#elsewhere

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The hateful thing is coiled on the table, encircled by a ring of salt. She has not touched it with bare hands.

Earl says "Take it to Uncle Emmit? Have him..do something with it?"

"Nay - I feel it is an obligation for me, aye? Tis my kith's bane."

"It is kind of a sluagh's kryptonite" He concurs "But how will you deal with it?"

"Well.. the plan is to omen it, learn its secrets. Then name it to gain power..."

"if you know it's name, can it hurt you? " A thought "Can you runic circle it somehow?"

"Nay - knowing its name gives me power over it." She catches his hand and kisses it. "That... you see, that is why I gifted mine to you."

"I know" He smiles and takes her hand in turn and kisses it "I am vain but such trust makes me feel ..well, I glow with it"

"Be vain. It is meant to be an honor."

"That it is" And he pulls her deeper into his embrace to kiss her intently. She is cold, clammy,and smells of earth. And he loves it. When they part, he says "Hannukah soon yes?"

"A week, aye. I am very nearly done with all the socks..."

Huff. "I had made Sparrow and Caitir's already!"

Amusement in his eyes "how rude of her to conquer a holding without taking hannakah into account"

"Aye!"

"I shall simply have to flicker flash you there to give her a stern talking to"

A soft chuff.

"Now, if I could re-weave... I could nullify this. A nickname fades."

"Mmm" He ponders "Not sure if it's wise or not, but couldn't you bend it's fate so that anyone using it on a sluagh unjustly regrets it?"

"I could.... but then it would still be used against a sluagh."

"Now, could I bend it so that it is not used against another sluagh?"

Frown. "That... that might guarantee it is then used against me... fie."

"Give it a taste for trolls... we do not squirm. Talk about a waste"

joking

"Though... truth, it defends against slipping loose, not brute strength..."

"Well, maybe I could just snap the darn thing? " A pause "Well, maybe not me but a stronger troll"

"There's a risk there - remember the backlash I had from breaking the cane?"

"Oh right. Shadow Earl would .. not be good"

"And we won't even talk about the. link"

"Or perhaps it would infect you with its purpose, turn you to hate sluagh... or perhaps it would twist you in another way. It is unpredictable."

A frown "I could never hate you but.. point made." A sigh "So you hold it for now until you're sure?"

"Aye." Sigh.

"Let me know if I can help, either with that specifically or something else to take your mind of things?"

"I could perhaps have it banished, deep within stone... a place it cannot be found..."

"But better to destroy it, render it useless."

"I could bury it in the short term" he offers

"Well. I shall read omens upon it, first."

"Read all of the da'an that I may... and then, perhaps, I shall have the insight to move forward."

"Perhaps. It may be an ugly sight, what it shows you"

"I know. But... I must. For my kith, nu?"

"Of course" he understands "I just wish I ..well, trollbrain" He wants to protect her from what might come

"Aye." She draws his arms around her.

And he holds her, inhaling the scent of her. "I love you"

Happy sigh. "And I, thee."

"Would you like to watch some Adams Family reruns in my bedroom with me? I know tv is not normally your thing but..I have the first few seasons on DVD"

"After I work."

"Okay." he nods