#earthrunes

Zara has little love of Varich. She tolerated Sir Sergei and vice versa.

But when one she does not know enters the hold, her spiders take notice

The sisters watch - and so does she, finding a hidey-hole.

The fellow is typical Varich in garb, slavic flare, cool aloof demeanor. A wilder. And he seeks out not Sir Sergie his house brother, but Lord Hume.

Hume greets him, "Great to meet you offline, Darksun#13" A smile from the Dougal

The Varich lets the smallest sliver of a smile escape him, "With the price you were offering, I was happy to save delivery fees and bring the goods to you myself. You have what i want in exchange?"

Eyebrow.

"Sure do" He offers a laptop , it is sleek, and bears no identifying features denoting a company or the like, "Custom made, better than any VPN most advanced cookie counterfeiter you're going to find. I even did it in black and gold. So much memory you'll wish we had Arcadia's library handy to put in it. And chimerical co pixels for a true visual delight"

The Varich strokes it gently, "You Dougals are amazing. I will give you that."

"And Varich know quality" He says then ahems "And my side of the deal?" The Lord inquires

"But of course, " He pulls out a case that looks oddly familiar to Zara, not SPECIFICALLY, but the shape of it

Hume takes it in exchange and looks it over, then opens it and kens it "Oh this is the real deal."

"But of course" Darksun#13 smiles

THen adds "Though I confess, I did not think it was of your interests. You aren't a musician"

Head-tilt.

"No I am not," The Dougal replies

It is a Violin, clearly a treasure....

Well! Zara kenns.

Oh she's glad she found a hidey hole so she could do so. There is an elegance to the magic within, and it resonates with what the mortal Shakespeare would have called 'Sweet Sorrow'. In it is meloncholy and beauty, regret but regret that one treasures anyway.

"Thanks again, Darksun#13. But let's make this official, shall we? A receipt for the trade?" Hume inquires

"On paper, if you please," Darksun#13 says "I have just the pens. The ones I told you of?"

"Hard copy normally makes me bored, but in this case" Hume nods

Narrow eyes.

And the Varich pulls out... well, a receipt , but also a handcrafted pen

She kens the pen, wary.

Douze bravely does as bidden... for a moment the Varich looks about and almost spots her, but no... spider stealth wins

Through her, Zara can see it is a contract for a trade, things seem quite proper, but there is a minor magic on it. Contract Art is not unheard of, and this one is more to make sure all is honest

And that if it is broken, the other will know

There are no loop holes she can astern, once this is done, Hume will own the violin, and the Varich the lap top

Frown.

However, she does notice something, the signatures reveal the Varich's fae name

Versus Hume and his proclivity towards online handles...

There maybe more to the pen than that, but if so those magics are not in use.

The Varich's name is Siamion Steppefrost.

Important for later, yes.

Both sign, the trade is done.

"Staying the night?" Hume inquires

"Oh yes, the Steward already gave me the three nights. " The Varich says

A silent scowl.

Siamion tuts "I understand your Fiona ruler allows... anyone a position here? "

"Well, no" Hume says "She's actually pretty picky about quality personell"

"of course, but there's quality and then there's quality one should not... trust" Darksun#13 ahems

She rolls her eyes.

Hume raises a brow, and for a moment looks far less the tech nerd and gamer, and more the Lord his title denotes "If you speak of Miss Zara, I have never known her to break her word. She is a boon companion to both the Baron and the Baroness, and I do not suggest you sleight her honor..."

Her grey lips quirk in an echo of a smile.

An Incredulous look from Darksun#13 "Then I am sorry your lieges have been fooled, for Sluagh know honor even less than they know soap. But fear not, I'll keep my distance"

At that Hume does bristle "I think our business is done here. Enjoy your brief stay, Lord Siamion"