learn too much, but it's nnot like they can share your secrets easy. Who is your best friend? "

"Um. Art?"

"He's a fledge, too."

Her spirals shift, less grey and more dusty rose.

"Oh. I hope he's Eiluned. We're rreally rather amazing "A smile "But I'm sure he'll be cool whatever house he is."

"Well, Eiluned like stars."

"He likes stars? Oh... he'd probably love the Seer's celing, well, that and..." And the boy stops and bites his lip

"And?"

"Well, We have this thane, Oswald? He has a secret.. the secret isn't that he likes star wars. the secret is what's in his room. he never told anyone, but I know. " smug look

This may surprise Zara and Four both! For she had no idea Oswald had something 'secret worthy' in his room. The man has never been shy about his cosplay

"Yeah?"

"mm well, do you have a secret to trade? "

The boy says "It's the principle of the thing"

"I don't have any secrets, I don't think."

"Sorry."

"Ah, well, you'll just have to sneak around the old fashioned way, or trade something esle if you want." A sigh "it's really cool too. If you want my advice, it might be worth the trouble trying to get into Thane Oswald's room"