#kc_necropolis

"mmmm" CC and EBG do not go to Firnost often. But there they are, in it's library

"Mmph." EBG agrees, and starts searching.

the information on leech in these books is not obvious or overt, but some notes are here. And CC is taking advantage , nont that she's going to mention what she's looking for where any sluagh will over hear

Mm Emerson finds a ratty tome with an odd helix design, the book looks ready to fall to pieces

He handles it carefully, out of fear of the Firnost librarian if nothing else.

He examines it.

Indeed, it was agreed they wouldn't anger the librarian

Yet he finds a passage "Leech was a hero, once, using his enhanced life to save many changelings, to find them, to preserve lost magic. And so on... he had his own secrets? what sluagh did not? Why in Kansas City, under the iron cross nailed to the body of the land, he rested and sorted through his treasures.." and it smudges

"Callidora!" he hisses. Excited? There certainly is a glint to his eye. "Come look at this...."

She does, turning and looking over, and she has to FORCE herself not to blurt out 'here'? but the question and interest is in her eyes

"An iron cross, though...." he frowns "Railway? It was called 'the iron road' in some places."

"Of course, if 'iron' means cold iron...." he trails off; no more needs to be said.

"Railroad crossing... the first one laid in the city, the old transcontinental came cross, then something came across it" She grins

He nods. "But made of what kind of iron?"

"A question to be sure, let's find out.. cautiously"

"Mmph. Let's check this book out."

And they do. Respectfully

He wraps it carefully and gets a safe box from the gloves to protect it before they leave the B&B/warehouse.

"Let's take a turn by the site? Carefully. The slightest chill and we protect ourselves. With distance."

Onnce outside, and into the bright light (The best way to deter sluagh trailing you , well, as best as it gets) as they talk "Wise.. I was thinking much the same"

He nods, and when they reach the car he's using this month he gets her door.

And she slides in "Why am I surprised there would be a bolt hole in the same town as Firnost?"

He chuckles as he slides into the driver's seat. "I couldn't begin to guess, Dearest. The city is -technically- under noble control although there's a rather wide berth given to the streets immediately around Firnost."

He consults an old-school map briefly and heads them in the direction of the iron cross.

And they drive along

"If he rested under the iron cross... perhaps it's not cold iron? Although if you had a way in that bypasses the accursed stuff, it would keep other Fae away; that might be ingenious." William muses. "Rested and sorted through his treasures....."

"Maybe he's under it, but the PASSAGE to it, is elsewhere?"

"If he did not use magic to get to it, and if it is cold iron that would be difficult indeed."

"Mm cold iron would be a g ood ward, from a distance" She ponders as they drive

"Unlikely to bother anyone save Fae."

"Mmm and inn this city, prodigals abound"

"As I said... ingenious. Perhaps."

And in due course, they are in the area. William parks and drums his fingers on the wheel.

They do, and fortunately, it's still day, so the usual vampire vagrants aren't bumming around.

William remarks on that. "Happily, the usual prodigals are not.... wait."

"Leech..... Leech?" an eyebrow "Dearest, is it possible he had made alliances with the vampires? Who are known to be immortal? That is, live unusually long lives, if it can be called that?"

Her brows shoot to her horns. "Well, I admit, the idea never occured to me, but, vampires do hang about this area... it's.. possible they had a connection"

"But -how-?? The banality alone....."

"Mmm the younger vampires arenn't always that banal, but.. yes, it's chancey." SHe frowns

"That book is far older than recent attempts to take centaurs; far older than the centaur's reemergence. So this bolthole and treasures within would not be connected directly, nor would any possible connection to Leeches. Hm."

"Perhaps. Leech is old enough, centaurs aren't, but if he had prophetic inclinations"

"Which there is evidence for."

"Make a mental note, Dearest, we must do this work in the hours of daylight."

"And it's starting to get dark... should we wait till morning?"

"We might lose all, if they are aware of his fate. Assuming they are involved at all."

William shakes himself and cracks his door open, saying "First, we see to the nature of this iron cross. Come rescue me if I fall, Dearest."

"Of course, I always protect my investments"

He chuckles and gets out.

William gets a pair of binoculars from the trunk, and then approaches the iron cross carefully. He pauses occasionally to peer through the binoculars; clearly a harmless fuddy-duddy bird watcher.

Indeed, few pay him any mind.Why would they?