#scarsdale

Zara slips into the room - her face damp and wet bangs slicked back. But she does seem less distraught after her breather.

He shifts away, looking aside.

She falters, dark eyes going to the sidhe.

"I told him that Paler is more dangerous than Golnaz when it comes to power, but Golnaz will likely strike to kill and strike sooner" He tells Zara honestly, "Not sure how much you heard, I can repeat it all if you like?"

"Golnaz is the active threat. He has been quiet for months. Nothing at Yule or Imbolc..."

"Golnaz, then."

He looks back to Zara, grey eyes clear. "Can I help there?"

She gums on her lower lip, hesitating. "Mayhaps."

"If Clem were here I'd get her help on this."

"Clem is not happy with her, either."

"maybei t's good she's questing then" He says "She might have some hostile thoughts towards the woman who arranged to have me kidnapped. She's funny that way"

"Clem is questing?" A small grin. "Good for her. And I have enough hostile thoughts for all of us." Firmly. "What can I do to help?"

"You have to stay away. Don't let her know we are friends, nu?"

"Then she'll leave you alone."

Reluctant and disappointed. "But...."

"I don't know what else."

"Let me -help!-" Passionately, approaching Zara. "Let me help. Don't shut me out, Zara."

A look to Zara, "Maybe, if he does it discretely... he could check the lore of house Liam and whatever else Earth Runes might have on our foes. Perhaps Paler is mentioned there too, and Golnaz. Maybe more."

"Yes!" Nodding to Earl, back to Zara. "I could do that. I could do more."

"Liam does have good resources..."

"We do." Assuring her.

"And August is a crackerjack scribe"

"Thank you." To Earl.

"You have to stay safe."

"No paper cuts" Earl tells August faux sternly

"I... no. That is, yes, Zara, if you do."

A resigned shrug. "The house is warded."

"You hate being cooped up."

"I've been out..."

"you have?" Pleased rather than worried

"Visited you last week, aye?"

"And... ah... a few hours at Firnost, yes."

"You came over to Firnost?"

"true you did" He says fondly

"And I went to the mall."

"But... but I've had classwork, and I'm working on a new lace pattern...."

"The mall? Huh. " He is surprised... and at the mention of a new lace pattern, "Well, that settles something"

"With Cassandra."

"Cassandra?"

"A pooka friend."

"She's a Moth, a ...Virginia moth? I don't remember the type"

"Virginia moth, aye."

"Nice to meet a quiet pooka."

He chuckles. "We have two childings at EarthRunes, and there's Shal..." He stops. "Well. Shalimar. Anyway."

"They aren't quiet, though."

"Cassandra is." A soft sigh. "I miss Bunny."

"So does Clem" He says sympathetically

"I'm sorry, Zara."

"I wish..."

Earl squeezes her hand "you wish?"