#elsewhere

"Aye. Clem would."

Earl frowns deeply "Emmit may never forgive us if we tell her"

"No. But I believe he owes her the truth.:

Earl rubs his forehead.

"That is how his debt is paid." She taps her lower lip. "But to do so, and hold his oath?"

in a fashion very similar to Banneath

"I can't picture Harvald swearing him to secrecy.... maybe this oath is self inflicted?"

"Mayhaps. In this, I suspect, the exact wording is important."

"I'll talk to Emmit about it, try to get him to..do the right thing for her. He's given her what she wants, but not what she needs. The truth."

Zara nods.

"Do you think he will listen to you?"

"He pushed me away..."

"I'll make him listen if I have to," earl says "he feels bad about how he didn't stand up for me more? how he didn't teach me as a student more? Fine.. .I can be unseelie enough to use that against him."

Gently. "I think he is injured, too."

"He is, and it's for his own good as much as anyone," A sigh "I'll talk to him" She takes his hand "If I end up banned from the farm , don't blame them too hard okay?"

Zara frowns. "I should come."

"Twas my vision, my actions."

"Yeah, but I need you in reserve to talk sense if mine fails"

"I can be unseen?"

"If you insist," he says "I don't want you ever think I'm shutting you out"

She reaches out to touch his face. "Oh, you couldn't if you tried." An attempt at levity.

A soft smile through the sadness, "This... is a truth" He puts his hand over the hand touching his face

"my girl can get in anywhere" proud

"I do not yet like this Banneath. But she saved a sluagh. Shall we go?"

"To rome, or to Uncle emmit?"

"Emmitt."

"Let me shower, I want time to.. ah think on how the hell I'm going to tell him this"

"I thought perhaps to simply say that 'I know.' A note, mayhaps."

"I love you, but you do realize that's the sort of thing used in horror or blackmail movies, right?"

"...oh. Hunh."

"Yeah" He nods

"I suppose that might not be the best path, then."

"I'll think of something in the shower" he rises, then "Unless you want to join me?"

"I cannot promise not to be a distraction..." A purr as winter reasserts itself.

"Well, let's test my trollish willpower" Happy for that distraction, oh yes...and he gently pulls her along

(Fade to shower!)