#earthrunes

Depending on which side of the car the pooka (?) is on, August pushes and rolls down the window on that side.

"Hello!" Coradel says with a smile. "Need a ride?"

August reaches and turns down the music.

"Oh yes , please" He says. "Sure appereciate this folks"

"Well, hopefully we have enough room in the back...." Coradel takes a look back there -- is there enough room?

A button-push, and the back doors are open. A little re-arrranging and there will be room. August opens his door and puts a few things in the trunk.

"So, where are you off to? Let's see how close we can get you."

There is, he slides in "Heading towards St. Louis. I'm Fitz by the way. "

"Hello Fitz." August greets as he takes his seat. "I am August Truthbranch; this is Baroness Coradel of EarthRunes."

She gives August a loving smile, and doesn't give away his title if he doesn't offer it himself.

"Nobles don't usually tell my kind about their holds '

She pauses and turns around to look at him. "Wait...you're not a pooka, are you."

August frowns, and doesn't put the car in gear yet.

He turns in his seat to look directly at the hitchhiker.

"Nope. Which is what I would say if I were a pooka" Fitz admits "Every hear of a wopletinger?"

She blinks and gives August a blank look, then looks at Fitz again. "Ah...no?"

"Yes." quietly, and he kills the car's engine.

He says "OH come on, man. I'm not a thallian or anything bad. i'm a kithain just like you'

"Not just like us, no." August corrects politely.

Coradel's expression goes serious. "What is a wopletinger?"

"We're kith , used to be brainless Chimera.. jackalopes and the liike... but we're flesh too now. Breeding true. And we're safe as long as we don't stay in a hold too long. No balefire in this car, right?'

"Safe? In what cases are you unsafe?"

"They eat Balefires, Coradel." calm, steady "Suck them dry."

"We don't do it on purpose!" fitz says "And it takes weeks"

Coradel turns a look full of sudden Fiona ire on the hitch hiker. "OUT."

He gets out, scurrying "Okay okay"

Coradel gets out of the car also, still furious. "Give me one reason why I should not kill you right here to protect all balefires from you?"

"Because I'm a changeling, not some thallian, and the right of life matters. I'm not staying at your hold. You shouldn't punish people for what they MIGHT do when they never plan on doing it"

She scowls at him for a moment, then starts to get back in the car. "Stay away from EarthRunes," she says, pointing a finger at him, then she closes the door with a slam.

For a moment, he looks angry, then he sighs and hangs his head and turns to go

"Drive, August."

He drives.

"May I suggest calling the Freehold, Delores, and let her know I endangered our home?" calmly. Very calmly.

"I don't think you did. He could easily discover the name of any hold. But I'll let her know to tell the thanes." She starts texting.

August doesn't argue.... but he looks quietly grim.

TXT: Delores: advise all, wopeltinger in area, keep watch

tXt: _Is wolpletinger in need of rescue?-

TXT: NO! Keep him away from ER!

TXT: Oh! Of course!

TXT: Keep me informed if he shows. I told him to stay away.

She puts her phone down. "Well, at least we can alert the Duke and Duchess that he's trying to make his way there."

"Will you call them?" not a request, just checking.

She considers, then shakes her head. "It's unlikely he'll get there before we do. I want to deliver the message directly."

And they make good time

The fun-road-trip vibe is significantly reduced, however.

If it's any comfort, they don't get another hitchhiker

as they see St Lous before them

August, as always, drives carefully and within the law.

"Hopefully they'll see me quickly, but somehow I doubt it."

They find a place to park, then approach the park that has the entry to the Ducal hold, that great statue head