#scarsdale

Naturally, Zara nd Tzzy were welcomed home... Zara still had her birthday celebrated, but had to share some limelight with her sister who got fussed at, and loved (Often the same thing in case of any nockers)

And there's cake and tea!

Of various ages and vintages.

Tizzy gritted her teeth and told a very SEDATE story compared to what happened.. though Zara is sre the Eshu will exlode with a truly epic version with some other audiance to make up for it

"But what matters most is that Tzipporah is safe and home and the perpetrators are handled."

Hannah still tuts though but is mollifed between the two of them "Well, it sounds like it was just part of you being an Eshu, Tziporah, your feet lead you to trouble. Maybe when you're sianed it won't give adventres to such places that scare me so much"

Aaron "Not sure about that. Zara got sained and she still finds trouble'

"Moi?"

She tries (and fails) to look innocent.

Her father gives her a knowing but loving look at that attempt

"Though her Saining is soon. We should figure out the wheres and whats."

Hannah nods "Oh yes, the who we already know, with a noble court so close it won't be troubel at all"

Nose-wrinkle.

"WHo will be saining me?" The Eshu inquires

"I thought to take her to Earl's family."

"Someone safe."

"It's okay zara dear," Her mother says "The namer she'll have is the same one who sained you. What could be safer?"

Tziporah looks stunned... "Weird to imagine that anyone has Zara's true name"

"I trust the DeBuke Namer. Not that aught is wrong with the Lady - Namers are bound to a strict code of ethics."

"The DeBukes DO seem nice" Tziporah gives her sister a questioning look to make sure she's backing the right play here

"Aye. And they are family, in a sense."

"Mayhaps Caspian could be certain there are eshu there for the celebration...."

"But our tradition, w'eve always done it near Scarsdale" Hannah says "And I've already started the arrangements'

"Mama..." She frowns.

"What? I do so little for this family I just wanted to handle the arrangments" She says

Aaron's paper drops as his wife who does ...well a LOT claism to do nothing

Well 'so little'

"Oh that's nonsense" Tziporah says to Hannah "You feed us and clean and take care of us all. We'd be lost without you"

"Mama, you do everything."

Hannah looks pleased at that "Wel, still, tradition. We're jewish, there's a whole musical about it"

Aaron hums if I were a rich man under his breath. It IS catchy

"But I wanted... would it not be nice, for Tzipporah to not have her name in noble hands?"

"I understand, aye, the code. But..."

"Oh Zara, what you are worried she's going to lose the book? Your uncle made the protective lock for that himself"

"...she wrote it down!?"

"SHe's getting older.. but she also paid your uncle Rachet for this safe that keeps it ...well safe. Very complex lock installed. Why you can't portal passage it or even squirm in. No one could get to that book when it's locked up"

"But there is a ledger of true Names?"

"So the gossip goes, and maybe it's not the ledger of names she's collected. All I know is your uncle ratchet got the contract, and its a good thing too. Job security"

"No, no, no, no, no. We must go to the Farm then, for certain."

"What? WHY?"

"I'm not comfortable with my true name being in a book" Tziporah says

"I was only seven, Mama, but I'm a wilder now and have learned much. Please let me protect Tzipporah this way."

A look at them And for a moment, Mama looks STUBBORN' "if you told Uncle Ratchet ou didn't trust the security of his work, it would break his heart"

"We trust it, but it's not always in the safe is it?" Tziporah points out

"Mmm" Her mother says

"Of course I trust Ratchet's work. But... please, Mama."

"You like the DeBukes, nu?"

"I do," She says "I even grew to be friends with Agnes, rest her soul" SHe looks ready to relent "But i do think maybe we had a family tradition going"

"Not everything needs to be a tradition, Hannah. I mean, bad things have happened which we don't want to repeat, right?" Tizzzy says

"This is important for me, Mama. I want to do this."