#scarsdale

"Drowned King? Did Balor die in the water? " Musing

"So that... maybe one he's recruited already?"

"I think he's recruited more than one, signs were in our notes that we got from London that only a few had been lost, I think?"

She nods. "I might have been, but... not now. He is... courting, I think?"

"Zara, maybe he -is- just trying to freeze you up, or scare you off. If he has... one... already.....

"He'd want one better suited..."

"More than one, I'm sure of that," He frowns, "Always hard to tell how a Balor thinks. They all seem a bit touched, and some are just insane. "

"He's not mad. He's a genius. There's a plan."

August glances at Earl.

"He's a genius?" A worried look

"Aye... did he not sense me scrying upon him?"

"Yes, though he's not the only one who can do that. I just, well, " A sigh "He did sovereign you , yes, I realize that proves his power , there might be lingering effects?"

"From dictum?"

"Oh right, it's the other one," he looks thoughtful at something.

"Do you think Paler is the horse, or the Death that rides?"

She sits up sharply. "A net. I've seen a net before... forging a silver net..."

"I think he's egocentric enough to prefer to be Death to being the horse."

She shakes her head. "We should tell Hirim."

"If you're sure." August checks.

"The silver net, malfunction..either internet or...oh dreaming I hope I'm wrong."

"The trods?"

"Yes, and very likely the ones around Firnost. It's the biggest 'net' or 'web' of trods around that I know of."

"But... I've seen the webs before... when I cast omen..."

"The Balor control a lot of trods, and know even more." August frowns. "You have?" to Zara.

"Remind us Zara, I think I'm the one overthinking"

She closes her eyes, nodding. "After my birthday, aye."

"A tree of snakes... an armored limb...a forge. There was a... figure.. someone on the anvil, being tempered with the hammer, struck again and again... turned into a web, naught but filaments to be gathered up and taken..."

"A.... silver web? Just, that's kind of specific."

"I think I'll stick to Wayfare and Ledgderdemain"

He nods agreement with Earl.

"And Balor are adept with trods, yes."

August is puzzled. "You think... maybe... they're turning... people into trods?"

"I don't know..."

"You're right. I'm not a red child, I'm not who he'd want..."

A frown, "the problem with this stuff is it's all so twisty it might fit more than one answer."

"Welcome to soothsay."

A smile but a weak one

Then he frowns "Zara, he may see you as the horse. Paler still, and he yokes and uses you for his plans. "

She touches her throat. "If I... lay low, don't provoke.. mayhaps he will be distracted again. Pay mind to other things."

"What is the red child supposed to do? I was mostly just copying...."

A look to Zara, "Zara, it's also possible he wants you to stay in your stable where he can find you. Don't make yourself miserable in hopes it will hold him off. We know he's patient. I don't think he's going to slow it down or speed it up just because you hold still."

"The red child... marks. A herald of things to come."

"Not... look how this is worded, the red child is not necessarily the chosen one..."

August unwraps himself and leans over, looking where Zara indicates.

He reads too

August sits back. "Reveals himself.... to who?"

She shakes her head. "I don't know."

"The world, maybe? I saw him, he was in a hidden place."

"He has been working in shadows for years. Decades."

August nods. " 'Rocks rain from the sky' sounds like meteors or something."