#scarsdale

The prisoner, legs tended, is carted off, as almost everyone agrees a guarded oubliette is classy and effective.

And Zara watches as her outfit begins to dissolve

The count is tended to by the healers, and while they are quiet, some whisper that the lord of Alabaster Hallow has fallen into a slumber he may not rise from until a cure is found.

Zara seeks Hephaestus.

Hepheastus mutters "She must have had moonlight powering it or.." He moves to her "We need to go or else be revealed"

"But who will be heir? " Mutters. Confusion... as that question rises up. Others think it tacky to bring up such a thing so soon. But Dougal holds are practical.

"Aye, aye... the knight? Who was..." She looks, curiosity overwhelming her desire to be hidden.

"I don't know, I was knighted here but I never got to know them and he had a mask on too. He was dogged though"

Zara realizes she is whispering again. Ah, the repeater's magic is no more.

"Aye... aye, I would see his face."

"I am myself again, and myself never garnered notice in this place..."

There costumes have not so much vanished, but rather turned into mundane day to day wear of the sort they usually wear. mmm which, now that one thinks on it, means Vashti had provided it to fufrther protect their identiies if they so wished

"Ah, my sister is a mensch..."

"mm " He looks down at her "I kind of like you at this height. "

"Fff!" Despite the scolding noise, she smiles.

"Now, let us find him..." A tug n Earl's hand.

And off they go..looking for the knight nameless

It doesn't take too long to sort them out who he was. After all, gossip is strong and while no boggan, Zara knows enough to snoop on them.

And she knows the best boggans to eavesdrop...

"Sir Awstin was the first to respond" "No I think it was that fellow what came as Hephestus..." "Non sense.." the two old boggans get into a chatter match on whose got it right, but it's confirmed, Sir Awstin was the 'other jester'

Zara scans her memory - Awstin?

He must be new, for she does not recall such a name among August's peers.

Which might speak better of him, a few of them were quite jerks

The sluagh cannot be everywhere, but it might alarm her that her knowledge of this hold has become soemwhat obsolete, save in matters that concern her uncles.

Oh, very much so... Zara had her hand in with them...

A bristle at the thought!

It is Earl who finds the solution, "isn't that Marzanna? The one dressed as Gothic Mary Poppins?"

Another sluagh, and a friend no less, of course Marzanna came here

Zara slips close to her friend. "Cousin!"

"Zara? No costume? How daring" She moves to her "a most exciting night has occurred. Shades of Masque of the Red Death. I would extol it, but on Carnival? Tsk. Poor form to bring harm on Carnival"

She greets Earl also with splayed fingers, "Earl, most tolerable of trolls. I saw your latest work at a gallery. Disturbing, discombobulating, and jarring- in short wonderful"

He smiles "Thank you. I am told it gave one old mortal woman nightmares. High praise"

"Aye - poor form, not to be rewarded. But.. disaster averted, it seems."

"Quite, but to my frustration I missed the close view. Rumors of a goddess coming to the Count's aid and a god to foil the escape of his would be assassin" She sighs "I detest having merely rumors. It lacks the bones of truth or the savor of secrets"

"Ah, but it makes a good story..."

"Yes, it does that." She says "How have you been, Cousin? High Reeds has kept you busy I take it?"

"Ffft."

"Vassar is a lovely school. I... do not often visit the Eiluned hold."

"Ah, the Pocket then? Sounds noisy but intriguing that place"

"Fair assessment..."

"But.. but yes, noisy." A frown.

"I... mayhaps, sometime, you could visit for tea?" Her request comes off more as a plea, revealing more than intended.

"But of course, my stalker and I are done for the night.. " She senses the tone and says kindly "Perhaps, if it is not too rushed of me to ask, a morning tea would do?"

As in this morning. Now

"We could go to my mother's..."

"As you desire? Sir Earl, if it is no trouble, might you save us soem time?" Marzanna asks.

Earl is flattered, "Guess the cat is out of the flickerflash bag" He admits and saying "Pardon me, ladies." Taking the hand of each one, he whispers "Light as a feather, stiff as a board"

"Mm... tonight has been expensive..."

Earl does look a bit tapped.

Marzanna gasps "My manners. Let's just take my car" She guides them towards a hearse