#earthrunes

Lily takes a breath, about to ask what's in it for her, or name a price for her compliance, she remembers Miss Zara's warning about how to help herself and says "Yes, Dame Claire. I'm very sorry for my wayward behavior. I am but a lowly orphaned urchin desperate for attention"

"Your parents are alive, you're not an orphan" Claire reminds

"I meant metaphorically" the girl insists

A sigh "Fine. She's all yours, Miss Zara and in your custody. Consider this a partial payemnt on the debt I owe you" She adds in a whipser.

A crisp nod. "Understood."

A snap of fingers and the Soveriegn holding the girl is cleared.

Zara holds out a spidery hand.

Lily comes out, and offers Zara "Would you care for some cheese? The mold IS delightful"

"Mayhaps in a bit. Today was a fast."

"Oh, my apologies" With her free hand Lily takes Zara's palm , thenturns to Dame Claire "Thank you, Dame Claire for seeing reason"

Mmmph goes Claire

"Thank you, Dame, for your courtesy and consideration in this matter."

She leads Lily towards the library.

Lily goes along with her to the library, only once they are in and alone (Minus Bronte and the spiders) does she admit "I was totally spying on Sir Sergei."

"But why would I not?" A huff

Zara watches - but she does not appear amused.

"Do you understand how lucky you are?"

A contrite look at her feet "But Miss Zara, ''plum mouse in a box''?"

"Oh, aye. I understand why you wanted to see."

"But."

"You also allowed yourself to be caught - by a Varich."

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment "the birds caught me, and then they told on me"

"If you were not here, at Earth Runes, this could have ended very poorly."

"So. You must needs improve your skills. I will not see a cousin fall into a Varich's grasp. You must be careful when you tread closely."

"You.. you won't tell Symon of this will you?"

She considers.

"Symon is clever, and familiar with the Varich. He may help with tutoring."

"But ..we won't tell him I got caught, will we?"

"We won't." She folds her arms, leveling her gaze at the girl.

'i shall inform him" but something in her tone indicates there is a lot of wiggle room there

She folds her arms, holding her dark gaze steady and unblinking.

"I will, just... once I'm a wilder maybe? A few years from now does seem ideal"

Stare.

"oh miss Zara, he may try to do something foolish against Sir Sergie or the hounds or hawks"

"He is recklessly fierce at times. I blame troll influence"

"He is fierce, but he is not foolish."

"As you say" Squirm

"So." Patient.

"I should train" A nod "So I don't get caught by a varich next time I spy on them"

"Exactly."

"But how does one get around animals? Hawks and hounds?" A frown "Sergei cheats" A humph

"The world is not fair, Lily."

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince With A Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning." Bronte pipes in!

Footsteps in the hallway...definitely Coradel. A few moments later, a light courtesy tap on the Library door as she enters.

"Well, I think of myself more a spider than a rabbit and oh" at the knock

"Coradel." Zara splays a hand on her chest, offering a slight bow.

A curious look at Bronte. "That sounds like something I might wish to read," she says to the bookwyrm.

The childling rises and repeats the gesture

Then a gracious nod to each of the sluagh. "Am I interrupting?"

"Ah, if you desire, I may pull it for your pleasure. We have it here."