#scarsdale

Ratchet just sighs.

"Zara, bubalah.... look, a nice dinner, your boychik is here, and this can all get fixed, rebuilt. Nu? Whyfore a long face?"

"You all..." She shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut. "I can't help."

"I can't do this."

"I think I'm... I do things, thinking..." She shakes her head. "I can't do anything."

Earl says "We all need help, sometime, Zara. There's no shame in that. And, you can help."

"Like with Miriam? Do useless things while the adults make a difference? Hope that my dreck doesn't make things worse for the people who are doing the real work?"

Earl frowns at that

Both Uncles look flabbergasted.

"Zara, I'm confused. You don't want us to put the wards back?" Ratchet does look baffled.

"Yes, put the wards back. Yes, I'll talk to Emmit."

"Don't... don't feel like you have to find ways that I can 'help' so I feel like I contributed, nu? Because I can't. Everything I've done has made this worse."

"you saved me" He reminds

"Moth saved you. And you were hurt and kidnapped because of me." A hiss.

Hirim seems to be coping by keeping his mouth full.

"I seem to recall YOU saving me on that" Eyes narrow, "And Moth.." A sigh "Zara, you think I see only the good in you and what you do. I worry you don't see enough of it."

"Ok, so we put the Ward back on. No problem, bubalah."

Ratchet tries to comfort.

"They need to be safe, aye."

"I think we're all agreed on that, nu?"

"Yes, that we all agree on"

Earl tries not to look as miserable as he now feels

"Don't know what I expected." She pushes the plate away, moldering brisket mostly untouched.

"You're the one who noticed RUdy was up to no good, if not for you, he might have bespelled your mom. They didn't notice it" A look to the Uncles, "I didn't notice it. You did. You watch over us all, and do so much and you don't see ..." a sigh "I'm sorry, Zara. I wish I could make you feel better"

The Uncles are giving off a familiar 'lost' vibe; machines and furniture they can fix. Teenage girls? WAY out of their league.

"Do I need to be away from the house again?"

"I'll stay away. I'll get Emmit. You protect them."

Earl's mouth opens

then, "Zara, it sounds like you're banishing me"

Both Uncles start to speak, but then suck it in.

She finally looks up from her plate, dark eyes wide and hurt as she looks at Earl.

"I'm sorry but that's...what it sounded like to me" Confusion

"So. I need to be away, yes?"

"No? I don't think so." Confusion again. "How do your uncles working on the wards automatically mean you have to recluse yourself from everyone?"

"Yeah!" Hirim agrees.

"I can't help with the wards, I needed to be away the last time they made them."

The Uncles exchange looks.

"You don't gotta go no where. This time." Hirim grudgingly admits.

She shakes her head, defeated.

Hirim observes this, and empties down his goblet of wine.

Dully. "I'll speak to Emmit on Sunday. then you can figure out what to do. He could undo the treasure, maybe. Ward Mama and Papa against cantrips. I can't."

"Zara, you are the one that sees these dangers. If you didn't....." Ratchet tries, ".... Hannah and Aaron would still be exposed, in danger. Miriam would still be lost." Gently. "Nu?"

Hirim refills his cup.

"They are in danger because of me."

"And more, because I tried to handle it, nu? Nu?"

Earl takes a breath, then looks to Ratchet and Hirim,

"So? You're not perfect? So what? You're nocker-made." Hirim grumps. "Not for you, want to bet my sister'd be schtupping the goat by now? With what you said, treasures and enchantments on him? She's vulnerable as it is!"

A pause, "Zara, you're in danger because a sociopath is a nutbar with a fixation. They're in danger, because he chooses to make them so through his agents. This is not your fault."

"Not for me, he wouldn't BE here!"

"If not for you, maybe none of us would be." Ratchet says firmly.