#earthrunes

So it comes to be, that Vashti ends up in a library with notes from Coradel and August's political work, a nd a few books. She reads intently, waiting for her sister to arrive. Or, maybe she'll solve it first and leave Quatra as a witness . "SNooze and lose."

Quatra is still there on her shoulder though. So not like a report wouldn't be made regardless.

"....Sister mine?" A whisper.

"As I suspected, there you are," Vashti saves a bit of face by acting like she saw this coming rather than nearly jumping out of her skin. She looks in the direction of the whisper, "Ware the needle, it's more venomous than a balor queen's rumor mill. Brazilian wandering spider venom ... and if you go near the puzzle box, you might find yourself ... well, less up to your ususual level of mania in needing to know. And... for me? A list."

"...A list? Of what?"

"The answer ," She says loftily "Is obvious..." Ahem "And I choose not to say because it's rude, and not because I don't know." She finishes a bit lamely,

Grabby hands would be undignified. So... one must not call that particular gesture grabby hands.

A scholarly snatch? An Academic acquisition? perhaps a Librarian's sorting?

Regardless, somehow the list finds itself in Zara's hands though for a moment she wonders... why bother? Surely the answer isn't that impor... the magic of the cat puzzlebox actually DIMMED her curiosity, but only for a moment.

Vashti looks at Zara with a bit of concern, "It's a bit feral, that cat. Now focus, I did not call you here to stay idle." Yes, there, that sounds like she ALLOWED her sister to know everything, She shares the list, and the two muse it over.

A little head-tilt. "Curious, indeed."

Soon, the sisters will discover what the names all have in common. Zara is glad August and Coradel have kept political notes, for each name is a representative of the parliament of dreams.

Her eyes slowly widen.

A bite of her lip "He who gave us pale blood kept this in storage at the For Naught Freehold."

"Was it for blackmail? Were they allied to the Red Eye?"

"For as pale as twas, his hands left all black and tarred in their wake."

"I no knot" She frowns "That is what I must discover. They might be spies and allies in those holds, or futrure targets for me to remove." Her wings droop.

Quatra taps 'Should -we - spy- on - those- holds? My - sisters- and- I?"

"Mayhaps. But... perhaps investigation even ere we risk you and yours."

"Aye, let us outline the plot for the novel of mystery we write w ith our lives" Vashti agrees.

(Fade to plotting)