#earthrunes

Zara had a wonderful tea. Velvet was kind enough to send out letters to her fellow sluagh for more information, please.

But it is not a sluagh that greets Zara as she makes her way through the halls. Nor is it Earl.

Tziporah sips some coffee, strong, and well she might because by now it is late at night and 4th or July or not, she has stayed up longer than most. Oh she is FLUSH with glamour, being near a dream dance will do that for you, but she has had one break on her journey across the country, though trods helped, and that break's renewal has worn off.

"Sister," She said proudly, "I bear news... at Scarsdale during the day today, a kithain experienced her dream dance, a joyous event as her story would begin among those who would help her.... but then, trundling out of now where, their came to take her away a... oh you will NEVER Guess"

"... a driverless carriage?"

"Wrong," She says "It was a DRIVERLESS Carriage with ..." A beat

A sullen scowl "It was a driverless carriage with cord like WHIPS" As if to win a little

A soft chuff of laughter.

"I know, I know, tis serious - but thy face, Sister."

"Feh" She opines, then says "Okay, HOW did you know? I mean, even for sluagh, it just happened."

She does, despite her sister having fun at her expense, give Zara a soft half hug

She steeples her fingers. "Oh, thou wisheth me to divulge mine sources? Tzipporah!"

"...Me. It's me. We had one strike here. Tried to steal a set of twins, who are currently being.. ah... edified by your other sister and Shalimar."

Tzipporah rollls her eyes at the faux reprimand, but at the actual news looks delighted and worried in turn, "First, Twins? Mozel Tov .... secondly... they have more than one? I was was hoping it was just our area. You said it tried, so I assume it failed. Good. Mine was a single, a girl close to my age turned Piskey Wilder. Boy does SHE have a strange and sad story. I'm Vashti and Shalimar will do yours good service as mentors. But this is a problem. There's a story brewing and it has dark consequences. I don't need to be a Soothsayer to know that"

"Nay, it is trouble, and word should be spread far. Near as we can tell, there's a whole fleet of them, all seeking chrysalids for unknown ends."

"SO I need to get back on the road right away and spread word" She gulps her drink down in a ..well, most unseemly fashion.

Her sister is brave, and reckless, and in this case a bit foolish. One doesn't have to be protective of family to see Tizzy needs at least a few hours of sleep

"Right away is relative, Zip. We have a spare bed, you should crash here for a few hours at least."

"You're not the boss of me" SHe huruhmphs

Foot steps, Delores appraoches eavesdropping "What's this? SOmeone passed out on their feet in the holding of the baroness? Miss Zara, what transpires here?" The boggan actually shoots Zara a wink before putting her stern face on

"My sister is in need of a guest bed for a few hours, if you please, Steward."

"Steward there is no need to..."

"I am quite certain that your mother taught you not to insult your hosts, dear. Zara speaks proudly of you and I know you are tired so I understand you might be a bit off your usual graces , but a sleep will fix that up. Follow me."

Tziporah, half trained to listen to boggans by now, surrenders to the steward wheree she would have given her sister a fight

Zara taps her fingertips to her mouth before dropping her hand in a downwards curve, palm up. A silent "Thank You" in sign.

The stewardness gives the softest of nods. It is what she does.

And then her sister has been taken away, leaving Zara with another piece of this puzzle. Scarsdale? That hits too close to a home.

Indeed!

Having Earl ready for transport duty ... if not for Zara but for Tizzy, might be an idea to consider. Tizzy can be willful at times, and proud. G_d knows where she got that from.

(End Scene for now)

Word among sluaghs is not normally granted quickly. The hoard it, cultivate it, and sell it.

But debts are owed.

And called upon.

The library is set up for guests - mismatched chairs and a carefully hoarded collection of chipped and faded china, no two cups alike. A cart holds a tiered platter of moldy cucumber and cress sandwiches, and another of stale cookies.

Wenceslaus now of Brightwinds sends word by messanger vulture... a letter that Squire Velvet takes to Zara right away

When Zara reads it, she finds the following in spidery script : To Miss Zara, Librarian. Your news has alerted us to dire situations reaching even our area. Signs of a Dream Dance were indeed found on the edge of the barony. But while random chimera were created, no actual fledgeling was found. There was, however, a set of carriage tracks out of the barony. No witnesses. My information seems weak, but I can tell you that Galorian Leech, perhaps you recall news of him, has been... found not to be responsible. Centaurs remember him with some loathing. Now alerted, we shall try to uncover more. Your servant in this, Wenceslaus.

A soft hiss. "Damn."

"At least one certified taken. The Baroness Sparrow must be livid"

That from Velvet "Pray forgive."

there is another guest, one who came in person.

And, arguably, a relation, though she knows him best as 'Mr. DeVere'. He takes off his hat as he enters, his thin threaded hair fallling loose like stray web strands in a light wind. DeVere says "is this a bad time?"

"Oh, I imagine she is. I would not want to be on the wrong side of her wrath."

"A terrible one. You are most welcome. Please, take a seat."

He does, "Too kind. Yes, these are troubled times."

He partakes of the offered tea

"How fares the farm?"

He sips then says "it has faced challenges. Indeed, a DeBuke has been grievously injured. "

Her eyes widen slightly with alarm.

Her tone is deceptively mild. "Rather unfortunate. Sheep thieves? We nearly lost two lambs, ourselves."

"One could say it was more a rogue combine thresher... " he says "You see, many DeBukes had gone to a firework display miles away. Nosy nonsense to my ears, but one must needs endure. One such was "Roland Wycliff DeBuke. A precious lad, with dreams of surviving a great calamity and being a hero. He stumbled upon... a lamb" A sip "And then, the thresher almost took the Lamb away... but young Roland... being a DeBuke, did not care it was bigger than he and tried to block it. IT rolled right over him with the lamb in its gears"