#rescuemiriam

"I hear laughter, and it should have gone away eons and eons ago, so I'm gonna say... COULD Be." Bugs voice

That from Tiff, but it seems to trigger a new round of old laughter

Then Zara notices the first 'person' they've seen here. A bitter wizened looking fellow not pure fae, but not mortal anymore either. He's wearing what appears to be an oversized overcoat with a collar so high it almost covers his lower mouth, ALL of you hear him speak, "You looking for the three then?"

Zara drifts towards the strange fellow. "And thy business?"

"Guide for hire" he says, the H weak but not all together gone, "Rates is reasonable."

"I am, yes." He follow Zara. "I won't bargain with you but... I have something for you."

"Wot?" He barks the question

August shifts his pack to the front and brings forth a fresh, crisp-crust, nice loaf of ... bread.

The guide eyes it and almost winces? As if some part of his day is about to be ruined for him.

August almost seems conflicted but... waits. With his offering in hand.

Finally the guide takes it, and begins to eat, "Blast who would curse a man to be honorable in his work if he breaks bread and never to refuse same"

The Sidhe smiles gently. "Will you take us, sir, where we wish to go here?"

"I will guide you closer without betrayal, as I am bound to do."

"And after we take leave from thee?"

Magnus raises a brow "Interesting cantrip."

"I will be free of my obligation to you, and likely return ere to await the next group too rich in treasure and lacking in sense."

The guide glares at the sluagh as if he really hates having to be a good guide, but feels obliged to ask "So , you want me to take you straight to your foes or move you around her and her goons?"

August steps forward.

Zara meets the glare with an unnerving, unblinking calm.

"Well?" The Guide says "Do you want to attack them by surprise or avoid the bleeding fight? I've eaten bread so must give you good service. May that Troll rot in ell for his working"

" I would avoid conflict, if possible."

"RIght, fortunately, this being the dreaming, it won't really be that much longer, juest feel like it." He gives Earl a vicious look, "Don't like the look of that one. Reminds me of an overly clever sorcerer. He part of your party?"

"He is, and he is my friend. No one here is your meat."

"Fine. Follow."

She narrows her eyes at the guide. "He is protected, vershtay?"

"Yes." August promises as he follows the Guide.

Zara lurks near Earl, slightly bristled.

The guide steps back at the glare from the sluagh. The sidhe is more imposing, but something about that girl's eyes he leads on and around "Fine. Fine all of you then. And don't worry, not about to tell that damn eshu that I helped you escape her." They make along rocky silver paths

"What eshu?" He stops, like a stone in a river, and the world will part around him.

"It would be unwise to tell her she was stymied - for your sake, nu? She is not a type who forgives, she is an asp."

"Golnaz is a mean one" THough if he says that in answer to August or in agreement with the whisper of Zara is hard to say

Zara holds her head high, trying to look calm and mostly succeeding. "Aye."

Magnus turns to Zara, "I don't mean to be rude, but shouldn't the rest of know who this 'Golnaz' is if she's out to way lay our party?"

"Zz... Miss." He addresses Zara with the full of his attention. "Can I be of assistance here?" Then, "Sir, a moment." Aside to Magnus.

"Raven, aye? A white raven, here."

"We should go. We have our task. Our guide will lead us on a hidden path, one she knows not."

"Yes, this quest is about other things" Earl says.

Tiffany raises a brow at something. Magnus' brow furrows, and he pulls out a small pad, and writes something down on it before tucking it away.

Zara walks forwards, chin jutting out at a defiant angle.

The guide leads them along the rocky paths ,but still silver. It is harder walking but it is still on the trod, safer. They find themselves stretching their legs, and more than once, Earl helps Zara up a bit, though he dare not risk her dignity lightly and does it gallantly. Magnus and August, being sidhe, look good doing it even when they stumble a bit. Tiffany is glad she's a sports breed

Zara, on occasion, drops to all fours to scuttle across difficult rock - moving something akin to a long-legged spider or millipede or some other creepy-crawly.

Indeed, they are now each moving further from the near dreaming, and slowly, their banality lowers, and they are becoming more fae. Earl , for example, is taller than before.

Zara's voile grows ragged, and a delicate webbing joins her spidery fingers - the deeper they go, the more she drops into that crouching slope, low to the ground, silent, shadow-seeking...

He is tall, graceful, handsome; a Sidhe in the Dreaming. His form is lean-muscled, strong. He carries himself unobtrusively, quietly, but there's no way to miss his Presence in the room. He is clean-shaven. His blue-black hair is longish, near the shoulders, and touchable. His grey eyes are clear, kind, and thoughtful; when they rest on you it seems to confirm your existance. His lips seem to curve upwards slightly with a gentle smile as a default, and the expression warms like sunlight. Nevertheless, there is something 'off' about him; slightly repellent and at odds with his boyish good looks and peaceful demeanor. His voile consists of dark blue, close, solid leggings tucked into black boots; a sky blue poet's shirt under a silvery, short-sleeved light chain mail shirt; spurs & a belt with a laurel wreath motif; these are rusted, but not terminally. A golden sword with a centipede design on the hilt is at his side; it is pitted in appearance, but sharp enough should he have cause to draw it. He wears a shield on the left arm (with a coat of arms). A dark blue cloak clasped over the heart with the same coat of arms as the shield.

The Guide doesn't seem to change, not as much, but he abides by the contract of the bread.

Magnus shimmers more, becoming a beguiling sorcerer in crimson

"Father, you feel it too, yes?"Magnus asks

August looks at the ... younger? .... magician, and nods. "Yes."

The Giant lets fingers trail along the back of the skulking sluagh lightly, with gentle affection. But his eyes are on the look out for danger.

The sluagh stares at August, memories taunting, chasing - ones forgotten, usually, in her day to day life, but closer to the surface here. Earl's touch brings her attention - HER giant, yes...