#earthrunes

"That would be lovely, thank you."

"Bronte, if you would be a dear?" She asks the bookwyrm, before returning her attention to Coradel. "I trust Dame Claire hath sent you here?"

Bronte flutters to a shelf and brings a copy of Watership down to the Baroness

"Sent me?" A bemused look. "She indicated what was going on, and I thought to look here first. Did you enjoy playing with fire today, Lily?"

"I would have liked getting away with it better, Baroness" the little girl admits

"I can appreciate that."

Zara sighs, but oh - Coradel does catch a brief flicker of amusement there.

She gracefully accepts the book from Bronte and looks at the cover. "...Rabbits?" A look to Zara. "Really?"

Bronte quotes , an a rather good narrative tone full of energy and tension, "“Racing through the ocher light, Bigwig was impelled by a frenzy of tension and energy. He did not feel the wound in his shoulder. The storm was his own. The storm would defeat Efrafa.”

"it is actually rather riveting reading" Lily assures

"Ah, Coradel - I would not lead you astray. Not where books are concerned, at least."

"Hm." She does trust the source, so the book is accepted.

"Now, back to the fire. Lily, I've not yet spoken with Sir Sergei on this, so I'm not sure quite what he's up to. But were you treated gently, if not kindly?"

A mmph "His hawks did surround me with out respect for personal space, and did betray my loction thus shaming me before other sluagh as this tale gets out." A huff "I am sorry, Baroness, but i am just a childling, how was I supposed to know 3 and a half thanes and post markers meant don't enter?"

A slight roll of her eyes. "Truly your protege, Madame Zara."

"It does seem a most tempting set-up, aye. Had I not been kept in fast, I cannot say I wouldn't have looked."

"you see? Tis unfair to sluagh, we needs must be true to our nature" the girl says

A blink. "If you persist, it is, as they say, your funeral. I'd rather not have to attend it just yet."

"Lily."

A look at her toes "You have always been a kind lady, Baroness. I am sorry if I seem ingrateful for your hold's welcome"

"You do not seem that. But I do expect that you'll do me the favor of not thinking me a fool. You knew exactly what you were doing."

Squirm, and not in the fun way "I am sorry if I insulted you, Baroness. You are no fool. "

"But... what she was doing, and what has been claimed, Baroness?" Gently, with humility.

A nod to Lily. "Accepted." And another nod to Zara. "That is the question. Dame Claire has told me what she was told by Sir Sergei. I have not yet spoken with him. Before I do, what assurances can I obtain from you that I can bring to him to temper his temper? I doubt he would be interested in an apology from you, no matter how sincere you might make it sound."

"Varich don't want apologies, they want us controlled" Lily mutters

"You are a mind reader, as well? I had not been informed."

LIly mmmphs

then says "please don't make me apologize to him? I'll lose all dignity and respect of my peers"

"I promise that Lily will be disciplined by sluagh protocols."

Pleading child look

"For she has erred."

"But... she is no traitor, nor spy against Earth Runes."

"Oh, of course I wouldn't ask that. You wouldn't mean it, and he wouldn't accept it. What would be the point? But if I assure him that you are contrite, I expect you not to undermine my words by proving the opposite."

A nod to Zara. "I won't ask what those protocols are."

"And certainly, it is your purview as Baroness to punish her for sneaking into what may have been a dangerous place, where the hawks were at flight."

"This is true."

She considers.

"I would set you to the task of cleaning the aerie, but that would never work in this situation. I could also have you clean out the Tauntaun stalls, but I'm not sure that would be sufficiently punishing for you."

"Ah. I think I shall have you shadow Steward Delores and learn how to mend clothing specifically. Fine needlework for three days."

"I..." then she shuts her toothless mouth and curtseys "yes, Baroness"

"but, Baroness?" Ahem "I am going to school in Bergen. What shall I tell my teacher?"

The baroness clearly doesn't pay much attention to the details of the childlings' schooling. "Oh, nevermind that, then. Instead..." she waves a hand "...oh, write a three-page report on the history of the Varich and the sluagh. I'm sure our Librarian can provide you with appropriate sources." She seems done with this.

"I'm off to speak with Sir Sergei. I will return the book when I've done," she assures Zara.

"I hope you enjoy the story, Coradel."

"As do I." And she sweeps out of the library.

"Yes, Baroness" She says

Then she looks at Zara

"I think I'd rather have learned sewing"

"Pity. You could have learned much while doing needlework. Unseen, surrounded by gossip?"

"A report it is."