#earthrunes

Zara shakes her head. "Magic can be a fearsome force. Tis not that you fell to pretty words, but to foul arts."

"you are too kind, but the shame clings to me like a sunburn...irritating, and it will take time to peel"

"But it shall peel, nay?"

"yes, in time," Beldamee says sipping slow

"A part of this misery will always be with you" Mr. GLuminski counterpoints, "But this scar will be a teacher, and show others how no sluagh can be brought low forever"

"you're kind, sirrah, but I am not sure I am a role model" Beldame tuts

"Did you not survive?"

a chuff, the first one she can manage "Perhaps this is merely a shadow of the original me? A ghost of a ghost? I had thought I had no innocence to lose, but this event has made me realize I did and have." She sips again "But I believe I see your point, our kith was not meant for ignorance, and innocence often crosses into that"

"Through trial, through perseverance, we become more of ourselves, not less."

"Have faith, Maestra Beldame."

"mine is broken, but i bore you all i am certain," She tuts at herself "would i could remember more of this redheaded horror... her hatred for her abductor, i recall that at the end... Coradel she called"

Brows raise at this

An arched brow.

"Tis rare, for the mortal souls to be embedded in the Dreaming."

"Would i could remember more, what I have told you is pieced together from talking to my former prisoners... pudge remembered much, as did Majestix. " She sips "A pocket fold in the dreaming itself I'm told. "

Velvet ponders "It seems there is a shortage of our kith that studies Dreamcraft, pray my assumption"

"It is no surprise," Mr. DeVere says kindly, glad to be away from family that won't ignore him when needed, indeed, Zara shunned him wonderfully before this, bless her, "We sluagh can be territorial. i have.. some skill in it"

"I have humble arts of my own, but, nay, I am not skilled in Dreamcraft."

Beldame says "our captor discouraged both it and Wayfare's higher arts, and the reasons now are obvious. such is the first strike of a tyrant, that they would restrain teaching between civilized peoples"

"well said," mr. gluminski nods , the slavic accented sluagh seems most courteous to the newly arrived crone

"Oh, there are plenty who would police the teaching of arts in this realm."

"They are best subverted."

"not that any of us would ever do such..." Velvet names no names "As far as they know. those who would spread ignorance deserve no answers from me"

"our secrets to sell" Mr. Gluminski nods

"or gift," DeVere adds

"or hold, if none be worthy" Beldame says "yet"

It rounds the table almost like an incantation

"Yes." A nod, and she sips her tea.

Beldame, as the furthest flung, was the beneficiary of the casket today. A good quality tea in her favorite varietal.

The old crone seems to be quite grateful for the treatment, lamenting can be comforting, as long as one does not overstay the moment "i would not come with a hat in my hand if i could help it but..."

Velvet notices it hanging "but you feel your own knowledge of events is faded? pray presumption on my part but your story , even though mist filled, is good to know for all our sakes, and further, it bespeaks of changes heading to other holds with the return"

"such a polite crone to be," Beldame mmms, one of her eyes unhealtily larger than the otehr for a moment as it takes Velvet in, then she nods to Zara "Indeed, and a hostess most gracious on top of it. our delicate and slightly venomous gender is well represented I note"

The gentlemen just tip their hats at the observation

"Velvet is a well-mannered thing. Has done fantastic study on the art of Death."

"i confess, your talk of a vengeful mortal soul... however unnatural her placement in this case, is as carrion to a vulture to me... do pardon my greed. I would gladly commiserate." An offer for traded information, hopefully not too guache

A gentle cluck of the tongue from Beldame, but she smiles toothlessly "I see what you mean, Miss Zara. She is ..rapacious it seems, but a hungry mind is a healthy one. " A nod to Velvet "And most kind... tell me, Velvet. How is it a Fiona hold seems so friendly to our kind? I see parties even now in the distance, there are bold and brought lovers almost brazen in the halls, and yet there is... a genteel shadow to this place to counter the glare?"

"Twas Eiluned, once. Ere my arrival - Coradel's mentor, the old baron, was of the moon and stars. His work established this library. I have been fortunate to take stewardship, and have curated my own expansion thereto."

Velvet nods "Were it not for Miss Zara and, to be fair, some sensible sidhe knowing quality, this place might have fallen entirely to the bright noise, and great secrets lost. There is a danger of random cacophony or borderline bachinalia, but certain areas are respected as a courtesy to our kind, not the least of which herself. There are exceptions mind, ware of Shalimar, Court Jester. That pooka DOTH Amuse atimes, but still"

"Oh, Shalimar hath learned to respect this domain." She gestures at the shelves surrounding them.

"Mmmph," Mr. Glumisnki tuts "Fortunate favors fools indeed, for , though a pooka herself, the seamstress should be beyond him, yet she turns her eyes to him. I do not see the appeal for her"

"My sister says he maketh her laugh." A resigned sigh.

Beldame admires the library at Zara's gesture, "indeed, the maids do not sweep the cobwebs nor plague the dustbunnies here. How ever did you get past the boggans?"

"Oh, Miss Ivanka has charge of here. She is a cousin to our kith."

DeVere actually gives a soft chuckle at both Gluminski and Zara "The heart is a twisted thing, and the winding paths it takes us on has some rewards. "

"A kinain? oh what a delight" Beldame smiles at some memory "I have a grandson who is positively autistic in his desire to be left be. He does write me the most lovely..." She stops , "I suppose they have canceled that PO box"

"Oh, tis. But then, I have my own heart locked in a garret, painting away."

"Life goals, as my generation might say" Miss Velvet nods

"If he is kin, much can be explained. Twould be a pity if that connection were to be severed."

At mention of a garret, Crone Beldame looks pleased, "Why Miss Zara, you hath a most sensible reaction to twisted heart strings. Store them in a Garret and have them occupied. when i was your age i had not nearly so much dark sense. has he gone mad with desire for thee yet? Oh pardon, that last was rude" She fusses at herself "of course he likely has but it is not to be spoken of, rather you cherrish that yourself. " SHe ponders "yes, I must look him up again. "

"Oh, I am an honest woman these days. Oathbound and terribly besotted."