#earthrunes

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Deryn is meticulously and studiously brushing down her borrowed horse after the ride - Cora might well recognize that serious expression, the quiet determination to handle the task perfectly.

Curry comb first, small circles. "Thanks for that, Cora. This was fun."

She finds herself smiling at Deryn's efforts as she finishes up with her own borrowed steed. Much as she loves her own horse, Samson, she doesn't want to enchant him too often.

"Did you enjoy the ride?"

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Her wings fluff. "Yes! I've not ridden since my fosterage. Kerowyn, oh, she was very strict about fledges doing rides for fun...."

She laughs. "That's a funny way of putting it."

"Well, she was strict during lessons, too. We all had to learn basic horsemanship. Enough to not make fools of ourselves."

"Absolutely!" She continues brushing. "Were you taught anything beyond the basics?"

She shakes her head. "I wasn't. Maybe if I'd stayed there? Lira was good at it, though. But I don't fall off! Brekke thinks the wings are why I'm good at keeping my balance - probably works with horses, too."

"Makes sense. If you were to ride into battle, wing a-flare, you would be amazingly intimidating!"

Sparrow laughs. "Like a valkyrie! Maybe! I've not tried mounted combat at all... not even jousting."

"Well, I think we should. As you said, enough not to make a fool of yourself should you have to at some point."

"Well, maybe you could show me? I'm pretty comfortable with a sword on the ground - but mine's a rapier. Fast is, I think, nine-tenths of my style."

"I'd like that. Not today, though...these two are expecting a bit of a rest after all this brushing." She finishes up, but seems a bit distracted, frowning slightly.

"Oh, sure. But sometime." She changes out brushes, but watches the Fiona. "What's up?"

She blinks. "Oh...nothing." A smile, but not a completely authentic one. She turns to lead her steed back to its stall, stroking its flanks a bit before shutting the door.

"You do realize you are speaking to the queen of 'I'm fine' and 'Oh Nothing' and 'It's okay'?"

A genuine smile this time. "Can't blame me for trying? Perhaps you can give me lessons in exchange for learning mounted fighting."

"Can't blame - won't. But maybe I can help out in a more traditional way? I have two ears, and you're stuck here while I groom anyways..."

"...the horses won't talk, either."

"It's nothing. Not really." But she looks like she's considering it. She leans against the wall of one of the stalls. "You've had Fiona training. So...you know how important sensuality is."

She nods. "Very. I was.. well, as a fledge, I was a bit more reserved than my companions. I guess that makes sense in retrospect... but, well. It's important. And... fun. "

She smiles a bit, but shifts uncomfortably. "It is, yes. Very." A sigh. "Well, I'm having a bit of a learning experience about that, today."

"How so? I thought you and August were.. well.. I assumed you and he?"

"Oh, we are, and as often as possible! Those noises you heard last night weren't because we were arm wrestling!"

She laughs. "Okay!"

"But..." She sighs. "In a moment of passion, I made an agreement. And...I'm finding it a bit difficult."

"Ah. Can I ask what you promised?"

"Well...I can't tell you all the details of why, but I agreed...to refrain from sexual pleasure until he gets back. And I'm becoming more and more aware of how much I'd like some release. Soon. And I can't."

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"Huh. Kinky. Didn't expect that from him...."

A big sigh. "I know." She smiles. "He's full of surprises."

"I mean, arguably, waiting will make it impact more? Or... maybe.. before you, he was planning to be a priest. So... so some empathy, there."

"I think it's a bit of both. Plus...well, he would very much like me to commit to him, to promise to be exclusive. I think he knows this is about as close as he can get."

"To be fair - he is violating his faith and pretty much all of his life plans for you."

A nod, and a frown. "I know. He's given up so much. This...this is nothing." A shift. "But it is...uncomfortable."

"Well, there's something to be said for discomfort. Love shouldn't be comfortable. It... wouldn't it be boring, if everything was easy?"

She gives Deryn a bemused look. "You've come to appreciate hardship a bit more, now that you're a little more comfortable."

"There's different kinds of hardship. But this is a small thing - and maybe it is a small thing that can make the end result sweeter."

She wrinkles her nose. "I hate waiting."

She bites on her lower lip. "Some sacrifices... I wish, sometimes, my first hadn't been Lira. I know... I know I would have lost those things anyway, I guess, but it seems worse because she... she wasn't the right one."

A frown. "She wasn't the last one...but wasn't it an enjoyable first time?"

"It was a lot of fun at the time. I loved her. It was like being on a roller coaster, everything was new - like I had permission to do what I wanted, instead of what I was supposed to do."