#scarsdale

"I think... I... well, I cannot be certain... but I think Paler had a hand in Miriam's theft."

"And you mention a slave, and that the slaves move - he might be one of those we did not save."

"I thought that was almost a given" She says "I... oh Zara, please don't blame yourself. If you tried to save them all you wouldn't have saved any"

"But we could have tried... they are still about, holding scores in bondage and suffering..."

"Well, then you better give Earl whatfor on that. wasn't he your leader?"

"It was a group effort."

"And my mother."

"Mmm hmm, yes, but Earl was leading the group. Buck stops there and all that. You blame yourself, then you have to blame him- and you know you aren't going to do that because he did what he thought was best at the time, was not in control over everything- none of you were- annd if you let him off the hook, you should let yourself off the hook too"

"And my excuse for letting it get away, for not going back?"

"Miriam was a mess and needed you, remember how hard it was ? Helping her come back to herself?" Clem says "Zara. You cannot be everywhere, cannot know everything, do everything. No one can. Don't beat yourself up, too much sense of duty is a troll's prerogative. You're horning in" a bit of a smile

A soft sigh. "I miss her."

"She's still neck deep in work??" Browknit

"In the Dreaming, yeah."

"Mm, I think your next quest to the dreaming should include a drop by. Maybe when Uncle Emmit takes you on that library trip" Clem says "You miss her, seems like a good way to get two bird with one stone."

"August wants to see the library, too... i wonder, maybe she'll be home for the holidays. It's almost rosh hashanah."

"mmm August would love it, yes. Okay. Invite him if it happens before Rosh hashanah" a smile "But hopefully you won't need me to pretend to be you again."

"Oh, but Mama's apple cake is the BEST. She ages it an entire year!"

"Now honestly, if you had a troll's taste buds, you'd realize that the best cake is Great Aunt Agnes's...." And a competition, of sorts starts up. Hannah vs Agnes for cooking, which sports teams has the craziest fans, why basketball is better than baseball (is not, silly troll) and so on

(End scene)