#earthrunes

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Squire Colton looks a bit shakey as he returns to Earth Runes , as if he has seen the mouth of hell open, and nearly swallow him.

Sparrow is sequestered away somewhere, nose in a history book.

Colton might be heard muttering down the hallway "HUGE Axe"

Coradel is returning from the stables and hears him in the hall. She frowns. “It is NOT.” Turning to look at her shapely rump.

"I..." A blink, "I.. oh no, no Baroness Coradel, I ... your axe is fine I mean, your ass, I mean, not your ass." PURPLE "I mean... I was talking about someone else's AXE, the weapon?"

“Oh!” She laughs a bit. “I misheard. Whose axe has your attention?”

"Olgar the Rovers, he's... well, he's ... he wanted to explain things to me."

She makes a bit of a face. “Rover Olgar is unpleasant, but often helpful.”

"Oh, he's a hero. He's..also a father."

“Oh, he is, isn’t he?” A puzzled look. “But I don’t see the connection.”

"I may have... no wait, she'd kill me if ... but you saw so I suppose it doesn't matter... I uhm his daughter and I kissed. "

She blinks, and waits a moment.

“...And?”

"Not all fathers like it when you.... some fathers are protective, and TROLL fathers are uberprotective" He isn't sure he's explaining this right then, "Think how August might react if Baroness Derwynd was my age?"

“I...” A thought. “Ahhhh. Well...that’s difficult.”

"Yeah" He nods overwhelmed still. "Did you know he could hew oak with that axe? It's not meant for timber, but he can hew oak."

“Impressive. And probably pretty intimidating for you.”

"I would be lying if I said otherwise, but... well, I like the girl. I mean, she and I don't agree on a lot of things, but she's... kind of brave too, and unfortunately WAY smarter than me."

She smiles, “Then you must pursue her. But...carefully. And...how old is she? Or you, for that matter. It’s so hard to tell with trolls.”

"Fourteen me 13 her... and it's..not serious. We both know we're too young. we don't even know what we are to each other. I..." A pause, "You're a Fiona, I guess you know this stuff. Romance and such, but she's not sure she wants a boyfriend, and I understand that. If I told you about something, would you keep it a secret?"

She looks interested. “Probably. It depends on the consequences of doing so.”

"Well, the girl would never talk to me again if it got found out, I'd lose a friend if I haven't lost him already, and I'm pretty sure the secret network of girls would put word out that no one was going to kiss me for another four years"

“Yes, but I meant the consequences for me, and for this ‘hold. If there’s no threat to either, then I’ll likely keep the secret.”

"Oh" His brow knits, "I don't think any."

She shrugs and waits for him to tell.

"I have a friend, he's a genius... works in glass, made me the disco costume. Anyway, I told him this girl would be there as Jasmine. Next thing... i know, he's kind of joined in, as Aladdin. And..short news is.. he's crushing on her too, only it's me she ended up kissin. Now she and I both feel bad about hurting his feelins, and I'm worried he hates me. I thought maybe match make him with ... a friend of the girl, but the girl I Like nixed that and probably wise so..." A sigh

"Matchmaking? Really?" She seems bemused by the notion. "Getting a rival out of the way by providing a...distracting alternative? Well, I suppose it could work. I'm not an expert in that sort of strategy."

BLUSHING "I..when you put it that way it does sound very selfish of me"

"Does it?" She considers. "I guess, maybe. Honestly, I don't see the need. You said you two weren't very serious. If he wants a kiss from her, perhaps she'll be happy to oblige."

A nose wrinkle, "Oh, so.. that's what that is like" Troubled brow knit, "Oh...this could be a problem."

"How so?" She gives him a bit of a smile.

"I ..you mention that, and I don't like it." Worried look. " Imean, I know up here, she's not my girlfriend. You know, 21st Century, but when I think him..well, anyone else kissin her, nd I get...I don't like it"

The smile slips away. "And...you say she's thirteen?"

"Yes," He lowershis head, noticing her smile gone, "And I am 14. So too young for me to be jealous, aren't we?"

"Well...not too young to feel it, certainly, but far too young to expect that your jealousy should be somebody else's problem. It's yours. Keep it on its leash."

He nods, showing trollish resolutness, "You're right. Thank you. I... don't know how Fiona do it. Maybe I won't join the house after all. I might not be a good fit."

The smile is back. "Oh, were you thinking of joining Fiona? I thought perhaps you were considering following Deryn's path into Liam."

"I really like Liams, And I'm learning how important mortals are, but..they're awful hardo n unseelie, and for the longest time I was unseelie, so I'm not so sure. Also, I just, well, I thought maybe a more traditionally warrior house?"

"Well, Fiona is a fine house in that regard." Clear pride. "Does Deryn know you're considering it? She can give you some guidance, since she was fostered Fiona. And of course there's Bachdion. He's an excellent source of house information...and if you did decide to join, we could likely convince him to train you."

"Perhaps I should take to Sir Bachdion for details, but, well, I don't want to hurt Baroness Derynwd's feelings. She's a reat warrior herself . I just don' know if I'm..worthy of Liam."

She looks at him a moment. "It is also a terrible burden to accept."

"Well,yes, they get spat on a lot by some. Not around here, but... some. I wasn't thinking about that."

"No. Of course you weren't." Coradel brushes a bit of dust from the sleeve of her very stylish riding habit.

"I was thinking how much they give to the mortals, all the time. How hard they work, and how they never ever forget their duty. I mean, myliegge, she's dedicated"

She looks at him again...then nods. "All of that is true, and I'm very glad you recognize it. I'm especially glad that you recognize it in Deryn, and I'm glad that she's got a squire who appreciates what she does."

"The Baroness saved me, really did.She nd the folks at Rivervale, they...well, they didn't just keep me alive and help me get a new arm, they ..made me hold on. I ..I don't tell her this, but there were times I just wanted to forget forever. To stop being fae."

That gets a sharp frown. "You had a horrible start, Squire Colton, it's true. What happened to you should never have happened. But...that desire to "stop"...it's gone now, isn't it? That danger is past?"

"Oh,yes."He says "It is." He feels like snapping to attention

"Good." Her expression softens. "If those feelings do come back, though...please don't hide them. Tell somebody you feel comfortable talking with. They're not shameful feelings, but you know the sort of consequences that they can lead to."