#earthrunes

"True. But, as you see, you do not always have a sword."

"you're right" He nods "I'll think about it. Maybe I should learn hand to hand. Maybe I should try something sneaky. But mostlY Ihave to get a plan and prepare. Like you guys do. You and Sir Earl and the Baron and Baroness are all so cool.. I bet you NEVER worry in a fight"

"Feh. I avoid direct physical confrontation - that is why I found other ways."

"Cuse you're super sneaky and smart" The boy nods "Nelson says he can sneak up on almost anyone by now, but not you."

"He does try so."

Indeed, Zara hears the softest of foot steps easing into the library behind her. Nelson really IS improving

"he tries hard. He wants to impress Sir Earl and you"

"And he has improved. Aye, haven't you?" She looks over at the Eiluned.

Nelson freezes in place, then lets out his breath as he realizes the jig is up "I thought I had"

"You have."

"I didn't see you," Benny assures him

"Well, I got new shoes, thought I'd try them out" Nelson shows off his sneakers

"Ay, so. Nelson, perhaps you have some advice for gaining intelligence on an adversary's weaknesses?"

"Oh sure! " Nelson says "Intell is what my House does. Do you think Sir Earl would consider this studying ?"

"No."

"But he might consider it rendering aid to the needy."

"My knight is a big blue softy, Miss Zara" Squire Nelson observes , then decides "I like him anyway"

"Sir Earl makesSPOOOOKY Art work" Benny nods

"That's one of the coolest things about him" Nelson says "Come on, Benny. I'll help you learn about your bully."

"By your leave, miss Zara?" Benny asks

"Aye." A nod to both.

They bow and depart

and there is a chuckle , "Oh sister dear, thou art dangerously close to being a princess" Vashti can be quiet too, particularly when she's a moth

A wry smile. "Are we both not named for queens?"

"Aye, but tell not the sidhe, they do not know the power of names" A finger over her own lips

"Verily."

Then she says "Twould seem mine amour is the victim of a great stink, not of his own conjuring. Hast thou heard?"

"No?"

"Twould seem mine amour stands accused of treason against their graces, for the cutting by tongue... in the heart of Louis the Saint. Yet I know for a fact he was entwined and occupied on some nights. "She paces, her wings ruffled as much as a moth's can be

"Slander!"

"Aye... mine amour is an aquired taste, i know for i have tasted him but this smells of cheap knock off, a ...derivitate"

Zara shakes her head.

"Sister, should though learn anything of this ? You know i would pay thee handsomely in the seductive night garb thou favor::

"I shall listen, aye."

"Thank thee" She looks very troubled still but a touch more at ease "I Had put away the games father taught me. But shears cut more than satin and time"

"They do. But we miss him not."

"I am grateful for but one thing from him, aye?"

that cuts through her sister's irritation and gloom like a moonbeam through the gray and Vashti smiles "Ah, , now you have doomed thy self to a hug most unseemly." and she hugs her sister "Aye. Thou art a font of all holidays for me as well"

Zara smiles, and Vashti gets a rather boney hug back.

"Thou lackest meat. Should we find the some nice spam shaped like Escargo? Even sluagh cannot live on Tea and other lesser letters alone"

Obviously spam is not going to happen unless there is a Kosher Spam, but pooka speak still makes the offer of a shared meal plain

"I question that assertion. Tea and.. oh, some stale biscuits and cucumber sandwiches?"

"Delightful... the library, the darkest part of the garden, or the pub just to pester Jack to dim the lights?"

"Jack maketh this most intriguing concoction... he calls it 'Swamp Water' and it fogs..."

"Why that scoundrel...cutting me off before I started . yay, let us partake of this Watery swamp"

"Oh, tis delightful, sister.."

"Murky, aye? With bubbles."

"The Champagne of gloom? I wonder if it will tickle our noses " And, they make an order for food from the staff of stale biscuts and cucumber sandwiches, and take the tray with them. When they enter the pub, Jack looks up

"Ah, well, been awhile for both of you. What can I do for you?" he asks

"I hath told mine sister of your creations, nu? Though swamp water might be best suited to more refined palates..."