#earthrunes

*****

Zara has her Clue won books placed just where she wants them, but of course, Bronte swooped on them like a ravenous beast

The professor Plum outfit is now lovingly maintained.

"Oy, what a greedy piggy." With fondness.

Bronte looks up almost primly and replies “Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly.”

Zara laughs, the sound of the breeze in rushes. "Aye, so it is. I am glad you like them, darling."

She does leave the books long enough to lick an inky tongue along her author's ear before darting back.

If a bookwyrm is willing to pause her reading long enough to lick you, you are very loved indeed!

"I suppose I am resigned about who truly is in charge of this Library." She sets about preparing a pot of tea. After her adventure with Siv and Symon, and Tzipporah, and... yes. A quiet day with tea is good.

Tea and books.

At the comment of who is in charge, Bronte gets a bit cheeky, "That'll do pig, that'll do" And goes back to her reading

She rolls her eyes with a smile.

Mmm Delores has the tea stock well provisioned.

And there is a stomping approaching, but not a troll, the foot falls are heavy, almost violent

Head tilt. Zara places herself out of sight.

The redcap coming into view is slack jawed, dull eyed, and seems to have little place in a library. Hairy knuckles and arms , a wife beater shirt. He has a red hoodie that's tattered. Piercings are plentiful and look painful. Is that a nail through is nose side ways?

He looks around, and sniffs the air. the spiders get higher up.

"Hey book lady, ya here?" He sniffs again, then sneezes "Damn dust"

She does not know this redcap.

but he clearly came looking for her

"Aye? What do you want?"

He can smell her. He can hear her. But where is she?

He looks around and blurts "Don't see ya... oh ya, sloo." A frustrated look "Get out here. Need ya"

"Aye, sluagh. Need, you say? Pray, what is that need, and why have you sought My library?"

"I want my sister" he shrugs "But can't find her"

"Need you to find her for me" He adds stupidly

"Sit."

"AInt no dog" A glare at .. a wall, but he does sit "Fine .Sitting. Now find my sister"

"Why should I?"

"Uhm" and he thinks about "Or I'll.. bite you?" The threat is actually rather soft sounding, as he seems to be processing he can't bite the dark

"Yet you say you are not a dog, nu? Nor am I, to be commanded to fetch."

A pout, which has some lip piercings "I DID sit though. Now you fetch, even trade?" Hopeful

"Nay. Now, I listen. You have come into my domain, Redcap. You have come to ask me favor. Do you think aught is given for free?" The library has been slowly growing darker, shadows stretching out like a yawning cat.

"Uh.. I ain't seelie and uhm.. .paybacks is hard ta 'member" the redcap says and eyes the shadows stretching, and seems more confused than scared "I got .. uhm.. fifty bucks on me"

"That would buy a fine steak dinner, but a sister?"

"I can't give you my sister, that would be weird" He explains "look, I ain't smart. I need someone smart. You're a book lady. you gotta be smart right?"

"I am smart. Yes."

He looks relieved "Good. Cuz she's gone and I ain't smart enough to figure out who got her. And you find sisters, that's what the boggans says... and I got a sister so you could find her cuz mine is gone."

"Aye. I could, perhaps, help you. But, again - why should I? I do not know you, I do not know your sister."

"Uh.. " he ponders then "Rights and lefts of RezQ"

"Greetings and salutations, Rights and Lefts."

"HUH?" confusion fills his face, well, it was already confused

"Nay?"

"Why are you actin like a horse?" he looks irked

"Feh. Your vocabulary is limited."

"I shall speak plain, Redcap. I do not know you, nor do I owe you anything. If you wish my services, you must convince me it is worth my time and effort. Do you think I am a boggan whose heart bleeds? I am a sluagh, and shall have my due respect."

"Oh" he sighs "Respect.. okay. Uhm.. I respectcha? And.. I got fifty dollars. ANd if you ever want someone beat up I'm good at that?"

"You proudly claim your winter clothes - that you shall not owe a debt. So if I cannot depend on payment after the fact, why should I waste my time with you at all?"

"I have no need of money."

"Uhm.. maybe my sister could do somethin for ya?"