#scarsdale

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To Zara Schwartz the letter says You have qualified for our 'YasQueen' Scholarship usable at Miami Beach University! A future of sun, sand, and learning await! Signed Dean Sonny Banks

..... siiiiigh.

"Why the sigh?" Iti s not often zara is snuck up upon. The whisper behind her.. Mr. DeVere?

(Sorry, near the mailbox, which I assumed was outside)

"Oy a-vey!" She startles. "Ah.... Mr. DeVere..."

"Pardon aan old man's pride, Miss zara, sometimes one wants to see if one still has the knack. Have I come at a bad time?"

"Not at all. How are you doing, sir?"

"well, well, but i find my interest in my son stirring. he has been making inquiry to move?"

She pinks faintly. "Ah. Well. I start college in the fall..."

"congratulations, so my son will be moving his base of operations to the same town o the college? "

She toys with her braid and slowly nods. "We... have discussed it, yes."

"i see," he says and ponders "if it is not overly presumptive? how best do you think I can aid? I have, as you know, not always been able to demonstrate my paternal duties openly" a softer whisper than normal

"I... I don't know. I've never rented a place before. My parents are helping..."

"mmm what would ease your transition? Obviously not me dropping by every weekend. One needs time to ...attune to new territory"

"Aye. I don't know, I'm not even accepted at a school yet..."

He cranes his neck "Ah. Typical, my son is already seeking to cover all bases and ...trolls" the grump sighs "I adore them, but either lumber behind too slowly are charge a head as if ready for an ambush"

"Truth in that. But, well - it's adorable, in a way."

"very much so," he sighs fondly, "Well, you know my resources. Beyond the usual secrets, I have smuggled contraband across the kingdoms of Concordia one way or another, have kept eye on rumors of what courts are doing what, and, well, the grotto is comortable if you ever need to stop by" speaaking of the ice cave "And I have a bit of dross."

"Know you aught of Poughkeepsie? Any of us there?"

"Poughkeepsie? Yes, as a matter of fact.. it has a strong Caribbean influx in the area.. one would think that meant Eshu and Colorful Pooka. But in truth, there is one of our kind there with a perchant for Voodoo related interests... not that I know enough about that religion to go into details"

"I know a little, but aye... very Christian, Voodoo."

"interesting... I should study sometime" He says "the fellow's name is Amos Bonaparte, at least, that's his name of choice. He's the only sluagh I know of the area, and he moved in when Katrina struck New Orleans"

"Makes some kind of sense, aye. Strong influence there..."

"i am sure there musst be more of us, of course. Would you like me to visit and inquire?"

"Well, I've been up once already... and I shall be going with my parents. My intelligence tells me there is an Eiluned lord of some stripe... so.. a hold, albeit a noble one."

"There is." he nods.

"A mews would be nice, but I odn't hold out hope."

"Well, trods can get you where you need to be once you want to free yourself of presumptive nobles"

"True. If I can get to Firnost, I can get anywhere."

The sluagh's eyes glimmer "You are familiar with Shakespeare Gardens?"

Eyebrow lift, head shake.

"A Shakespeare garden is a themed garden that cultivates plants mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. Here in Concordia, these are often public gardens associated with parks, Shakespeare festivals, and ...universities. "A smile

"this tidbit, while fascinating to you, no doubt, may seem of limited utility, until one learns that many Shakespeare gardens seem inclined with trods to each other. not open all the time usually."

"Aye? Oh, There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue
for you; and here's some for me: we may call it
herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with
a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you
some violets, but they withered all when my father
died: they say he made a good end...."

"Really now?" A grin.

"Oh yes, and well recited. " A nod of approval "You are far more versed than I I think, it was I am embarrassed to say, my interest in ways around places and not literary works that lead to this discovery for me. I am hardly alone in the knowledge but it's not bandied about. Nobles s eek to keep it to themselves, as do we sluagh to be fair. "

"Nobles think they are so sly..." A faint sniff.

"Some are, usually the ones that have the sense not to boast of it, which , of course ,means a minority" Wryly

"I will concede, the Eiluned are cats."

"High praise, I wonder if they appreciate it?" He ponders "Ah, but where was I? While I could give you a list of colleges and other locales with these gardens... by coincidence, Vasssar is one... I might say that a woman of YOUR power alreeady has means to coax one. Firnost Gardens is large yes? Almost as large as it needs to be? If one were to create a Shakespeare Garden there? Given how the place often grows new trods anyway?'

"I do not have the greenest of thumbs... but... Clementine does. I might beg her aid. For Earl's sake, of course."

"Clem's spring magics mixed with a touch of your soothsay might more than do the trick. And... as Earl's father I do apperciate your concern for him. the other option would be to hope the trod from one Garden to Brooklyn opens enough that you could 'switch' so to speak"

"True... though, alas, other trods.... Firnost is more akin to a Flicker Flash than any other trod I have traversed. All are timeless, but..."

"yes, a non firnost trod would be.. well open only at certain times and hardly be instant, more..'condensed'"

"Exactly. And convincing thanes to open trods..." A sigh.

"One is almost forced to slilp past them. Really, they bring it on themselves"

A tut

"They act as if they own the Dreaming. Nay, the Silver is a gift to us all."

"preaching to the veritable choir, my dear but aye."