#scarsdale

A hiss. "No."

"I would not risk you."

"Well I don't want -you- at risk!" He protests quietly.

"I am in no immediate risk. If he was going to, say, swoop me up and imprison me, would he not have tried?"

"You said he's crazy. Who knows?"

"Mad, not crazy."

"That's a fine difference."

"I do not think he acts randomly or impulsively."

"Then maybe he's planning something, something we could disrupt."

"I..." She frowns. "I could scry him again..."

August scowls, frustrated. "Zara, sometimes you need to get.... you know, tactical information. Human intelligence."

"Pardon the phrase."

"Track down Balor sources?"

"Could be. Get into the back ground at the Hollows? I know you asked...."

"Mmmph.."

"I could get back into the House records, see if I could get a bead on where.... or, hey, I could ... I bet you anything there are people at Firnost who have an in with House Balor. You know there are. I could..." He frowns, nods. "I could .... I could, ah, seek one out, tell them I was tired of ... of all the Liam stuff. I could seek to get in with them myself."

She hisses. "No."

"They would hurt you. And not believe you, but take you in and hurt you."

"Well, they hurt everyone." Reasonably. "I can take it."

"No. They would not believe you, August. And it would draw their eye upon you."

"I would stand a better chance, but me seeking him is what he wants."

"I will hold the distance, aye?"

He frowns and mutters "We made them believe it before."

She raises an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"Nothing." Dispirited. "I just want to do something. I want to help."

"I know. But I don't... I don't know. I don't think a quest would fix this."

"If I could bring back a treasure, or some information that would give you an edge?"

"August..."

"Wouldn't that help?"

"I don't know of anything... we researched, but... nothing that seemed..."

"Right." Firmly squaring his jaw. "Since none of that worked, something else is going to need to. So why not try .... boots on the ground?"

"And just hope to find something good in the dreaming?"

"I do not wish to provoke him into action. I do not want his eyes to fall upon you, to see you. You are not an acceptable target. My parents are not. The Uncles are not..."

"I want, more than anything, to protect those I love."

"A quest is guided by the desire of the questor. I could find -something.- And hey, I want to protect -you.- It goes both ways."

"You shouldn't go alone..."

"Well, -you- shouldn't go. Earl."

"Why can't I go? We quest together."

"Because he's looking for -you.-"

"But..."

August looks at her firmly.

"I don't... you shouldn't go alone."

"I'll ask Earl. I could ask Magnus, or Le... or another knight at EarthRunes. I wouldn't take a squire on this." He assures her.

Harrumphs. "Earl would."

"You have an entire court's worth of knights who would come to help you." He assures her.

"I do not want a bevvy of knights involved."

"This is my life. Not a public display."

"Not a bevy then." He assures her fondly. "A few close friends."

"Aye." A soft sigh. "I want to go."

"I want to do something, even though I know waiting is best. I want to find him, and... and... do what, I don't know."