#scarsdale

" I have. " She says with a nod, "To say Janice is furious with me is. ah..putting it mildly. I might have tied her up"

And by 'might' Zara is pretty sure Siv means she totally did

"Oh, that will be trouble..." A frown. "Give me the paper." She turns a burner on the stove.

"Hold on now... "

Siv says "I might need these names later in case one of the knights comes after me mother and da on their own accord"

"No. You do no need true names."

"Knowing their true names means their magics don't work as well against me, and my magics work better agaisnt them. It's why the Baroness wasn't able to Majesty me into a drooling worshipper"

"Look, Naming is powerful stuff..." SIv says unaware she's talking to a namer , or at least a namer in training.

"It is."

"And to know someone's true name is a great power. One not to be abused."

"Give it to me."

"I wouldn't abuse it... " She says "Zara...I mean to keep it safe... save one..and that a failsafe"

"It should be destroyed."

"It's... it's a violation, to have them so exposed - Leanhuan or not. To write them down?"

"Zara.. I was going to give the Baroness True name to you, both in payment... and because that way if she should ever take me out, at least two others would be waiting in the winds to take her down"

"I would not trust myself with them - if you believe me not, go to the Farm. you know the Mountain there, aye? You would trust him on this?"

"Well.. I trust him yes. He's a namer I know... but I'm a bit hurt folks aren't trusting me"

"This is not about you. It is about this paper. It is too dangerous to keep."

"how do you know?"

"Because, as you said - it is a list of true names. It's... it's... egregious. It's a sin."

"Worse than if you had naked pictures of each of them..."

"I'm not the sinner or pervert here... I'm just holding it in reserve."

"And again, how do you know all this? You act SURE that Emmit would back you up on this."

"You are not. But this... Siv, please..."

"You do realize that at least one of these names I will NEVER forget right? I mean, I said it outloud to the woman's face"

"Aye. And so that is that. But the rest?"

"If I hand this over, and it turns out to endanger my family when I could have saved them with it... I'm going to be rather peeved at you, my friend. Just so you know. Are ye calling in your debt? Because this is a helluva payment" A frown

"Names are sacred."

"Even those of our enemies."

"Names are sacred- so is family. So... is this the coin you're calling on? Because the only reason I'm considering it is two fold, one- you are my friend and two... I owe you."

She closes her eyes.

"Lecture me not on family, Siv. Know you I understand its importance."

"But this... aye. I shall call in my coin."

"I do not lecture. I simply state my priorities... in a way I know understand." SHe reaches into her pocket and throws one out "This is the fake"

"If it would make you feel better - we can go, and you can give it to Emmitt."

"He is a Namer, aye?"

And she shakes her head and reaches into her shoe "ANd this is the real one. And I'll not insult you by insisting it be tripple checked . THough how you came to know so much about namings secret rules I don't even guess..." And she pulls out the other...

it may look like the fake, but Zara can feel the power of it. This is a namebearing thing. She can sense that!

And Siv sits it down "Into your burner it goes. And I'm not trying to vex you. I just...well I went through a lot to get that"

"I'm sorry, Siv."

She takes the paper, folding it and making an active effort to resist just one peek...

Siv notes the look "Oh you better throw it in quick before your eyeballs leave your head to snitch a look"

"I... I understand why you want this. But.. yes. Tis for the best." She catches the corner aflame, and drops it in a causer to burn.

"you okay? " Siv sudenly forgets her agitation, "That didn't look easy for you."

"My dream is... is to know, nu? To find what is hidden, to discover secrets."

"But... no. That was a loaded gun."

Siv wrinkles her nose "But the bullet can only hurt the person with the name on it, right?"

"More than hurt, Siv."

"It's... it's a violation, more like.. like rape, than assault, if that makes sense."

A frown "I.. guess I can see that. Worse than being affected by chicanery even"