#earthrunes

She looks up from her tea "Miss Zara?"

"Miss Velvet."

"Miss Zara, my apologies, but I bear..unpleasant news"

An eyebrow, and she gestures at the chair opposite.

She takes her seat there "It is regarding the Leanhaunn prisoner"

"...Aye?"

"One of our kind found her before the Baron did. But unlike the baron, he was caught.... Zara, it was the same sluagh I suspect you sained"

"...What?"

"Just so, the one you pulled away from the sidhe applicants. he's the one she caught"

"Was he found in the raid? I hadn't heard."

"no, we learned of her thanks to Vince. He was... given to Sir Demyon of Bloody oak barony " A beat "A varich"

Hissssss.

"Well, that cannot stand." Zara rises, immediately crossing to fetch her soothsay supplies.

"I researched it, the Bloody Oak Barony is based around Red Oak ... Iowa. Southwestern part"

"...Near the DeBukes."

She fills the silver basin with water.

"Well, opposing corner from the DeBukes but they might konw more"

"Compared to us? And with the vision?"

"Nay, too close."

She stirs the water with a fingertip, and a mist gathers. "show me."

A simple enough bunk... but then, Zara knows his Name.

Zara breaks through the feeble protections and wards the varich put up with ridiculous ease. She knows his true name. there is no tie stronger

Perhaps one... but then, she knows Earl's Name, too.

Hissss.

"Good good, he's been a good teacher and fine sport" Sir Demyon , a wilder himself, smiles thinly "I would hate to lose him. This world corrupts us, makes us forget the heritage... ttoo many varich are willing to endure these creatures. but there those that know to excel, they must practice. how better to learn how ot hunt sluagh than this mmm?"

"Yes .." and the troll moves on, Zara's view following the sluagh he caries. They approach ...kennels. wire mesh cages with laced bars too small for all but a few sluagh to squirm through ... there must be 15 of them at least. Miserable, wiating for rotted food.

How many are occupied?

"Guard them" the trroll says to two dogs "Watch them"t

Zara frowns.

"1122, get Earl."

1122 salutes and goes to do just that

the image begins to fade, but Zara can see a redcap too, pokig at another cage

Zara holds on as she can, searing details into her memory.

Oh, she looks at each slau face behind each cage, the troll alarms her too. He looks vagguely DeBukish... he could be a 2nd cousin, or maybe a coincidece ?

And there's the redcap. Now the cap seems to love his work

Of course he does. She wrinkles her nose.

"Zara?" Earl asks

"Earl!"

"There... we must needs make haste."

"Velvet - in my room, in the nightstand, you shall find a compass which glows with glamour. It is a treasure. Fetch it, please."

Velvet puts her hand over her heart, and goes

Earl says "no wonder 1122 told me to bring my sword"

"Aye. We have much to do. A rescue."

And Zara shares what she knows.

"A troll is helping" He looks disgusted by it all, but that strikes to kith pride