#rescuemiriam

"most promising?" Emmit says, then chuckles at Zara's comment "Wise girl. Don't set the bar too high for yourselves eh? Follow me. See you around, Earl."

A tiny wave for Earl, and she follows after Emmit and Clem.

Earl watches her go "We'll watch the crab dance tonight..." Wistful, and a smile on his face until she's out of sight.

Emmit chuckles, "Your trip to Australia seems to have made you appreciate stars more openly if you don't mind me saying, Zara? But then what soothsayer doesn't read by them now and then eh?"

"Well, they do dance. And sing. I appreciate having the chance to hear about them from your friend..."

"Fair... now, First things first before we start... you still interested what I plan to use the Dragonscale for?" He says

"Yes!" She pushes back her bangs to reveal her eyes more clearly, sparkling with curiosity.

"Nah, we're good," Clem says straight faced

Emmit chuckles

"And... aye? The scale? Since it needn't be a specific one..."

"Well,seems we're deadlocked, but as a promise is a promise I better just answer..." A nod to Zara, "The dragon has passed, but the memory of the essence lingers. I hope to be able to summon it's essence either for defense of the farmhold. Or for its knowledge. Once a part always a part as you know, and had it come from a living dragon, It wouold have known as much as the dragon did when the scale was lost. It's lore, at least a chance at its lore, will now serve the Lodge, and yours truly."

"Oh! No wonder he wouldn't... oh, certainly, that would have been bad, for a living dragon."

"It would have done him no harm... but I can understand no dragon likes having to give up something for free. "//Clem looks spooked, "So that'sk ind of like a 'ghost of a chimera?'"

Emmit smiles, "For the dead ones? Maybe."

"So - protection. Some armor, aye."

"More like, for a moment.. the Dragon's shadow rises as strong as the real thing and fights for as long as we can fuel it... a memory of might instead of knowledge."

Clem whistles

"Powerful magic."

"When you learn more of naming, you will learn more of how a piece of a person may carry a piece of their name... IF you are a master of the art. But only a piece if that."

"Oh! ANd so by invoking the name, you invoke a piece of the power, of the true thing."

"Just so..." He nods.

CLem looks confused, "But if once a part always a part...then whey does the name change?"

"Because it's true name is no longer 'So and So the Dragon' it would be 'Scale of So and So the Dragon', it would give you clues to the former name, but only that. You have to read between the changes for yourself."

"Right...."

Clem blushes, "Think I'm the slow one in this class."

"Well, it is a little like scrying.. you have to be very specific on the target..."

"Well, Zara is the one who will actually learning Naming, think of this as 'Pre-Naming' for you, Clem,for if or when you get around to it. Maybe we'll drop you off in Brazil since Australia's been done."

Clem's mouth opens at something but then closes.

"I... " She looks from Emmit to Clem. "Sorry?"

"Don't be," Clem says, "I should know that I wouldn't get off the hook of tests just because I'm kin."

"They were... I'm glad I did them, you know? Anything too easy to get, might not be worthwhile."

"This is where I stroke my beard and look sage," Emmit says at both the youngers, "Okay, Zara... any questions up front?"

"I... well, truth? I have had little luck in the library concerning naming. It is well guarded. What... what's first?"

"First is learning that all attempts at lesser namings are mere distortions and reflections of the true words...because of this, all languages are one. IF you know how to find that thread."

"Like the tower of babel. The language of G-d. That... that's the language of names?"

"Actually, that's a fine allegory. Once a part always a part works there too... so when languages were broken apart..." He lets it hang.

"Fragments of the true language are there. Like a cipher."

A nod, "Now you see why so many Soothsayers seek out naming...the mysteries of true names and the mystery of Da'an are not so different." He says.

"Two ways to try to understand the world, aye?"

"Just so."

Clem smiles, "So I wouldn't have to study any language ever if I learned that?"

"You'd miss a lot...never confuse magic for knowledge or knowledge for magic, they're not QUITE the same thing."

She considers and then nods soberly. "But a useful tool, in the short term. Or for... language that isn't language?"

"Like - whale songs, or bee dances, or codes?"

"You might even have a songbird pass a message on to another namer... I've done that."

"Will... will other Namers be told about me?"

He tilts his head, "What would you prefer?"

"Do other Namers know about you?"

"Not all but many, we...tend towards having something of a community. "

"Would... would it not be dangerous, for nobles to know I knew?"