#odyssey

"I'm honored by your regard, Your Grace; thank you."

"Mm I shall go call my fellow Duke"

August bows.

It takes but a short time, and the Duke returns to August, "Baron. I spoke to Duke Tierone. Intriguing young man. He was at first reluctant to have the Geas removed, I explained it was not to free her from her punishment but from her coma. He says that it might cause riots in in his Duchy. The Baroness of Bitter Tears hurt a lot of people, and was a tyrant besides."

The young baron nods gravely "I cannot find fault with his reasoning, or reasons."

"However, he will have a courier brought here with full records of her past crimes that lead to her punishment and details to peruse, and other materials that maybe of use to you. He also says he IS willing to consider releasing her, but would expect me to owe him a favor."

"I cannot ask that of you without speaking to the Baroness, so...."

"Part of the favor is that she never returns to his Duchy or any barony surrounding it no matter her ruling"

August is quiet a moment. "I will spend time with the materials when they arrive, see if I can come to an understanding and a solution for these challenges. What of the others? Darespark, and so on?"

"Darespark is yours to question or talk to in her cell anytime you wish and she can be tried soon. She is nto likely to be friendly to you I fear"

"If she wishes to dismiss me, I will step aside."

The Duke blinks "You mean she can refuse you? I mean... forgive, but I didn't know that sort of thing was possible in Kithain justice"

"I would not force my counsel on her."

"Baffling. Normally I just hear the person's crimes, they get to try to sway me, and then I decide. This way seems very ...intricate"

"It is a growing trend." he assures the Duke "I have been studying it, and our laws. I provide advice and counsel to those who need it, but it is their decision to accept and use it."

"Intriguing to say the least. May I make a suggestion, somewhat manipulative, but effective if you wish Darespark to keep you on?"

He goes on "Inform Darespark that if you help her ease her sentence, it might help her 'love' in turn"

August watches the Duke gravely. "Will it?"

"It might , and it gets her to keep legal representation"

"I will so advise her."

"When you're ready" He does not press

"I am ready now, Your Grace, if I might have an escort? Your gracious home is as yet somewhat terra incognita to me."

"I volunteer, your grace" the Scathach Thane says

"Very well, but take another with you as well" Another Thane is summoned, The Duke cclearly not impressed with the Scathach in this so far

And August is lead down below to the dungeons

And so he follows.

Darespark sits in the cell, a third guard guarding her. The troll guard says "Baron, how may I serve?"

The Nocker has thick mittens on her hand, probably to keep her from using them to pick locks or the like

"May I speak with Goodfae Darespark privately?"

"THat is unwise" The guard says

A small smile. "Perhaps."

"Baron?" The Scathach thane adds "May I suggest we at least stay in sight if out of ear shot?"

"I would accept that." August agrees gravely.

The guard and thanes take many steps away. Unless they're sluagh (They aren't) they would have a hard time overhearing much.

Darespark looks up at August "What the furk do YOU want?"

That clever little mechanical spider is nestled behind August's pointy ear, mostly hidden by his hair.

"I promised you, if you yielded and surrendered, I would speak for you before the Duke. You... did not surrender but I am still willing to provide you advice and counsel, and advocate for your interests. If you will allow me to."

"I almost got away with it, then almost got away with her. Each time you were among those that stopped me! Why would you possiubly help me? do you think I'm sort of Naar to fall for whatever trick this is?"

Her eyes show she's been crying a lot

He shakes his head. "I don't think you're a ... Naar, no. I would help you because I said I would, and I have studied how to do so."

"I kidnapped new fledges all over the kingdom, they're gonna want me HUNG"

"Do you mind if I take notes?"

"The only thing I want is my lady love restored so she and I can be together, take all the notes you want..." A snort

He nods and deploys his notebook and pen. "Thank you. Let me see.... You -were- observed controlling the devices that were confining and transporting newly Chrysalized Fae. And attempting to depart that area with them. And with, ah, Baroness Rathbone. Do you, ah, deny that you -were-, in fact, circumventing the usual courses of action and authorities for Fae coming into their Dream Dance?"

"They can dictum me to tell the truth, so no, I do not deny it. I needed their juice to undo my mistake"

"We were, ah, distracted and under some stress the last time we spoke of this... what mistake was this?"

"I tried to remove the geas on her, and instead it knocked her out.. the magic calcified and put her in a kind of status"

August writes this down.

"And why did you take such an action? Attempt to remove the geas?"

"The calculations were perfect, I had found the fulcrum of the working or so I thought, but it shifted..." A muttering then "Why? Because I love her! It was a frame job, she said so. She told me how she'd been wronged"