#scarsdale

"It is a lifesaver when eating out - when one mayn't get something properly aged..."

"Oh, let it go to voicemail."

"You are her sister, not a servant, no Cinderella."

"Well, I am dining. yes." she clickss it to vibrate, "oh, perhaps I could repay you with what little I've heard on my travels? " A secrets are offered up, nothing major, but it would appear the some fools sought to reave a balefire on samhain of all nights in Maryland. talk about taunting da'an to attempt it on a holiday of such mystic import. There is also a dragon sighting in Lake eerie, more of a sea serpent really, Great lake serpent? It roams the canal. There is a prize for it's removal being offered

"Oh, I would very much wish to see such a creature. I am sure it is beautiful..."

"You must needs also see the hall 'neath the hollow hill, if here you shall stay. Few of us there, precious few... "

"i will stay, my sister is here after all, someone must ring the bell and warn folks of the oncoming plague" a twitch

Oh yes, the cats love her. And Zara suspects that Marzanna can cast cantrips upon them, willow whipsering cats? Oh, talk about difficulty upon difficulty in translation, and yet worth it

"Oh... this is a land of the sable hammer, of the red and gold... they are a practical people, but not, I think, the most patient with frivolity."

"Ah, well, we shall be banished then, somewhat romantic at least" She smiles then after an hour looks at her phone and "Says Oh it has been...six calls? In the last hour?"

"They think highly of merit and ability. And utility, of course, for practical they are." A look at the phone. "Would you listen to her message?"

"Not all are hers it seems I.. oh.. this is from a hospital" Alarmed

"Oh dear..."

She picks it up and listens to them all "My sister has broken her leg, her car weaved off. I did warn her to change the tires for this colder weather. but did she listen? Nay. She is fine, but i need to get to the hotel and get her things. I am so sorry. May I ask for a lift one more time?"

A gentle tsk. "Such a car is not well suited to December streets..."

"But yes, I shall transport you. Were I petty woman, I'd say we bring her naught but sable garments to tide her through her stay..."

"Mayhaps you are not petty, but I might indeed be" a pleased look at the idea. They drive to the hotel, a very nice one. It is telling that the employees there nod kindly to the sluagh, but seem on guard expecting the more ..dramatic sister to appear. When she does not, they appear relieved.

"I have a credit card, if pressed..." A grin.

"So does sister, turns out she left it here with her purse" a smirk

the two go int a rather nice room, and she can tell who has been at which end. "Ah, there is the purse..." A sigh

"Well... surely, a loving sister would get the best to comfort her, in her invalid state..."

but zara's eyes do not go to the purse, no... instead they drift to a painting, not one belonging to the hotel. Being around Earl has certainly honed her eye of such things. But the style does not look like Carmesi's at all.

She studies the painting, attention drawn.

"...Lovely..."

"Father owned that, he rather loved it" A sigh "Sister got it too. It's the only tasteful thing she owns, I dare say" Black cloths are collected..//When Zara touches it, wait, her ears, ever keen, hear somethin sliding against something

A finger to her lips, and she listens

Paper against paper? Who knows the sound of that better than a librarian? there is paper sliding behind the canvas, pinned by the frame and casing.

She swipes a fingertip across the painting's mouth. "Speak, reveal thyself, painting which leans upon this shelf..."

"Ask thy questions, and I shall answer, o witch"

"Zara?" A startled whisper but then she quiets

"Tell me, what hides beneath thee?"

"A scrap of truth, a reflection of its lying twin. Words and wishes ignored"

Marzanna has grown quiet

"Who placed it there?"

A glance at Marzanna. "Questions from thee?"

"Only if whateveris contained can be safely removed without harming it?" Worried

"May the papers be removed safely, with damage to neither?"

"Deft hands, and care, a fruit will bear, and all this done without a tear"

"I thought as much. Thank you." A look at the other sluagh. "I think, pray pardon my impertinence... I think this may be a rare opportunity, while she is caught abed."

"Aye, tis almost as if Da'an itself helped make it possible" Surprised...and unaware that zara's soothsay was at play perhaps

"Nay, pleas,e help me open it"

She nods. "Sluagh are known for deft hands... so... let's."

Zara carefully sets the painting down on the bed - inspecting the back of the frame for the best way to take it apart.

The way is found, gently unprying prongs and and then, a loosing of the sheet that is not part of the painting, but rather attached to it. Once that is done= the prize within comes loose. It reads "I, Herman Castle, being of sound mind..."

"Marzanna... I think... this is more than just a pooka's deceit."

"It's the will, but all wrong, or..it leaves much to me, indeed, it praises me for having learned, and indeed, he apogizes taht in his worry for me he grew too stringent"

"Aye... and surely, the other paper - they must be false. A contested will... oh, there will be lawyers involved, difficulty... but one so lopsided that leaves her with all, and thee with naught... no, I would think he deceptions would not bear well the bright light of the law."

"It looks..yes, this looks authentic" A frown "A lawyer, no, she might be spell the one we have. Most likely did"

"Oh zara, what do I do?" Marzanna may be close to Zara's age, but she looks lost