#odyssey

And August looks at the cracks along his sword blade from the contact. His loyal weapon looks fractured

The Gwydion Squire leaps at the now revealed Balor... but overshoots, sending drinks and dishes spilling as she hits the table

Tziporah has more luck, grabbing a delicate napkin and yanking out the cold iron away from the childling with it. Even through the material it hurts the Eshu's hand but the childling is no longer in the effect.

The Duke yells at his traitorous false underling "On your knees!"

And just like that, Nathair falls to the ground, held there by a dictum more powerful than his. The Duke is LIVID with Nathair and starts to draw his own blade. It looks like he might kill the Balor right here at the dining table.

"Your Grace! At your table?!?" August reminds him of the requirements of hospitality.

He sheaths his poor sword and looks to Cauly "Are you wounded, child??"

The Duke stops at the Rebuke, and he nods "Quite right. It would seem you have saved not just other innocents, but my Ward, and at last, my honor" He puts the blade away "Seize Nathair, if that IS his real name. TIGHTEST security. Gag him."

The Duchess is breathing hard, looking at her damaged arm "I'm not afraid" She lies, looking terrified but trying to be bold anyway, "But he wrecked my arm."

A nocker, fast thinking, has grabbed a mundane tool box, emptied it, and then held it up for Tziporah "But the cold iron in here."

She does, with a grateful look. Even with the cloth barrier, she has something of an ugly scar on her palm now, but it could have been so much worse "Sis is going to kill me if she finds out." Then she looks to the Duke "I'll bring you the evidence I found, your Grace. The story, obviously, is real."

Thanes are on Nathair like Blue on a troll and drag him away.

The Duke looks at Tziporah "I would see it, but there can be no denying the truth of your tale" He moves to the Duchess as well to comfort her along side August.

August is now kneeling to the little Duchess to comfort her if she will have it. "Perhaps some mundane healing for our eshu friend? A salve, or similar? She was wounded in your wards defense, Your Grace."

"Yes, make it so" he informs a boggan who rushes off, to the crowd he says "Dinner tonight is over, clearly while we clean this up. Rest assured, White Trillium knows its debts."

With that, those who aren't essential scatter. The Boggan returns with a medkit.

And while Tziporah is tended to, the Duchess is happy to have August AND her Duke nearby "Don't tell the other Crusaders I got scared. SO embarrassing" A whisper.

"One is bravest when they face their fear" The Duke assures her, "not when one avoids feeling it in the first place."

"This, like the vegetables, is a truth." August assures her.

"Well I don't like either" Cauly admits, but smiles "But I guess it still IS true. Thank, Baron." A pause "Are you sure you and your lady don't want to move to Canada?"

He chuckles. "I'm afraid we cannot, Duchess, but I am honored at the question."

"Oh poo. We'll have to reward you some other way" SHe says "Can we fix your sword? "

The Duke looks at the fractured Blade "We could. It may take a while, meticulous work "

"I did as duty bade me, Your Graces. I... regret the necessity but I would not task your resources."

"Dougals thrive on tasks, Baron" he assures "Leave it here, we'll have it repaired within a year and a day at the latest" he assures .