#scarsdale

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Scrying magicks, it comes so naturally to her, that Zara has to remind herself that every use of magic is a risk, even one soeone is VERY good at.

But in the equation of risk versus curiosity... well, curiosity usually wins.

Indeedly!

And she finds herself gazing at the face of a redcap? What the heck? Ah, Sir Gnaw!

And so, a rainy afternoon finds her at her mirror... and.. my!

"you need to remember what you are, make that your strength, but never your chain." Gnaw hisses, and for a moment she wonders if the gruesome Liam Knight is talking to her. Then, oh, of course not, a slight spin on the scene and she sees Ivory.

"I'm learning to fight, I'm learning the laws of the fae, now you're telling me I need to study leadership?" Ivory says "Just because I'm a sidhe? I mean, I feel the urge, but thatdoesn't mean I have a right to lead, does it?"

Gnaw snorts "You know what I am?"

"Scary" Ivory answers without thinking

Gnaw laughs "yes. I am. I am a redcap. I am born of brutality anger and hunger. I can escape that drive. I can direct it. I can make sure I master that urge, rather than have it master me. you are a sidhe. You will have the urge to lead, but HOW you lead, be it by example, inspiration, or guile is up to you. That's why you need to read up on strategy, why you must study politics even if you find the subject distasteful. So that you will master this urge and pick it with a conscience as clean as possible. Fighting your nature entirely is but self destruction"

Gnaw seems unusually verbose

"Anyone tell you, sir, that you're a cheerful fellow to talk to?" Ivory sighs

A soft chuff of laughter, far away.

"Funny, read the books I told you. One day you might rule, and you owe it to people not to be an ignorant ass about it" The redcap huffs

"Fine" A sigh then a curious look from the Albino sidhe "Why are you helping me? Your liege is a sluagh, not a sidhe. I'm not even sure you like my kith?"

"I don't help people because I think they deserve kindness. I show kindness because they don't and they need it anyway. This is a crapsack horrible world that's dying all aroundn us in a battle we cannot win, and that's why we must keep fighting for it anyway"

Ivory blinks "That makes no sense"

"In the face of utter despair, hope remains the only true act of defiance " Gnaw snorts "My liege taught me that. You have an edge she doesn't, and I still doubt you'll be half as good as she is. But if you fall on your face, it won't be because I didn't help. " Gnaw walks off.

Leaving a young man to read.

A smirk. She rather likes this redcap.

And Ivory sighs. Books by Maccheveli (not just the Prince), Chinese philosophers, Greek ones, of course... and of course, the Enlightenment

Zara does not know the Countess well - but it takes an extraordinary sluagh to become a countess, let alone a landed one.

Alas, the Countess does not rule now. One can feel the difference in the very air even through the scrying. There is a winter vibe. one born of survival and readiness for war

.....Aesin...

No, that house, she does not love - though her visit in sidhe guise revealed a different side, it is hard to forget and forgive Loksyr.

She expands her view, and finds her kith sister the Countess is not far away. She appears to be playing scrabble by herself... words scatter, and become mere lettes, annd then reform and...

no, she is not playing scrabble, she's casting her own omens and the likke

three words are formed quickly 'Scrivener' 'hunts' 'Brother'

Ruxandra steeples her fingers and looks at them as if they were tea leaves

Zara's eyes narrow. Well now.

...It might soon be necessary to call for tea...

"I hope I did that right. " The Beumayn whispers to herself "so this is what glass feels like. Seen through"

"Did I time it right? or..blast. Who can tell, visions"

She tilts her head, listening to the whisperer.

Alas, that is all that is said. At least at this moment

Well, Ivory seems well... safe, tutored, learning...

Hidden.

So far, yes. She picked well. But Beaumayn gifts... mmm

Oh, jealousy there... but...

Yes, is that something working for zara, or against her? Kith bonds among sluagh are strong, but hardly mandatory.

A glance back to Ivory, yes, he's secure. Good. A sigh, Alas,she dare not share his location with Moth.

No, Moth least of all. Not even August knows this story.

Earl might remember some - but she trusts him to keep her secret.

Her scrying begins to break apart. Shielding perhaps...or maybe da'an is just fickle. Her half brother is ssafe,a nd being influenced by others beyond Paler himself. the longer he is away from that monster's influence, the more he may become his own and able to resist. A sense of pride in Zara. No, no balor will put THIS innocent in chains, not even chains of the soul

Not if she can help it

She lets the last tenuous hold of the cantrip go, releasing the glamour, and sinks back into her body.

Whew. Yes, well, at least there was no danger there or in the casting.

"Zara, sweetie, tell me you have room for left overs?" Hannah calls up. Oh...Thanksgiving left over week, now there's a danger in itself. Well, Mama knows sshe doesn't eat much.

"Coming mama..."