#elsewhere

Zara blinks softly.

It would be so easy to sleep, to close her eyes and lay by the fountain where... any Varich might catch her! the thougght snaps her out of the spell

She shivers, casting off the urge.

the water makes a face, literally, it is another inaminnae "Well, if you won't listen to my song, I guess I'll have to yell"

"Nay, thy song was beautiful. You are kin to the River, you are a wonder."

"Know me, daughter of dark water, mother of Rusalka, witch of the River."

"I care little for your pomp, I am loyal o the Varich, as you should be, thief of hearts. And the Rusalka? ha, even if they existed still, it is they that..." She feels magic "Wait, what is this? your da'an... and place... " It has omened her or some other magic "No no no, a sluagh returning Rusalka? It canot be... the pact in danger? I must warn the masters.."

"Child of water, tarry. Please."

"No" he rises out of the water to make his call "I am loyal"

"I come for but one cause. I do not come here to harm the Varich. I am bound to save the Black Sun, serve you not they?"

"I SERVE the house, a failed whelp is not my concern, let the abberition rot in luxury..." and he cups his hands to the side of his face to call out

"Be then a babbling brook, child of water. Let the words stream with nonsense."

And the inanimae himself feels the touch of magic!

"i ain'tggonatalknunsensewhachualki boutt willis oooo shiney..."

Zara does NOT tarry.

And they move, Earl says "Should I entrap him with legedermain for a time? "

It wouldn' work, not on a watery form

"Difficult, with a water form. But that should still his tongue for some time."

And they see the hold, it comes across as a medieval school meets hunting lodge

It's lovely, and some how offensive

Oh, Zara has been offended.

She continues forward, finding a path in the shadows.

by hugging to the shadows, she sees the light , blinding tto the side of the buildinng. Like the sort that searches the sky for used car sales, but at ground level

She kens - is it JUST light, or are there hidden enchantments?

Oh both but the light is not part of it. THOSE are flowing into the kenels of the capture sluagh, whose sensiive eyes cannot fully shut the light out even with lids closed. A troll stands behind the lights

And he resembles a DeBuke

Zara touches Earl and points.

Earl's jaw sets, and he nods

"If... if he were to be sent home, could not act, that would not break his oath - aye?"

Earl takes a breath, and whispers "A man speaks of a little boy, to whom adults are just play toys, if you're bad in his view? Off off...off to the cornfield with you..."

the troll turns "What is .. " and he fades in a flash

Earl texts something fast "Murray's gonna murder me"

"He is. But thank you. I would not wish to see that done to your kinsman. I am no troll, but... I do love one, nu?"

"yes. " He kisses her but briefly, quickly, for there is much to do

Zara gestures, gathering shadows to cloud the spotlight.

A gasp of relief, sluagh can't speak loudly... but they can breathe... but one whispers "the wards.."

Zara kens, again - weaver ward? Something else?

Oh yes, a ward... a cage around the cages.

"Shit," Eal curses. "I think I just flicker flashed the guy who had the key"

"And we shall deal."

"Tell me of your nature, mm? Let me see..."

Zara prods at the casting with her own magic, looking for weaknesses in the structure.

Zara for a moment feels she mightt not break it... she feels banality threatening to punish her for 'disbelieving' this spell so it goes... but.. it breaks

A soft exhale.

"Let us move quickly."

alas, as it does have a cost

dogs howl

"Very quickly."

Earl says "Love...I have an idea bu i may drain me. I mightt be able to flicker flash. all of them and their cages to Earth Runes. It's the quickest way"

Zara presses her dross into his hands. "Do it."