#earthrunes

"My sign language is rusty, but i know the basics." The fellow says "I may miss a few, translate or not as you please" he whipers "Miss Zara is in charge of this, not I. " he explains to Miss Dusk

Miss Dusk gives the traditional gesture of greeting to him, then signs slowly 'I shall try not to wax verbose'

"Tea, Miss Dusk?"

'Please, and ever so kind of you' She sniffs 'Is that Lady Grey?'

"Aye, tis." Zara prepares a cup for the newcomer.

"Wonderful" She takes a sample

"We were having a lovely discussion about novel forms of transportation. They seem to have a habit of appearing under very specific circumstances."

'Yes. I heard you were looking for same' she observes 'And have witnessed such myself. Unseemly contraption'

"Very unseemly. And.... rude."

Her fingers fly as as she describes, eloquently, the abduction of an older man coming late to his true self, only to be seized by a whip like grappler from a carriage door, and whisked off. 'Giddy was I with the glamour, but he was nearbeyond my reach. I would have tried to follow it, but have no such seeking magics. I do however, have some skill at autumn, and managed to set a piece of it to rot.' She takes out what looks like a chunk of exterior paneling 'would this be of use to you?'

"Aye, it would."

"Mr. DeVere - I have primal, and may whisper, but I believe you are more skilled in the art than I..."

She lays it on a side table, not on the tea table, that would be gauche

Mr. DeVere says "Time and practice has its merits. What questions would you have me ask?"

"Who sent it hence, aye? And to where it was bound."

"Two good questions" He nods "I shall incorporate. " A look to Miss Dusk "Miss Dusk? Any questions?"

She ponders "Is there away to stop it easily without harm to the one within? to force it to surrender its captive?' she signs slowly.

DeVere's brows narrow, but with Zara's help translating, he soon nods.

"Good question, aye."

The old man pulls out crushed petals and blows them over the sample.

And asks...

And is answered

"Who sent you upon your mission of seizing those in the dance of dreams?" // "Love's desperate sting did compel my hunt, for the sake of one, gather, gather...''

Zara leans forwards, listening.

DeVere asked who, not why, but lets it slide "Where, to what place, were you bound and that place called?" // "In the Duchy of White Trillium, Below the Bay, lower lower.. where the loved one rests"

DeVere mmms softly, then inquires, "How does one stop you before you reach your destination most easily, and with out harming your captive?" // "Love impells my theft, true love can halt it. Also too, the power of the shining hosts, it is not in me to easily to deny."

Ms Dusk signs, 'Sidhe oft seem to have it so easy'

"Feh. A foul art, but effective."

DeVere nods, but does not let the spell end

"What becomes of the... passengers... if they are not the sought-for Lover?"

He repeats the question Zara asks, and it answers "They are all for the lover , all needed. All taken. Fresh, bursting. The lover's only chance."

A soft hiss.

DeVere arches a brow at this gluttonous answer, but then asks another "How do you patrol unseen, only to appear at the Dream Dance? Is there a way to find you before you strike?" //"It is within us, built that way. A rede of sorts, master work but not unique. We are exposed by the Dance even as we take what we are sent to. A trick of the Banner. A cat in the comb." clearly it is getting a bit wobbly, the magic, "Sensing us is hard even for a sluagh, but for every device there is a counter built against it. A crafter of hiding and seeking might have such"

And then... it dies.

"Of course."

"Oh, hell. That means a Varich hold."

'Even for a sluagh' Ms Silent Dusk repeats with her hands 'One almost feels challenged'

She rubs her face. "Aye, aye, needs must. This love-sickness is beyond reason and endangers many. Summer may be high, and I am oft swayed by the call of tender hearted feelings, but this... this cannot go on."

"It is a evil born of love's obsession, which means it is dangerous beyond reckoning" DeVere says

'

'why a varich?' Dusk seems unsure of that, and fearful of tangling wit hthe sun

"Not a Varich, but Combcatte. A banner house. I know one, but he works beneath a Varich Baroness."

"Combcatte? Yes" DeVere says "Obscure. A dougal ailil alliance. Interesting"

Miss Silent Dusk shudders 'Your pardon, but I prefer not to walk too near the sun. I have helped how I could an welcome any good news following, and what I see I will share, but I will not walk into 'that' cold and unforgiving light'

"No. I shall do it."

"Miss Zara, I know you to be talented, but kindly do not break my... do not break Earl's heart by dying. He should do something drastic I think, rather than pining his years painting visions of his lost love as would be proper." Mr DeVere asks

Miss Silent Dusk, relieved that she is not being called a coward, does take a moment to appreciate the romantic idea of a loved one who pines for you beyond death in paints and artistry 'oh no, he must'nt let his artistic energies to to waste by mourning improperly'

"There are cousins, there. And at least one friend. I should not need go to the hold, directly, but may work at the outskirts."

"Miss Lizbet is ...young, but a wilder now. I suppose she can aid" DeVere mmmphs "I am grump in truth and spend too much time around trolls. iT has made me needful and protective"

Miss Dust savors her tea