#elsewhere

At Earth Runes Library, Earl is reading.

This is not unheard of. He IS a reader.

But he would admit that his book love pales like a flickering candle compared to the full unclouded moon that is Zara's love and expertise.

So some folks peek in, see Earl, and actually look surprised

"homework?" Shallimar asks

"Nope. Just a good book" Earl answers and keeps reading.

"Ah, to woo the lady!" Shallilmar nods sagely.

"Nope... I just like this book" Earl answers

Shallimar looks baffled, "And Miss Zara, is she painting in the gallery?"

"Zara IS an artist, though more with textiles than painting," earl says "She also plays the violin. You KNOW this, Shallimar"

Shallimar nods himself "Well, yes, but... trolls reading books, sluagh making noise?"

Octa is on Earl's left horn, also enjoying the book, thank you very much.

Earl mutters and apology to Octa as he pauses reading to turn to see Shaillmar, THIS is annoying for Octa for she's now done with that page. "Shallimar, what is it you..." A blink "Shallimar? Pardon... were you tarred and feathered?"

"Mildly," Says Shallimar, who is indeed covered in black oily stuff, and feathers... he doesn't look BURNED but it is everywhere.

"WHY?" Earl asks.

"You know how sluagh stand together, loyal to their kithmates?" The pooka asks

"Well, as a rule, yes that's their system" Earl says though he had heard stories of seelie unseelie war or at least rivalry, but in his experience the modern sluagh are over that if there ever was such a thing, and they prefer the attic vs basement references

"Pooka are equally loyal to each other" Shallimar lies

"Vince wouldn't do this," Earl observes "Not his style. And Emma is too sweet. Who did you piss off?"

Shallimar looks offended, "Why does everyone assume when I'm in trouble it's my own doing?"

Octa taps out 'Experience'

"Shallimar..." The troll inquires "First, do not go any more in the library, if you leave tar foot prints Zara will be annoyed and it will make more work for Ivanka. Second... do you want me to remove that for you?"

Shallimar hovers at the threshold, looking behind himself to see the trail of feathers and black goo footprints in the hall leading UP the library "mmm, " Then says "I'd be forever and a day in your debt, Knight of Corn"

Earl gestures, and flicker flashes the feathers and substance, JUST that, off the Skunk Pooka, who gasps in relief

"I feel peeled" The jester admits then says "Nay nay, no Earth Ring pooka did this. Let us say that a certain rivervale ringtail and I have not BEGUN to fight!"

And with that, the jester bows, and whirls out

"Rivervale ring tail?" Earl looks baffled, then shrugs "Let's get back to reading, shall we Octa?"

Octa taps "NEW PAGE!"

"Right right, sorry about that," Earl is a gent and turns the next one. It was, after all, getting exciting

And back the two go to reading

(End Scene)