#anywhere

"North, South, East, or West Wind?" he asks

She gives him a Look. "Oh, now you are just being contrary, Teacher."

He grabs a leaf, and scratches something into it she cannot see... then he calls out "North Wind, my old friend...I call..." And the wind blows not from him, but a cool, almost chilly wind despite the season, flies in from the north and makes the old man's hair fly southward to the side, and Zara's as well.

"Thank you, old friend. " He says, " I can count on you always."

And the wind stills.

That was .. not primal... at least, not the important part

And he tears the leaf, the leaf that might bear the name of the Northwind

"Because I cannot make windwalls to ward?"

"No no.." he smiles

"They do not... they don't make sense to me. That's not how Naming works. Naming is words, I want to use words."

"It's okay. You have your own way, just pointing out I don't always do things to be contrary."

More seriously, "Zara...I do think sometimes you are ... very proper, could be you, could be your kith. Things should be 'just so' and 'this way'. And that's fine... there is a strength to how you do things. Just don't let it rob you of flexibility"

"I have found ways to bend magic... but... but precision helps. It does not do to be sloppy."

"Why?" He asks "Why doesn't it do to be sloppy?" the classic greek method of annoying your student by turning things into questions back

"It is disrespectful to the working."

"I... I have been fast and loose, a'times - in battle, under duress... but if there is time, there is no excuse for slapdash bunks. It's... it's like tea, or lace. The details matter."

"Do you know why they matter, Zara? There is more than one reason, but do you know why they matter most?"

"Because.... because to do things well, to make sure they are precise... that's.. that's how you show its importance. Da'an is powerful, and the Tapestry grand... to alter the weaving is no light thing. Tis one thing, mayhaps, for chicanery... but soothsay? Naming? These are the nature of souls, of fate, of that which defines us..."

"All answers with some merit, but if one were to ask me for my opinion-which I shall give anyway as teachers are a prentiously helpful lot, is that it matters because it is tied to your wonder... it is what inspires you, what makes part of your dream and own muse. You are wise to treat names and Da'an with caution... but the reason the details, the 'way' things are done matters most zara is because , be it because of your kith or just you, it is how you tap into the magic that is around us, and that you are made of. "

She pinks slightly.

"Oh don't be embarrassed. There are ways I am bound to as well for my best work" He says

"To Nature, aye, for you are of Nature. And to.. well.. the Wildheart, too."

"Well, to me, we're all of nature... just about anyway. As for Wildheart, well, who knows where that young punk is." A smile "Probably finally got tamed by family and friends and settled down to teach.. .though I like to think he became a dignfiied professor." He strokes his beard.

"Ohhh no. No, the Wildheart is there. Who teases and challenges and questions... who take a winter sluagh student..."

"Who lets none rest easy on their laurels, even if an oak IS part of the forest."

"When you're finally a grand ole crone, I hope you end up with a student as delightfully frustrating as you were when you were a pupil"

Dangerous man! What if Da'an is listening?

She sticks a black tongue out at him.

"Are you sure I am not thine balance?"

That does get a laugh "I think you must have been eavesdropping on Anges. She's pretty sure I deserve you, but not sure what you've done to get stuck with me"

"Mmm, good question."

That will get her a friendly hair tossle, affectionately meant, and perhaps tolerable as no one else is about to witness it. "Cheeky. " A nod "Now... let's get back to the matters of that rogue namer, and this ward." He presses it with his will, "Strong. You'll need to expand it works beyond fae in the future, but against other arts and kithain... yes, this would definitely do the trick. As for this namer working either with or on the Leanhaun? SHe maybe a better namer than you, but I doubt she has your mastery over glamour itself. That is your advantage. That and that you know more of her than she knows herself. I may have to teach you something I haven't... yes... it's a good protection . You can fuddle, of course. And veil. "

"This.. this would be better than Fuddle for discouraging scryers, at least."

"Aye. Fuddle and veil, but I cannot alter memories..."

"No need... what I'm about to teach you is dangerous, if you mess it up it can really really mess you up. So do not practice on hyourself. Okay?"

An eyebrow.

He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a plain stone and again traces something, the true name along it, so she cannot see..the casts Chicanery.

"now, try to use naming on it Nicname it if you like?"

She tilts her head, trying to see what is happening. Kenning... "Hot Potato." She declares.

And her nickname spell goes after it and... doesn't sink in... it's as if it's looking for it still

"I did not veil the rock" He explains "I veiled it's true name. "

"Oh..."

"But one must needs know..."

"Oh, but I know my name.."

He nods as she quickly figures out where he's going

"But only for emergencies. Should you try to fuddle your name or veil it.. and the magic go awry... well, use your imagination"

"I could forget my own name... become forgotten or altered..."

"Or clay"

She grimaces.

"Exactly" at that expression, "This is a desperate defense. One I hope you never have to consider let alone use."