#scarsdale

She shakes her head.

Another long pause. "Okay." Softly.

She grips the hem of her blouse in her spidery hands, dark eyes fixed on the twist of gray lace in slender fingers.

"I thought it would be better if you didn't know at all, but then when you said... "

"I didn't want to hurt you."

"The lie hurts, Zara. But, I'll heal. We're his family too, you know. We have a right to knoow him, to welcome him, to teach him, and to protect him."

"He is safe. I hid him."

"He doesn't know I stole him, doesn't know I did anything, doesn't know to look. It's almost impossible to soothsay blind..."

"Count Jude managed."

"Zara, I know I'm not... especially cunning. I never wanted to be. But as far as I can see, here's what's going to happen.

I'm going to call Count Jude and tell him what I know. He's going to demand the location of our new brother; maybe from you, maybe from Count Dornklippe at the Hollows, maybe... I don't know. We're the House of Wisdom, Zara, we have resources when we want to learn something. Count Jude -will- find out... but he might find out a lot of other things along the way, and could possibly draw attention by accident.

Now, I might be able to help things go more quietly... but I'd have to explain why. That there's a Balor out there with his sights set on you, and you won't accept help in dealing with him so hiding is your only option. And this Balor wants our Brother, now, too.

What do you think Count Jude will do then?"

Zara is silent, head down, pale bangs straggling into her face.

"Zara, what am I supposed to do?"

"Dornklippe doesn't know."

"Dornklippe would hurt him, risk him, if he knew."

"He wants the Balor spy, he cares not for some Liam fledge."

August shrugs helplessly. "Count Jude will send someone to ask at EarthRunes, too. I have to tell Coradel."

"Zara, once he knows, he's going to start digging."

"Wouldn't it be better to hide our brother within the House?"

"He isn't there. I didn't wish to risk Earth Runes... "

She rubs her face with her hands, whisper cracking like a dry twig. "Why thinkest thou I went to Ardent Harbor?"

"You said it was because Count Jude flustered me, and you wanted to see him."

"Aye."

"Because I know him not."

"He's a good man, Zara. He has duties and responsibilities, sure, but he cares."

"I wanted to see him."

"And now that you have?"

She draws her knees up to her chest, wrapping arms around her legs. She still hasn't looked up.

"Zara...." he asks again "... what do you want me to do?"

"I thought I'd done a good thing."

"You had the best intentions, and you haven't done anything that can't be amended." August assures her.

"But I can't... I never..." She shakes her head.

"I know." Gently.

The sluagh is back in silence, fully retreated - face in the cradle of her arms, expression hidden.

"I'm sorry, Zara."

"Do what you must."

"Always." And he turns to go.

Silence.

And he slips out.... gone.

Zara stays on the bed, crawling up to curl around a pillow.

Less than 15 minutes later, there's a knock at her window

No answer.

"Zara, it's me, earl. Please open up before I have a panic attack?"

The soft rustle of cloth, and a moment later the window unlatches.

Zara does not linger, she turns and retreats back to the shadowy shelter of her canopy.

Earl comes in through the cold air and closes the window quickly and then rushes to the canopy "Wait wait..were you hurt? Injured? I got a call..."

"Did August send you?"

"No, I sent me" He says "August called me "He thought you needed checking up on, was vague, abrupt, and that sent me into a panic. Then I hung up on him and raced here because the woman I love could be in danger or hurt or whatever"

"How kind of him. Well, you can see I am uninjured. Could you please leave now?"

Earl looks struck

"Or do you wish to press and press and press, until I am made a fool before you, too? Must I be reminded in all aspects of my life how short I fall?"