#earthrunes

********

Driving...

on the phone

Delores responds "Pretty well over all. However, Zara and Earl may have gotten some bad news. She took over the side kitchen and we didn't have the heart to deny her access"

"Probably wise. Tell me...have you spoken with Shalimar recently? And has he been traveling away from EarthRunes much?"

"Shalimar? Not that I know of. Mind you sometimes Vashti pulls him away but they are lovers"

"Yes..." She is silent for a moment. "Delores, would you please let Shalimar know that the Baron and I wish to speak with him when we return. It is a matter in confidence."

"Of course." She says "I hope everything is okay?"

A telling pause. "The trip has been very instructive."

"I'll tell you more when I can. How is Hume?"

"I think he wonders if he's in trouble since I'm in charge. But I told him as far as I knew you weren't and you left me in charge LOTS of times. I do believe the lad is..well, bored. Which is odd, he normally plays his games happily"

"Really? That's interesting...well, tell him we'll be returning earlier than expected. We'll be there soon."

"About two hours." August murmurs.

"Please tell me August is driving?" She says "I consider you a friend, my liege, but Fiona don't understand speed limits too well"

"I'm letting him drive," she says with a smile and a wink to August. "He says we're about two hours away...which would be less if I were behind the wheel, but so it goes."

"Thank you, Delores. Call me if anything comes up."

"Tell him I said thank you... " A beat "For the ETA of course" merrily

"Oh, honestly!" Coradel laughs and hangs up.

Assuming August heard all that, he might have an opinion....

And it's likely he could 🙂

OOC Was it on speaker?

OOC: Yes.

After a few moments, August says "I hope Lord Hume is well."

"Do you think this report of his behavior is unusual?"

"Mm. I suspect that he's had a taste of heroism and finds himself eager for more."

"He's surrounded by Fiona. It rubs off."

"Does it?" not without a gentle humor.

"Either that, or he might be lovesick. Which, well, also a Fiona thing."

She smiles at him. "I've heard it rumored."

The roads seem clear, or at least clear enough

((And so they make it home?))

OOC With August driving, more than likely....

Thanks to SAFE decent GOOD OLE LIAM Driving.... they make it home

Thane Oswald greets them as they pull up to the hold "Baroness, Baron"

"Finally," Coradel says, though she also gives August another wink. Then she turns to Oswald. "All is well?"

August, having attended to Coradel's door, follows her in.

"More or less, Baroness"

The hallway near the kitchen smells heavenly.

Or at least deeply of apples, orange and cinnamon.

She pauses at Oswald's comment. "Tell me of the less, briefly."

August pauses at the scent, a curious frown on his features for a moment.

"Well uhm... Miss Zara is holed up on a cooking spry. I don't gossip but.. as a troll I've heard that the DeBukes are having a death in in the family. Poor Earl. I don't know if the cooking at that are related, but it's not a Jewish holiday. " He says "Lord Hume seems antsy, and Dame Claire ended in a fight near Greasers but she's healing up"

Coradel sighs. "Then...August, I wished us both to speak with Shalimar, but I think you should see if Zara and Earl are in need of help or support. I want to see them as well, but a bit later."

"You said Zara was... holed up? Cooking?"

"You know she would speak with you, August."

"In the side kitchen sir. Normally the boggans are very territorial about the kitchens, but not this time"

"I will send a note to the kitchen. Thane, can you ask Benny to join us?"

"Right away, Baron" He nods and bows to go retrieve the lad

Coradel looks to August. "You wish Benny to be present when we speak with Shalimar?"

"No, I wish to give him a note to take to Zara in the kitchen."