#earthrunes

"There'll be no shelter for him here, not if I read it right." He turns back and crosses to retake his seat.

"Good. He threatened Cora."

His hands fist, although his face remains smooth. "I know."

Eyebrow. "You know, might be healthy to vent that a bit."

He takes a deep breath.

"I don't... I don't know how. Yet. I've been working on it. I should probably talk to Coradel, to be honest. It..." he struggles. "It seems to be that... some matters regarding his Ravaging didn't.... didn't -register- with her."

"Seems he has a litany of crimes to answer for."

"And I've found a good round with some practice blades is good. How long since you've practiced?"

"Just last week." Subdued.

"Still. You're tense. Might be good to just DO something."

He looks up, grey eyes haunted. "Do... do you think I can go do what I -want- to?"

"Which is?"

"Find out from that redcap if it -was- a pre-mediated series of pet-nappings as a set up for Ravaging......" He start to head, then stops, and shakes his head with an exhale. "No. It wouldn't make a difference, I think. Nevermind."

"Maybe.... go for a run." Listless.

"Pity I can't geas..." She sighs. "I'd bind every Ravager from that act, if I could."

A gently proud smile. "I know you would."

"Well, working on it." An easy shrug. "Magic has never really been my thing."

A sigh. "Mine either. I mean.... there never seemed to be a point to it. Well. Till recently."

"What are you thinking?"

"We have Magnus, and Almandine..."

"Oh, no. I was just thinking that almost nothing I studied or applied myself to a year ago means much now." He smiles without humor. "And I still don't know what I want to do from here on out."

"Have... well, have you considered being an Episcopalian?"

That gets a chuckle out of him. "No."

"Why?"

A pause. "Oh, right. Married priests." He looks down, then back up. "Can you see Coradel being a priest's wife?"

A laugh. "Well, she'd cause gossip!"

"Maybe social work? Or... library science?"

He nods. "I'd like all of those. I wanted to be a librarian....." He trails off. "I enjoy my philosophy classes too." A sigh.

"Well, okay then. You have a trust fund. Study to learn."

"Don't study to get a job, don't be like me." She sticks out her tongue at him.

He gives her a small grin at that. "I have a trust fund, but it's not big, and it's not to support me being lazy. I want to learn, and get a productive job in the world."

"Maybe you could work with a non-profit? Like, write grants, work to find sponsors?"

He nods again. "I bet I would be good at that."

He tilts his head. "You would be too."

"Maybe. I'm not much of a writer."

"You have a gift for the language, though."

She laughs. "You think? I don't know. I'd rather draw."

"Oh, you do." He sounds sure. A pause. "Maybe I should... I should try writing...."

She nods. "You could. Maybe even write fiction..."

"Imagine turning some of your adventures into fantasy stories..."

"No, I meant... to Coradel." He shakes his head.

"When.... when we first met. I was better able to ... express myself. In writing. I would ... write, and deliver to her, here, letters." Another paused. "She liked that." Wistful.

"Sure! Writing helps you think and focus. Why not write?"

He nods, eyes troubled.

"So. Write Cora letters. Write essays about philosophy, like the Narnia guy..."

"C.S. Lewis." Absently.

"Him, yes!"

"A great man. And, Church of England. Almost Episcopalian." A small smile.

She laughs.

"You have a wonderful laugh, Deryn, and a beautiful smile." He compliments fondly.