#scarsdale

"ah, yes, of course, trolls. what won't they do for love." it is not a question, " i do recall that. Miriam, is she well too?"

"She is travelling, deep in the Dreaming but free." Wistful.

"And... ah... you speak of your mistakes, of regrets... but Earl... I believe him most fortunate in discovering the truth of you."

" i suppose, would that i could have been his father from the start" a sigh "had i insisted his mother run away with me, ah, but then, i do the deBukes a disservice. still, it was hard watching him feel the blood of mine conflict with his troll soul. or so I wondered. you say this search into the house of the serpent is for your sake. it was the balor that held miriam, yes? i take it the story goes deeper?"

She frowns, and nods. "Aye. I know some, but not all."

"My.... biological fa.. donor... is a Balor. And he would see me added to his collection."

"oh, callous cad that i am to speak of blood when you must fear for your own ties of same. "

"I.... have grappled with it, yes. But... but I have a father. His name is Aaron."

"and a good man he is"

"I have two mothers, and I love them both. But that.... no. He is no father. I am not his to claim. And I have striven to remain free from his grasping, greedy paws."

a slow nod, and a sip "it is worth noting that our kith has made its foes chiefly by our refusal to be wielded....let eshu speak of freedom, we have held our havens and still we will follow our own ways. we might assist, we might even play their games, but none owe us." he smiles "i speak of slavery, of course. were you to marry earl and produce proud wriggling heirs i would consider it a blessing" then he adds "in time, in time."

touch of mischief as he plays boggan?

"Exactly. I will not be his slave. But... he is a cruel man, and I speak this as a nightmare... he revels in suffering, and is callous in action. He kills, sheds salt tears without remorse."

'twould be nice if the sidhe could police their own as we do, but no...they wear their houses like masks for their crimes" a shake of his head " so you must find a way to be free of him forever, but the options range from the barbaric to the nearly impossible"

"Precisely. I... do not wish to kill him, not mortally. At first, I thought I would be content to be left alone... but he... whatever he touches, he twists, he maims..."

"and it is not easy to turn away when you realize every one of his victims might be someone else's 'miriam', empathy is a sharp blade with no safe hilt to grip some nights. your wounds are signs that sluagh also have honor ..." a look at the autumn scene outside "at least when tis in season. i have not come here prepared to assist you, i fear. else i would gladly aid a kith sister, and doubly so one so beloved to my son. is there some way you feel i can aid?"

"As always - information. But I know the danger in this. It seems Paler carries a treasure, something to blur him from scrying eyes, to mask him in the presence of fae. I suspect he presents himself as a Dougal."

"a dougal, mmm yes, balor are prone to such, still, if knowledge of him or his machinations comes my way- i shall inform you." a bob of his head

"Thank you, sir. I would not ask you to go to any risk... but I appreciate this kindness."

"I would protect Earl in this, though he is vexing. Stubborn, protective, and... a rather obvious target, for my fondness is no secret."

a soft nod, "oh yes, trolls are very difficult to manage at times." a sigh "as for a target, i may decide to forge a few fail safes for my son, though he will not appreciate the endeavors i am sure. pray do not bother him with such?"

"No. Sometimes he must be managed. I... have kept some things from him, lest he feel he has no choice but to act."

"yes, he has grown to know our ways, but he is still not a sluagh and it is hard to explain. i do not advise leaving him out entirely, he would be greatly hurt, but...we must sometimes dole out what is needed knowledge wise in managable portions, yes?"

"Aye..."

"And I just... what happened, it cannot be undone."

a tilt of his head quite willing to listen if she goes further

"Did Earl tell you aught of the satyr? Rudy?"

"ah, yes, lawn mowing"

"He was... a sibling. Half."

"One of Paler's many. Sent, of course, to disrupt... to stir trouble. He worked magic on my mother, to cause discord.. but he was... he... I did not wish him harm, only to have him leave us be."

"ah, yes. i recall mention of emmit looking in your mother in that situation...balor marks and more. " a pause "something happened to rudy, he was punished for his failure i take it?"

"...Aye,"

"and i suspect a final punishemnt, or atl east one cutting a cycle short. oh child, did he try to lay the guilt upon you for this ? that is an illusion of blame."

"Paler sent me... parts.." A twist of distaste. "As a birthday present."

"crass" the older sluagh hisses, "balor wear elegance like a snake skin in long need of a fresh molt. i am sorry my dear. you are aware this is not of your doing?"

"I... I understand, Paler is the murderer..." a flicker of a frown and she hides behind a sip of tea.

"but you do not believe none of the blame is upon you. it isn't, but wilders of any kith can be a stubborn as trolls at times" a sip "you did not tell earl this less he tell you much of what i am telling you? or is there more?"

"Or that he... he insist on direct action... I fear escalation. What if one of my sisters is next? What if Earl is next?"

"yes, direct action is very trollish" he admits "but my son is no weakling, nor is he iwthout resources. You yourself look after him, and that is no small thing, seeress" he inclines his head "and all the DeBukes as well are involved. one of your half sisters hurt earl, she was given time to consider her roots as it were- this i assume you know. clem will be a talented chief, but subtle? mm no. if i might suggest? even request?"

"...I will listen."

"coax my son into wards for his apartment. he would be safer on the farm but i do not think he would go. or have him move where you or i can access him with ease and ward him as this house is warded?" a father's request "which ever you think is easiest. he will listen to you"

"The Uncles built these wards. Emmitt, too, is skilled... it is not something I have mastered."

"But I will see what I can do. Yes. I want him safe."

"good." the grump says after a time "i thank you. he wants to be with you near you. perhaps there are apartments nearby?"

"Well, he is so established in Kansas City..."

"And Scarsdale is expensive."

"ah so he is, and so it is." a frown slight but there "i doubt very much your uncles will let you keep in the closet."

"though if anyone could make a closet that could hold a troll comfortably..." pondering 'No no"

"Ah, if I could shrink him, and keep him in my pocket..."

his lips turn into a slip of a smile at that "clem might be able to turn him into a key chain, yes. whatever you do, don't push him away. i...fear i have, in my way, burnt that bridge for you. a father who was too ashamed to ever truly embrace him, to share with him? besides, it wouldn't really make him any safer. i... oh how silly of me for asking, you of course have a way of scrying on him easier than most? a lock of his hair? or finger nail? i rarely travel without threads from my lady's hair in my keeping. it's a comfort."