#elsewhere

"Which Count?"

"Scarsdale....the Dougal's end happens this very night"

"The Baron did not keep the soul out of love of him though, the lord of Alabastar Hollow is a stranger to him"

"I see."

"He did it for this mortal, whoever she is "

The Keremet does not know the Baron shields his mortal mother. Well, not like she heard the willowhisper

"I... will not free you, Keremet. Nay. But... I will allow your da'an to move, as it wills. As the Tapestry would have it, not the Baron. Understand you this? Perhaps your target will be different on the other side of this night. As you say, she has grown old."

"It matters not, my task is my task be she 38 or 83. I am bound by more than a cell"

"So be it."

"As da'an wills."

"As it ever was"

And Zara exhales, her cool breath stirring the still threads of Da'an - indeed, breathing life into them - what her fate is, Zara is not to decree.

And the dungeon shakes... oh ... oh my. That was powerful enough it may not be safe to stay here. It may somehow get sensed.

Zara skitters away - heading for Octa.

And she finds Octa Most interesting. Why would anyone need to track souls if they don't drink from them?

"Eiluned are curious beasts." She scans the astrolabe.

Quite. I prefer to work for you Octa says simply, sensibly

The dougal...

Oh Velvet would give up her eye teeth if she had them for this. THIS might be able to tell when someone is to depart and give a lead on where they're going in the after after!

The dougal?

The Dougal.. Alabaster Hollow... mm the Astrolabe can't read this far away... but she senses... yes, it heads towards that direction, pulling as if a lode stone

She scoops up Octa. "We go."

And out she goes... there is something... that soul may move tonight

Athena seeks Hephaestus.

And finds him... "Things are getting tense, but a moment ago it seemed Professor Plum doubled security"

"Aye. We must needs go. Ah.. now."

"The Hollow."

And out they slip, "No time for questions eh?" And they slip out just in time before the gates are shut

"The Count dies tonight."

With the destination being the hollow, he doesn't have to ask which count "By Jove's Bolts, By Hera's spite... we are away, to where stars are measured tight"

(And off to Scarsdale, but that is a chapter for another night, perhaps.. for one Count, a final chapter)