#kc_necropolis

"Indeed? What of this lady drew your interest?"

"She can be found at this address." He offers a slip of paper in apparent response.

An eyebrow.

"No questions asked does two things, sir. One, it affects the price - and two, quite frankly, makes me less efficient."

A thin smile. "Look at the information."

Zara looks down at the paper.

Unless she is much mistaken.... it's Caesar's address.

"...Ah."

"Indeed."

"How long?"

"Months." Glumly, as he picks up his teacup.

Sip.

"So... during his recent debacle, nu? In the ring?"

"He was drugged. The drug itself had been cantripped." Calmly. "Very subtle."

"Expert work, I'd warrant."

"Interesting. Clever. A good trick... what was it, fuddle?"

"A veil, I think."

She nods. "Very clever."

"So.... Caesar was drugged by a fae. And this sidhe... well. I'll watch."

He nods. "I was hoping for, and am willing to pay for, something more active than that. I'd like to take action, you see."

"You wish to drive her away?"

"Yes. More or less. In a manner of speaking."

"And you think, mayhaps, truth may be the weapon?"

"I don't think telling the boy about my suspicions will endear me to him,or change his mind. Satyr."

"No. But... facts? "

A dry look, and he sips.

"So."

"I have not found that promoting fact over emotion for a satyr is remarkably successful." Mildly. "So. What other questions can I answer."

"No, but to a Dougal? Do you suspect her involved in Caesar's difficulties?"

"Oh, yes." Sip. "The relationship is.....unequal. She cares far more for him than he for her, as is a satyr's wont." A pause. "A reason for her actions ..... her possible involvement....." he amends ".... could be that -she- has been effected by some kind of drug or magic, but I doubt it."

"But that is a thing for me to look for."

"And also, of course, a reason for him to have been a target at all... he seems less.. ah.. politically active... than the pair of you."

A careful pause, and a tea sandwich is consumed before the boggan replies, "We all have our hobbies. Not all hobbies are shared, even among friends. Or family members. Nor should they be." Sip. "In fact, I'm sure there are.... personal matters you keep from your parents. And Uncles. For which they are perhaps aware in a nebulous sense but nevertheless prefer to keep a blind eye on."

"Exactly. And it angers me if they are included in my affairs, or become targets."

"I'm glad we understand each other, hm? That is, of course, part of the business end of this."

She nods. "I am fond of Caesar. i would not see him hurt."

"We are in agreement, hence, my interest in this matter."

She nods again. "As for my services... "

He nods, open and listening.

"Information for information. I know, you are retired... but what I seek is old news."

One thing about boggans; they give GREAT raised eyebrow. And he does.

"Do ask."

"Some seventeen years ago, the Balor sent a spy to Alabaster Hollow. And then, the summer of my birth, Balor again were present - and stole a nocker wilder from her home."

He nods, following.

"You are.... 17? So 2001... ah. Yes. A banner year for House Balor." Bitterly.

"I have few contacts with that house. But surely, there is talk of exploits, rumors of success and failures - gossip. I would know rumors of the fabric tower, the mobile freehold. Of THAT day. That is the day they stole my mother."

"I was not even two months old."

"I see." His face curiously blank.

"I understand, truly, that this could be asking much. So... that is why I only want rumors. Leads that I may pursue."

He sighs. "Yes. What -kind- of rumors? Understand, that time period was fraught and the rumors were.... wide ranging."