#earthrunes

"It is a brutish fear, Mr. Gluminsky," Mr. DeVere opines, "to take the new sprout out of the earth is crass and boorish. Of course ignorance avails us not, but as spectacle, it's rather low brow." He sounds disdainful of whoever is doing this.

"All signs point north. Scrying revealed a maple leaf - I had thought to visit Maple Hold, in Ontario."

Mr. Gluminsky ponders, "Perhaps I can be of help." he reaches into his trench coat, a gesture that might alarm those more deviantly minded, and pulls out a bit of dross. A mouthguard, old and fading, "This belonged to Hockey Player Joe Dervitch. You will not have heard of him. He is famous for nothing. He was an ALMOST great player. But, he had the misfortune to face Wayne Gretski, 'the great one' himself, during a scouting chance. Gretski so over powered him, the scout paid Joe no mind, and Joe was forced to quit hockey, and take up his job as an insurance salesman where he languished in an office a living tale of tragedy. This dross, SHOULD work better on Canadian soil should you get there."

Zara splays a hand over her heart. "I shall honor it."

Gluminsky returns the gesture "And with that, I should return to my shop, to seek the stories of sorrow that come to it. Miss Zara. Mr. DeVere."

"Mr. Gluminsky," DeVere returns

"Dire parting. May your shop moulder."

Glumsky looks touched at this kindness,m and departs

"Touch of poet in you, if one maybe so bold to say," DeVere comments

While the two older sluagh talk, (And sometimes don't talk), a small pale hand reaches up from under the table and takes a tea cup, then takes it under the table to sip

Zara places one of Lily's favorite cookies near the edge of the table, without comment.

That too, vanishes below.

"Now, is there anything I should know about this Duke Brunswick?"

"Duke Brunswick is House Dougal, you knew this," DeVere says "However, I have reason to believe that he is fascinated by water. Hydropower, Watercclocks, that sort of thing. He is said to lean towards the Seelie, as do most if not all Dougal, but he bears no true malice against Unseelie and treats with them fairly. He has been practical about the arrival of what were once 'newly returned' Houses, and indeed, is said to have used some Daireann as a buffer against the older former 'shadow court' Houses"

DeVere IS far traveled. Often being the far scout of the Farmhold, as well as the .. helper of their fire source

She taps her fingertips against her cup, listening intently.

"I would not anticipate either house to do this, though Dougal do have the skills for such contraptions."

Were she older, Lily might better understand the pacing of intruding over older voices. She doesn't mean to be rude, she's just eager to help, as chldlings sometimes are, particularly if it means she can show off "His ward leads Cauley's Crazed Crusaders" Sip

"Oh? If one has aught to share, tis mannerly to be at the table." A gentle reminder without ire.

A long pause, then a slightly blushing sluagh girl puts cup and saucer back on the table, smooths her dress, ragged though it is, and joins them . She is, of course, a touch mortified. Sluagh are very sensitive to such slips, which is why their elders give GENTLE correction, unlike some more brusque kith. "Beg pardon, I quite lost myself in how delightful the cream lumps were." Apology AND praise for the hostess. Now that is mannerly

"Tea can be very distracting, aye. So - my well-travelled friend, you have encountered this Cauley of the Crusaders?"

"I have not, but while I went to a ... private school, you remember, the one that had that horrible fire?" She says "Shame about that, I did hear of them and other locales. Cauley is the Ward of the Duke. She is, I believe ,a Dougal as well, but far more ... adventuresome than he. A childling, she has gathered a motely and they often take action in the Duchy which they call 'playtime' but in truth... well, they try to make things 'fair'. It would seem Cauley and her friends have been told "Life is not fair", which, of course it is not. But the young sidhe thought that where there is a Dougal, there is a way, and now strives to help make it so. More practical members of her motley do not think it will EVER be made so ,but too many adult cowards use that phrase as excuse to act unjustly and then act as if that was life's fault rather than their own choice. Thus, the crusaders crazed teach bullies lessons from the shadows, steal from landlords and return to renters, and work small miracles mundanes can't explain. They HAVE been chastised for risking right of ignorance in this latter, but thus far ignorance holds, and Cauley remains unrepentant." A sip "Naturally, for the motely to survive so far, and not face death, dismemberment, or worse.. GROUNDING. She has required the aid of a sluagh in her motley. We ARE wonderful friends to have."

DeVere looks at Lily, impressed.

"That we are."

"Marvelous, young lady, and a possible avenue we non-childlings had not suspected, " DeVere nods approvingly, while Lily preens (but only up to the amount that is seemly) "And what, pray tell, is the name of the sluagh in this motley?"

At that, Lily deflates a bit "I.. know not. That is where my knowledge ends." A bitter admission.

"But there IS a sluagh, and these carriages tried to steal childlings. Something rather decidedly not fair."

"Indeed, if they do not know of yet, they might take up the cause when told, or, preferably, seek and share information"

That from DeVere, "Well done, Miss Lily."

Lily does perk up anew "As are pleased to serve."

"Indeed." She lifts her cup in the childling's direction, a wee salute.

The girl blushes again, but for a different reason, "I thank you. ' She sips "I really should help Poppy with the newcomers and I have had my 'civlized company' break. May I be excused?"

"With our gratitude, Miss Lily."

Miss Lily withdraws and slips away

DeVere watches her go, and admits "I sometimes moved to unseemly fondness for that little imp. "

"She is a mannerly little thing. A bright young witch."

"Yes, my eventual demise will be among young talent that I shall bitterly envy" A wink "What more can a grump ask for?" He ponders then "Of course, this situation , putting childlings at risk is..questionable, but it maybe our best lead IN the Duchy at least"

"Feh. I shall not be cavalier with the children."

"I apologize, of course you will not" he inclines his head "But sometimes they get impulsive and surprise you. Young Lily might decide she shall tag along ...unseen."

"She might." A silent communication with Octa - Lily is that sister's favorite, after all - and soon enough the childling has a tail.

DeVere nods in quiet approval, and sips. He seems thoughtful.

A soft knock, and the smell of candles burned to a stump

Zara rises to get the door - calling out, of course, would not be heard.

When she opens, she sees a wilder sluagh she had never seen before. Another young woman, the scent of burned candle fits her as her skin color is close to spent wax. She does not look truly waxen (Like a certain messanger) with lumps or distortions, rather more like an even pool with a wick (her hair) left burned. In the wrong light, her skin is almost reflective. She dresses like a worn holly hobie doll, perhaps a bit darker in hue for the threads. She gives a silent gesture of greeting.

"Madame."

The woman makes a gesture. Sign language?

'Greetings good lady' she signs

Without missing a beat, Zara's elegant hands twist into forms. :Welcome, Sister. I am Z-A-R-A.: She follows the spelling of her name with her 'name-sign' - hands shaped like a bird, the 'beak' travelling in a Z-shape.

"I am called Silent Dusk' She signs back, 'I am glad you speak my language. Though if it helps, I am completely mute, cannot even whisper, but I am not deaf. I also brought notes but I see that may not be needful'

"Welcome, Miss Dust. If you wish, I may interpret - unless? Mr. DeVere?"