#earthrunes

"Or I suppose, about the tale spinner" She laughs softly

August smiles softly and sips his tea.

"And I have told a story when I was worried it was rude to monopolize" She says with gentle humor, "Please, Baron. Say a bit more so I won't be the only one."

"Oh, ah.... I, ah, I'm not... usually talkative. I find it more edifying to listen." a glance at Zara.

Rüzgarla also glances at Zara

"I am a sluagh, nu?"

"Ah, so I monopolize the conversation by default" Rüzgarla takes it in good humor "As long as i do not become too cumbersome a tea guest. I confess Baron, many, not all, but many, sidhe I've met are quick to interject into a conversation. Most gracefully, such is their birthright. Humility is not... "She stops herself "It's actually an admirable surprise"

"I thank you for the compliment."

"You're welcome" She says, and seems to have meant what she said, then goes on "Well, as it is custom to give news in payment, beyond that pitssburgh news what have i... oh yes," She says "I don't know enough to make a proper story of it, rumors have it Brekke of Rivervale, quite the legend if you've not heard of the Shacklebreaker, is moving to Alaska. Some say to retire, others say that House Gwydion has itself arranged this as a fake out, in a Counter move to ready to keep House Varich in check, sending one of their greatest heroes as a barricade AND a warning"

"The Shacklebreaker is no pawn, Miss Rüzgarla."

"I've never had the pleasure. In truth I thought her role on the political board might be more akin to a knight or even a bishop. You mean to say it IS just a retirement?" Intrigued

"Is anything 'just' anything?"

"....hmmm." August muses to himself.

"Not in my stories, but I seek to entertain" She flashes a smile, "Very curious. Maybe I'll drop by that area sometime after a pleasant stay here." She considers "What other rumors did my sister have? " SHe ponders "Well, she told me if I ever met a troll knight in this area with ... and I have a hard time believing this one, a CORN symbol? That I was looking at a local legend. Apparently knighted when his heritage would never let him swear to a lord and his family might resent the title . Born in the rurals, but preferring the urban... it is said he even saved the world from a witch. Apparently, he has a magic paint brush, and this witch, who no doubt had sinister designs on an innocent hold somewhere in this area, began to take power there without even a title of her own. THe knight of corn bound her image , some say scandalously posed, and so caught her very heart on canvas. Now the witch is his, and he puts sinister power to instead helping the poor and down trodden." A grin "NO seriously, that's what she said."

At this, a crow that only Zara (And Earl) can see or hear, might break out into a kind of laugh.

Her mouth twitches and she hides it behind her teacup.

Earl would be mortified to learn that he had been a legend of anything, local or otherwise, and particularly that he 'captured' a witch. Naturally this may make Zara want to tell him. It is the right of every trueheart to mortify her lover, just a little.

August sips his tea, breaking from his musing, and looks up. "If I might be forgiven for suggesting a topic? This carriage you both encountered, that endangered the childlings.... what can you tell me of it?"

"Indeed. I have secured a portion to serve as an anchor for an Omen."

At that Rüzgarla nods, and grows serious "It was horseless and riderless, at least that I saw. And the doors opened to realese these whip like tendrels that would have taken the childlings had Zara and i note interceded"

"Something or someone sent it, I fear."

She takes her teacup and sets it at the center of the table.

"The flame part was my doing, lighting it up so it could be seen" She adds "And I'm glad it made it more obvious. "

"And I hexed it, so..."

She drops the piece of carriage in before she refills the cup with more hot water, letting the steam swirl gently upwards.

With an elegant twist of her hand, she curls at the smoke, drawing it so if flows in a spiral.

"Lollipops, ice cream, all free today!" She whispers, a child-catchers call.

The mist shimmers silver, thickens, and resolves into an image, showing...

Something terrifying... a sound at first... the clattering of wheels of not just one carriage, but many...

and far spread

She can see images of dozens of butterfly nets on wheels! Chasing those fresh out of cocoon form

They ride among apples. They ride among willow trees. They ride among grass and yes, white sands...

and they swing and they catch...

and they head back back back, to the call of some music, a stringed instrument of some sort

August feels cautious at the sound of that instrument as the omen is shared. As if it were a rattler's tail shaking, and not pleasant melody

Zara holds steady, to see whence the carriages return.

The clues here grow weaker, as if someone is trying to protect tHAT secret most of all... and yet, as she holds, finally the carriages return and... a red maple leaf falls as if to obscure the viewing, and she sees no further.

The smell of apples was in the air, but now it smells of maples.

And done.

"There is more than one?" Rüzgarla is horrofied

A scowl.

"North, then."

"But all over Concordia, or at least half of it" Rüzgarla says "or so I suspect. These things exist to find Dream Dances aNd kidnap? That's asking to make enemies of every holding, be it mews or noble, thaT ever hears of it"

"Aye. But... feh. Kingdom alone? Tis not much direction."

"Not it isn't, but I suspect it would be the parts of Canada north of APples. Did you smell the Apple before the maple?"

"Aye, but Northern Ice is massive..."

"I know, even if you only take the areas immediately north of the the Kingdom of apples that's a lot of land to cover." She ponders "In this case, and with some pride in my kith, perhaps it is good I should send word to other Eshu of this situatio nand see what our feet lead us to?"

She presses fingertips against her temples, frowning.

"What they are doing endangers us all."

"It does. Commoner or noble, seelie or unseelie"