#scarsdale

"Reckless. But then... eshu."

"Yes, but beyond tthat, the obsession" He muses, "If Paler feels the same he's more contained. Odd, I had always heard Balor were often weaker willed, but perhaps a cool approach is a part of it. " A look at Zara, "Do you think you can trust Ginny? or Cassandra? or whatever her name is?"

"I don't know her name. And she seems unable to tell."

"...I want to trust her. I think... I believe she wants to be free, and has no love for him."

"But... she might not be free. And may have been sent, regardless of her wishes in the matter. Or may be pressed for information."

A nod "I can see why. And...whether she works for Paler or not, I'm pretty sure she's an enemy of Golnaz."

"He is glorious, Earl. What I glimpsed - he could overwhelm even one who hated him. She could hate that she obeyed him, yet still do so."

"I... I think... I think it best to treat her with kindness and hope."

A frown at the glorious "Again you say such praise of him at the oddest times. it..worries me he's somehow done more than you know- somehow- but..." A deepbreath, "Your point is valid. We don't trust her with everything, but we do show her friendship. That it?"

She nods. "Exactly."

"She is my sister, and she has risked herself on my behalf."

"As for... him..." She frowns. "It is hard to think on that glimpse without the... the art of it. I know he used sovereign. I know this. But... "

"But it doesn't make it feel less real" He finishes "That it? " A nod, "I would be lying if I said I did not worry about it. Do not let his 'glory' make you admire. If you admire, then you might have a weak spot where he could try to turn it into adoration and then later... well, there are many types of chains. " A sigh " sorry, you know cantrips better than I. You know the risks. And yes, Ginny has risked herself. Maybe seeing folks at the farm will show her a healthier family, the sort she'd been denied. I'll tell the Chief, Storm and Mountain to keep their guards up but not to close the doors on her entirely."

"Thank you."

"And.. yes. I worried. That is why I sought the rune..."

"It may take Unlcle Emmit sometime to make a new one. I'm sorry" As if it were his fault. 'If you hadn't had to rescue me, you'd still have it."

"If I hadn't made enemies, you wouldn't have needed rescue."

"oh, I probably would have offended someone, or they would have done it to get at the farm" wry

"Can't believe you thought I would ask you to betray the farm just because of some arm twisting..."

"Well, you were drugged. And had a head injury. Alright, mind that not.."

"And I didn't believe it so much as was stunned, and yes, they drugged me but... " A tilt of his head, "Perhaps I do owe some recompense for the insult that might linger. You could subject me to reading you Poe's poetry while my lap serves as your pillow. Oh, how I would suffer" very somber.

"....grapes?"

"if... I must" Hangs head, resigned

but his lip threatens to twitch and betray a smile?

"Aye. I am very demanding."

"And rightly so, my lady will have her due" A firm nod

"You could come and visit the bookwyrm. She missed you. She's been showing off quotes - I'm afraid she found the Pratchett."

"Oh no, I thought we put that at the bottom of the pile" He smiles though

"Well, there are worse things. You missed the..." ahem. "Sweet Valley High week..."

"Kind of glad I did," he admits "How did you hold up?"

"With ear plugs and offers of better books."

"necessary for Survival I'd wager" He smiles at her "Do she and 1122 get along?"

"They do! She likes the newt, too. She gets all... Shakespeare-ish with her..."

"of course she does," he laughs, now down with his soup he rises to start doing dishes.

"Hey now... "

"I'm recovered enough to wash a dish, my hind," He smiles as he tends to it, "And you served the food, only proper I should clean the bowl."

"Well, I won't tell Agnes."

He cleans "Tell her what? that she trained me well?"

"Pbbbt. That you are dish-washing well."

"Maybe you can get a bit more rest yet."

A look back at her and a smile, "There are ways to entice a man to lay down, my hind" soft voiced and a hint of wickedness.

She suddenly blushes. "Oy. Aye-yi-yi, nope. I can't."

He loves that shade on her, even as he realizes he's being just a bit of a cad to cause it.

" I know, and understand, but you are so pretty when there's a touch of pink to your pearl"

"Mama knows, even if the Uncles and Papa don't. And she's all... oh!" BRIGHT pink.

And he blinks, but doesn't ding or drop the bowl, "Your mother.. knows?" He shouldn't be surprised, it's just, huh. "What did she.. uhm. I mean. Is she taking that knowledge well?"

"Worse! She was.... trying to help..."

"I don't need to talk to her about it!"

"I think I share some of your mortification and I wasn't even there" As he imagines Aunt Agnes or his own mother pulling him aside for any length of time, "She doesn't realize how incredibly awkward that is, does she?"

"She is half boggan. She should."