#scarsdale

"thanks." A nod, and a frown "Damn. I...have an idea but I kind of hate it."

"What is that?" She starts scribbling on the paper... 'A warp learn', 'wan earl rap'....

He raises a brow at her writing that looks like his name

'warp an earl'.... She frowns.

Then says "Do we know any Eiluned we can, well, I don't know if you can ever trust an Eiluned. But if he's in Concordia, and an Albionian Eiluned knew about him, maybe a Concordian one might know even more?

'lawn are par.' "I... know an Eiluned..."

"I did not like the 'warp an Earl' one" He admits. "Is the one you know a straight dealer at least? I mean, I normally go through my Uncle for mystical stuff, but for noble lore this detailed, we may need a noble lore master."

"She isn't. She's an Eiluned."

"And I would need payment. And if... if this is my blood..."

"Maybe not then," He says with a frown, "Arawn Paler. At least we have a name."

"A name. He may have others."

"I had a thought..."

"I'm all ears. Well, mostly I'm height. Troll you know, but the height has ears "

"The prophecy - the one they thought applied to Miriam?"

"It said she would make a weapon...." She frowns.

"And Miram's a crafter, but she's also a mother so you think...oh Zara, you think You are the weapon?"

Her pale fingertips trace across the translation. "What if I am?"

"I'd have to hear the prophecy again to debate how how it might mean this or that instead," he says "But if you are, you are still not his weapon. You are your own. To quote the Iron Giant, 'You are not a gun'. Nor are you a dagger to be handled . You are Zara Scwhartz. And you have your own strong will. Believe me, I have witness to that."

She nods, but doesn't say anything.. reaching for him mutely.

He takes her hand, "Are you avoiding Miriam to protect her?"

"She's so busy..."

"You sure that's all it is?" Curious

"She didn't come home for Yom Kippur... or Sukkot.... I.. I was thinking maybe I just shouldn't ask her home for yule."

"mmm," A nod "It feels like rejection. I think you should still try, but I have no right to tell you what to do there really I... i mean, I barely see my own family some weeks. If it wasn't for Clem and Teesha. I probably would go less."

"I don't blame her. She IS busy..."

"But maybe... I mean... if I'm.. maybe she wouldn't want to be around me much, because of that?"

"I think you're going to a dark and self destructive worse case scenerio when there are many lighter and more likely options. Like you said." He reminds

She nods.

"I miss her."

"I think she misses you. Sometimes I think she has doubts about her skill as a mom and doesn't want to screw it up."he wraps arms about her

"She doesn't have to be a mom. I just... I want her."

"I know. But she's a nocker, and they don't like it when they don't have it perfect do they? Maybe you could write her an elegant letter or.. "A a thought "Send 1122 to spy on her. Watching is love right?"

"I've tried scrying her. She's in the Dreaming a lot..."

"is she?" A thought but he does not share it "Well, no doubt she can build greater things there."

"Maybe the real world is hard for her? Especially after so long..."

"Perhaps. I thought maybe when she let herself age it would be a way to cope but, it can be hard regardless."

"She's doing important work."

"Did she say what kind o work?"

She shakes her head. "It was confidential."

"BIG projects then," he nods and squeezes her hand* "I thought trolls had a work ethic but nockers make us look slothful."

"Oh, nockers do love to work...."

"Truth, most kiths do - when you find the right subject. Even a pooka might spend countless hours on the perfect prank."

"Oh that's actually frightening." A pause "Ever find catch that Fox guy redhanded?"

"not red-handed...."

"Ah, he's small potatoes. If he gets too troublesome, we'll have 1122 kick his butt."

A little laugh at that. "Oh, he'd offer some popcorn and 1122 would roll over. He's a lover, not a... " frenetic spider-tapping.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry... yes, yes, you are VERY brave... and loyal, yes."

"Very loyal" He nods grimly "you have the heart of a troll, 1122, but with an Eshu's flare, and a sluagh's cunning."

The little copper spider seems to preen beneath Earl's praise.

"Oh, you..."