#scarsdale

"Well that always makes me nervous, but go on" Gently coaxing

"I have kept a secret from thee..."

"I see. Would you share it with me now?"

She purses her lips, but nods. "Remember thou Rudy? The satyr, the one who sought to seduce my mother?"

"Unfondly, yes. Reminds me I need to rake your leaves while I"m here. But go on"

"I... " She frowns. "On my birthday, before everyone was here for tea..."

"This is that man's idea of love, and why I fear so for Moth, for the others..."

Earl gets a Deja vu feeling. Memories of some bad news, a secret held that he learned on...samhain?

"Rudy's dead" A realization, "Isn't he?"

She nods, frowning.

"Paler left me... parts... of him. Gift-wrapped. On the porch."

"I think you told me this, on Samhain" A raised brow "zara. I 'm not angry, a little confused on why you didn't tell me, maybe a bit hurt. but mostly I'm worried. Are you okay? that's a monstrous thing to discover on your birthday. particularly to bear alone"

"I didn't... I didn't want everyone to fuss... and then.. I don't know, it had been... there was so much time..."

"What if he hurts Moth?"

"I think, he eventually hurts all his progeny, not always physically. He warps and bends them. He offers you the world, like that letter? Then you're expected to take it, like a mouse to bait...but the bait's poisoned, not enough to kill, but to drive you mad...as insane as he. Frankly, I have to admire your half sister for being as well adjusted as she is. moths are delicate creatures, yet Moth herself certainly held on better than Golnaz. Or Rudy, who only saw himself as a walking phallus."

"Moth is much stronger than she perceives. I love her as if I had known her my whole life. I would protect my sister, aye, at great cost..."

"But he knows me not if he thinks I want a golden crown and adoring gazes... I am no sidhe. And I have power, which I have grasped by my own hands and hard work."

"And Brilliance" He points out, "Uncle Emmit says you're the strongest natural talent he's seen in decades. Decades. And he's lived a lot of them"

A faint blush. "He flatters."

"And he will fuss and fret soon enough. I still wish to find that Library..."

A smile "Yes, he will. He also mentioned that you are the most questioning student he had. I pointed out the two could be related. He gave me 'the brow' " clearly delighted to have poked at his great uncle

A soft chuckle, like rattle reeds. "I am glad he tolerates it. I can be.. ah.. inquisitive."

"Aunt Agnes says it's good for him, keeps his mind from getting slothful. Says he got into a lot of things when he was younger and a soothsayer like him might read a bit of Da'an paying things back into that . See, you're a witch of balance even when you don't mean to be"

She preens. "Good."

He looks at her adoringly as she preens, "I think so too. I think Aunt Agnes likes you, not that she admits too much to showing fondness. Can't play favorites and all."

"Of course not. How is Clem? When is it official?"

"Well ,it was supposed to be before Samhain ,but everyone got busy so she post poned it" Is he hiding something?

"She... why?"

"She might mangle me if I told you"

"Would she know you told me?"

"Clem maybe my cousin, but she's like an older sister. YOu didn't grow up with older siblings around did you? It's like a whole new level to the hierarchy" Wryly

"Aye... but can I aid her better in knowledge than in ignorance? Is she well?"

At that he sighs "No. Uhm... turns out half the folks NOT of the farm she invited were doing other things. You were in a scry fest, Jessica was caught up in work. Bunny didn't respond to her letter. And Rivervale had some sort of situation arise."

"Clem would never complain, but I know her, and she's feeling sorry for herself. ANd , of course, that make her grow more distant because she feels bad for feeling sorry for herself"

"I... was invited?"

"Yeah. " He says surprised, "I thought she had told you , was going to tell you if she didn't."

He ponders "I wonder if there was a mix up"

She frowns. "I would not have wanted to miss that..."

"Its why she postponed." He says "I think this time she's tempted to just have it be done . The elders pat her on the head, tell her she's chief, and everyone gets filled in. It's NOT what she wants, but in ..well, typical troll fashion, she's bottling up her feelings and not going to 'be trouble'"

His tone indicates that sometimes his family drives him nuts.

"Not create a Shanda, hm? A knowing eyebrow.

"I think I may know something of that."

"Aheh" A light blush at that, "Maybe you and Clem have a few more things in common than I thought. ANyway, she's doing the troll thing where she withdraws into her jaw. That's where we go you know? Watch a troll's jaw, it lifts,, it sticks out just a bit, and then it settles. That's where my kith stores their soul energy" Said with over the top straightness

She stretches up, kissing his jaw. "Well then."

A deep chuckle escapes him , "I love you so much. do you know that?"

"Thou art a deep well, the stones beneath the mountain, the chasms of the ocean..."

"And you are the moon that I seek to catch light of as you pass over me" He assures, "And whatever you plan or face, I will be there with you and I shall aid thee."

"I am so glad I chose you. That you let me choose you."

"Well, I've a family member says that a man chases a woman until she catches him" A smile "I didn't understand it when I was younger."

"Did I catch my Hunter, then?" A smile. "I hope you are not displeased without the chase.."