#earthrunes

*******

While August works, 1122 returns to the library and to the sisters, each greeting him in her own way

Some as a brother, or as a comrade, some with respect to his experience.... Octa, of course, with a mixture of sass and exasperation.

He is happy to see them all. Of course, Octa's sass and exasperation is the most fun for him, encouraging him to placate or lightly tease!

Bronte watches the spiders interact with patience. They long ago learned to co-exist, she and the spiders. Indeed, as more than a few of the sisters are avid readers, she's made some friends. Bronte sniffs. She smells new book smell on 1122, but sees nothing. Vexing!

But she's learned some restraint with time and her librarian's example. She'll get her claws on this new book, whereever it is, and make it hers, oh yes.

the call of the hoard is present in every dragon, and let her 'regular' cousin think what they wanted, William Goldman is better than Gold, Robert Silverberg better than Silver. And yes, she would rather have even the less than subtle Stephen King rather than a king's ransom. The Bronte books from which she got her name? Oh, those are objects de arte to her. Pride bound up in them

Yes, she thinks with pride and pleasure, 'regular dragons' have inferior hoards to Boowkryms. She surveys her domain with growing satisfaction .

Of course, what Bronte doesn't know is she's not the only Bookwyrm in Concordia, and soon maybe facing a challenger who will come to duel her, the prize? A precious section of her hoard. It will be a no holds battle of quotations, plot summaries, and character analysis! Eventually, another bookwyrm WILL face her in her lair, offer up a book of his or her own to earn the contest, and there will be a pitched battle that will either increase the hoard, or diminish it

but... that's another time

******

Zara's phone rings

or buzzes

or just vibrates

the voice mail is .. AGNES? Yes ... "This thing working? This is Agnes DeBuke. Zara, Buck is back from his quest, but not at the farm. And Clem is pacing like a panther in a cage of her own making , wringing her hands and digging a trench in the ground with her back and forth. Hoped she might listen to you. I maybe traditional but better non traditional than the nonsense she's putting herself through."

and that's it

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

August is not where she left him; in bed, exhausted and asleep next to her. Coradel has to go looking for August, and on the way finds... the debris of a serious celebration.

As it should be.

She gives the remaining bits of chaos a fond smile as she passes through the hallways. She goes first to his study. He's such a workaholic.

And of course she knocks before entering.

The study is empty. He has only a few other haunts.... assuming it was he who chose his location, of course.

"Hmmm...." She considers the celebrations...and ventures to Leonora's room, tapping gently at the door.

Leonora openns the door, looking delightfully mussed

"Mmmm, somebody's been having fun." Coradel smiles and peeks past her, if she can.

"Ahem." Leonora grins "This is 2 thrills you missed"

Who is under the blankets is hard to make out, but she's sure i'ts not Augustt

She pouts. "Don't remind me." A put-upon sigh.

"Well, I'll leave you to seek thrill three. I'm searching for August."

She does, however, claim a kiss from Leo and strokes her cheek softly before giving her a wink and continuing the search.

Next stop: the Library.

And THERE she finds him; relaxed against the back of his chair. He's been copying something; his materials are out, and he's given himself a single 'smokey eye' with a careless wipe of his fingers. His hair is mussed, and he's in ... a dressing robe and his sword & belt. Not his usual look.

She smiles at the sight. "A warrior and a scholar," she murmurs as she approaches.

Were he conscious, he'd protest that he does not have a warrior's heart.

Trix is reading!

Oh, that's a difficult decision...she probably should wake him, but...he's so cute like this. Instead, she leans over to read the page that's open, noting the spider and nodding courteously. "Hello."

A tippity-tap greeting

The sisters are smaller than 1122, and appear more organic, but it is hard to tell the 13 individuals apart.

Oh, Coradel hasn't a clue which one this is, but it's clearly one of the sisters, and that's all she needs to know. Now what's on this page...?

Bronte perks up "“Good-bye and hello, as always.”
― Roger Zelazny, The Courts of Chaos"

A smile to Bronte. "Hello, sweetling.'

In August's careful, best penmanship, a .... an account in the first person, very organized and with a real flair for the story of... something in the Dreaming, on the Silver? Ice and Silver, a White Witch? A comely naked satyr leading dwarves on a merry chase?

Footnotes cross-reference other accounts in the same book, but different chapters, new insights and angles to the same story.

"Oooooh," she breathes as she reads, leaning closer to get a better look. When she needs to turn a page, she checks with the spider first to make sure she's ready, too.

It's a compelling tale!

Bronte quotes "the troll of stone was beyond a medusa's gaze"

However, after reading a third variation, she gets a bit impatient with the repetition. And annoyed. "I should have been there," she mutters.

"Mmm?"

A sigh, and she carefully, gently eases herself into August's lap as he wakes. "Hello, love."