#earthrunes

"I wonder if it would work on the ponies?" She claps her hands then "What? maybe? Mmm yes" And down the hall she goes

August is puzzled by this.... and not a little concerned that this work in the library will disturb his own? Or Zara's? Well. He knows it will be too noisy near his study, so to the library he goes.

Bronte greets him warmly, "Salutations!"

"Salutations, Bronte." he smiles and offers eye-ridge scritches.

"It has been far too long."

"“They talked in the shorthand of old friends and shared memories.”
― Dee Henderson, Before I Wake " Bronte nods and enjoys the scritches

"That's very sweet of you." he says affectionately.

“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
― Voltaire " She says in a questioning tone herself, wondering rather clearly if he came for a reason beyond a kindly visit

"Ah. Just looking for a quiet place to work." he explains.

"One of us" She chants happily and flutters to a nice spot where he might work from

August joins her and settles in to read.

FOr a time, it is blissfully nice to work in a library he watched a friend build (And had no small part in himself), with Bronte curled nearby like a housecat

Then... the Steward comes in... with a wand and humming to herself

He stands. "Steward."

(a greeting)

"Baron, hello, nice to see you again" She smiles "Pardon me... I have a way to fit more books in the library"

Bronte perks up at that

"Certainly. Should I find elsewhere?"

"No no, this won't take long" She begins to wave her wand intricately and babbles a bunk "Pocket novels are all the rage, smaller cover, smaller page, smaller tomes, smaller books, suddenly there's more room in shelves in nooks, tiny tiny that's the key, will bring Zara more books by a large degree!"

August frowns a little, glancing at Bronte.

Bronte looks up worriedly "By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes"

And the books begin to shrink! And shrink, and shrink!

Bronte gasps, and flies to grab at the wand ..as even the big books look no bigger than toast slices

and the smaller books are in danger of becoming stamp sized!

August steps forward too. "Steward. Stop." Calmly.

"Bronte, give me back my wand I..." The steward turns and curtsies, "Yes, baron? Was there something you need?"

And she's smiling

"Let Bronte have the wand." he says gently "I am concerned for you."

She does, then says "Concerned? I don't understand, Baron. I'm giving Zara what she needs, more room for more books"

Bronte fusses under her breath

"Thank you." he says, then asks the dragonette "Can you restore them?"

Bronte sniffs at the wand...then says "Full effort is full victory" and she breathes on the books... restoring them

"Bad Bronte!" The Steward says "Miss Zara needs more book shelf space. I have to get everyone what they need"

"Bronte has done as I asked, Steward." August says respectfully. "We'll have to find room another way."

"“Bedlam: an institution with a history so fearsome it gave its name to a synonym for chaos and pandemonium.”
― Jon Ronson, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry "" Bronte tells August, tugging at his sleeve

"Maybe I should have shrunk the horses in the stables instead.. more room there" the stewad observes "Then more horses"

"No, Steward." he correct gently "I would like you to come with me, please. Where did you get this wand?" he offers his arm as escort.

"Our treasury" She says following obediently as a lamb "I have charge of the inventory you know?"

"Yes, of course." he gives the wand to Bronte as they depart, leading Delores towards the manor doors.

Bronte's kenning is keen, and August, now warned, realizes the bookwyrm is right. Delores is suffering from Bedlam. His learning on the subject teaches him she needs to be out of the freehold and doing mundane boring things and that's just for a start. How to work it? that's up to him

He continues talking with her gently as they reach his car and he opens her door. "Will you tell me more about it?" (the wand)

"Oh had it for years... " she says "its just a go ask alice wand"

"DId you know there are SO many people who need things? As steward I provide"

"And do so admirably well." he agrees as he shuts the car door and then moves quickly around to get in the driver's seat.

"OH yes... when the hold started telling me that i needed to up my game, I went right to it. Your legal office will be wooonderful"

"And, of course, I was SOOO worried about Leonora not having her own lover I asked the nockers to make one"

He gets them out on the road and out to the house he shares with Chloe. "That was very generous of you."

"Well, I hope he's nice" She says "or she... I don't judge. Can't judge. Got to know though, got to know to help. oh, am I cleaning the linens here? I started as a maid you know?" As they approach the house "Oh Dreaming bless that girl. "

"That girl?" he walks with her up the walk and opens the door for them.

"The Baroness, Coradel.. oh without her I'd be nothing, August, nothing. Thats' why she deserves my best"