#earthrunes

Zara sees cupids flying about. She is somewhat protected by her oath of trueheats. But others?

Not so much

So it goes.

She, after all, is floating on a lilac cloud.

Indeed... the gifts hidden about the hold are for her to find...

love letters in nooks, over aged candies in crannies

Earl has planted them with use of portal passage

And so when Coradel finds her, Zara is perched atop a rickety chair, reaching for something atop a display case.

She took off her shoes and is balancing precariously on her toes.

Anyone else might surely fall and die

well, fall and ding

So Coradel gets quite the display of surefootedness

It's almost disconcerting. But more fascinating. "Have you lost something?"

"Nay, I hath found it."

She holds aloft a newly-freed envelope.

"Ah! A treasure? Surely, though, if it is hidden in my manor house, it must be for me?" A teasing tone.

The envelope has hearts, but is.. oddly, purple

Zara steps down to stand on the seat, and then to the floor - clutching her prize to her chest.

"Oh, nay, tis part of a set..."

"Oh, it is? Well... I suppose I can be generous..." and she gives a haughty wave of assent that is clearly more for show than anything else. Then a more relaxed manner, "I take it Sir Earl has set you some challenges today?"

Her dark eyes are glittering. "Aye. No easy thing."

"I trust August has plans, also, for thee."

"Oh, our plans started early," she says with a somewhat lazy smile.

A soft chuff. "That sounds about right for him."

A blink, amused. "Why, Miss Zara! I'm delightfully shocked! You often imagine our early morning habits?"

Oh dear, now she goes pink.

"I.. no! Merely that... ah... my friend is naught if not punctual and prepared?"

"Therefore, it would follow... " More blushing.

"Pardon."

"Oh, he was certainly that." Okay, now Coradel might be trying to make her blush.

And succeeding!

A smile. "I'm teasing," she says, relenting. After all, it's never wise to make a sluagh uncomfortable. "How many more do you think your Earl has hidden?" she asks, indicating the card.

"I suspect there are thirteen caches total..."

"But there may be fourteen, for the day."

"Oh, I hope he tells you how many, in the end. Otherwise the uncertainty would be maddening." She may be Fiona, but she was fostered by an Eiluned.

She taps her chin. "Of course, Mine Earl, himself, may be the 14th."

Amused. "And what might he be wrapped in?"

PINK.

"That is a mystery."

"As it should be," Coradel says with a wink.

"I can imagine many things, for certain."

"And even so, I imagine he might surprise you."

"I should not keep you from your hunt. I hope you are victorious."

"He is very good at that. And I adore him for it."

"May you also find victories today, Coradel."

A light laugh. "I think I shall." A bow of her head, and she moves gracefully off.

"Or, mayhaps, a glorious defeat." A wry look.

A look back at that, a surprised laugh again. "Perhaps even better!"

And she is gone.

Each envelope has a poem, and a clue... and the puzzle continues delightfully