#earthrunes

"Retired. In storage, then?"

"I believe so, though they may have been returned to the artist'

"Mm." She nods, looking thoughtful, but willing to follow the thane again if he continues on.

And he leads them on, "Baron, Baroness, your room is here..." he opens a door with Celtic knot work on it

"Thank you." a polite murmur.

Coradel asks, "And Sir Bachdion's quarters will be where?"

"Sir Bachdion will be right next to you" he gestures to the room next to them

Coradel smiles and nods. "Excellent." She smiles and nods to Bachdion, then enters the room.

"my thanks, thane" Bachdion says

And into the room the Truthbranchs go.. it's extravagant, an empress sized bed with a fine canopy.

"Very nice," Coradel says of the room.

August doesn't shut the door on Bachdion; if he chooses he can step into the room.

"We'll stay the night, then?" August sets his bag down.

Bachdion has gone into his room, it seems. But then he could portal passage through a wall

"Yes. Oh, thane...I would like the Duke and Duchess to know that we have returned, when it is convenient to tell them, and that we look forward to speaking with them again on the matters we discussed before."

She says this looking out the door once more, catching the thane before he goes too far.

"I shall leave a message with them, Baroness, but i do not know their schedule fully"

"Of course." She moves back into the room and finds a mirror to check her (flawless) reflection.

Naturally, she makes the mirror look GOOD

August closes the door, then. "I'm... not entirely sure what the plan is, Coradel. Perhaps that's for the best, though."

"Well, a plan might be wise, yes." She gives him a grin. She might be joking. And she makes sure that the door is closed this time before continuing. "I would most like it if we could get the treacherous wench to confess herself, but I haven't come up with a way of doing so. Short of that, it's important we at least advise the Duke and Duchess of our suspicions."

When a few minutes have passed and the thane has likely departed, Coradel knocks shave-and-a-haircut on the wall adjoining to Bachdion's room.

"I suppose if she didn't know she was confessing. Or if she thought it in her own best interest? But... no, I don't know how to arrange that."

"If we could get her to brag, perhaps, in supposed confidence, yes."

Bachdion steps through a door that just formed, and he joins them ""Two bits?"

"How is your room, Teacher-Mine?"

"Quite nice. King sized bed, earth tones, but a touch of red highlights." A look about "not as grand as this, perhaps"

"Good. I am glad the thane did not think to slight you, though he'd have no reason to that I know of. For our parts, we are plotting. Zara would be pleased."

"Careful, she might be in your suitcase" The knight seems to be joking. Mostly

"Truth!" She gestures for him to take a seat.

"If she were, she would be welcome." August says quietly.

Bachdion takes a seat

"I'm wondering if there's some way that we could get Lady Wynda to incriminate herself in the spreading of rumors about Shalimar."

"And...it just now occurs to me...she does not know you, does she? Has not met you here, does not know you as a member of my court. You were not there when she petitioned Baron Nemauses to be his heir."

"I am a known tutor of Fiona, but that's possible"

"I suppose you might draw her out by...oh!...professing a resentment of a certain jester's humor?"

"Oh? SO no seducing her?"

"Oh, certainly! But you'll need to get her to speak as well as moan, Teacher-Mine."

"work work work" Sir Bachdion smiles "but of course I shall persevere"

"Brave soul."

Yep, pink on the ear-tips....

"This may need to happen while we are in conference with Their Graces, but hopefully beforehand."

"If the conference is as soon as you hope" He nods "It maybe delayed "

"More time for you to work, then. And play." She notes August's pink ear tips and gives a gentle laugh, leaning over to kiss his cheek gently. "I am always amazed that you are still scandalized so easily, my love."

That just makes him redden more.

"August is as true as his surname, but confess, Baroness, you find his blush appealing. In that regard, his cheeks going rosey are a fine seduction technique upon you" Sir Bachdion says, with the tone of a proud teacher

She beams and moves to snuggle closer to August, one hand on his thigh. "His mating plumage is irresistable."