#elsewhere

"I would prefer to seek the information myself, rather than put Velvet at risk and into the midsts of all this." he clarifies.

((Can continue here VERRRRY slowly.))

Coradel looks at him. "August," she begins gently, "what do you estimate would be your success at getting reliable information from Velvet's informant? And...would it not endanger Velvet if this Dark Kin discovers she has shared information about him with you?"

"Keremet...." he muses. An exhale. "Damned if you do, damned if you don't.... pardon, ladies."

He looks at Velvet. "Would he meet with you if you had someone else with you? An escort?"

A bemused look as August apologizes for the mildest of curses, then she looks to Velvet.

"If i let him know before hand, and gave him my word... perhaps he'd show"

Another exhale. "I was hastyin asking you to sequester yourself. Keremet are.... A matter of interest to my House. I spoke out of an abundance of caution." Another breath. "And I can understand your particular interest."

"I retract my request for you to isolate. Will you find out if you can meet the keremet with an escort?"

She smiles a bit "Thank you, my lord . I am glad you changed your mind" A look to the Baroness "And thank you, Baroness for understanding," then to August "I shall endeavor to cajole him to meet iwth the both of us, my liege. May I go send him a message now?"

August still frowns with concern, but nods.

And she curtseys and backs away

August manages a smile for her.

Coradel nods in response. "I appreciate your particular skill set, Squire Velvet."

When Velvet seems to be gone (but who can really tell with sluagh?), Coradel turns to August. "She's more resourceful than I realized."

"She is very clever. And focused."

"I am still concerned."

"Of course you are."

"However, you run the risk of allowing your concerns to endanger her further. She seems to have navigated this interaction of hers well so far. Trying to 'fix' it may make matters worse."

"Besides...given her particular interests, I suppose such a connection was almost inevitable."

"I was unaware she was meeting with Dark Kin. It was probably an intentional omission on her part." Dryly.

"Would you have forbidden it, had you known?"

"It is likely. At the very least, she would not have met him alone."

"And so the initial meetings would never have happened. August," she says gently, putting a hand on his shoulder, "she is young, but she is a creature like Zara. Would you presume to control Zara so?" Then a bit of a grin. "Maybe you might have tried, but I doubt you'd have had success. Don't bully Velvet into compliance because you want to protect a cherished squire." She taps him lightly on the nose.

((Must go to long lag, may not respond until after noon.))

"I -do- have a duty to her."

"True. But I get the sense that constraining her ability to do research her way wouldn't do much to protect her. I think rather it would put her in more danger. She would still wish to seek knowledge, but I think you'd make an unwise chaperone in such situations. You'd be very judgy." She thinks a moment. "Hmm. Do you think there is some other person who would be a suitable escort for such meetings? Perhaps Velvet herself could suggest somebody."

"I will ask her." with great (and wounded) dignity.

"Oh, my love," she reaches to brush his hair back from his brow. "It is only because you care so deeply for what is right and pure that you might be a liability in this case."

"I fundamentally disagree that caring for what is right and pure makes one a liability, but leaving that alone for now, who would be better suited to lead the effort? I will step aside."

"Oh, I think that for this particular encounter, if she can get the permission, you should meet the...man? Well, the keremet, at any rate. The process is already begun. But I suspect you're tempted to constrain her further research to be more directly under your supervision...and I think that's where the problem might come. Who would suit instead? Well...I haven't a clue. But if you're certain she needs a chaperone, have her be part of the discussion on who would suit."

"I can promise you, there will be a discussion."

"She is a clever, resourceful, courageous young thing."

"I agree."

"Be careful not to discourage that, is all I'm saying. I admire her initiative." Coradel gives him a light kiss. "You want to come with me to speak with Bachdion about being Regent during this trip?"