#earthrunes

**************
August visits Sparrow.

"Hello, Derynwydd." If she knows him well, she can see a certain agitation in him. "Ah... do you have a moment?"

"I was wondering... ah, well, do you know anything about Coradel's journey?" Nearly-casual. "The one starting this week?"

"Journey? No... no, I don't. I guess I'll be regent-ing soon..." Deryn says.

"Do you know where she's off to?"

"No." Again that distraction about him.

"You seem rather upset." Fingertips lightly brush his forehead.

He allows the touch fondly. "Just, ah, distracted. So, ah, how are you?"

She shrugs. "Well enough, I suppose."

"Things are quiet for me. Willow seems to be adjusting well."

"Caitir, of course, has taken it on herself to guide her on kithian ways. Thank goodness for Ludmilla." A soft smile.

"Good to hear!" Despite any concerns, he's honestly pleased about this.

He smiles with quiet pride, "You have a talent for finding our lost ones, Deryn."

"Well... luck. Two. Three are still missing. Dubh has been visiting more - I should check with Jude. Sometimes a year seems very, very long."

He nods. "I understand. You'll find them, Derynwydd. If they can be found."

"If they can. Sometimes, I think I'm being unfair to Jennette..." A little frown. "Did you ever feel for anyone, before you found Coradel?"

He blinks at her.

"No."

"Ah. Maybe I have too much Fiona in me."

A fond grin. "I think you're just right." He assures her.

"Can I ask...." gently "... how do you think you're being unfair?"

"I... she's... Jennette is lovely. And sweet. And I enjoy her company."

He nods encouragingly.

"But I don't think that's love. I think... it's like the reverse, maybe, of Sassy. I... was very fond of her. But she wasn't.. in the same way, I don't think..." She touches the little fiddle pendant at her throat.

"A friend, yes, but not... no. And barely that since I've been here. Too far from crossing paths."

"You mean Sassy?"

She nods. "I wouldn't expect her to visit here. And I haven't been at Firnost much."

"And... she has her tragos, all kinds of things. We.... I don't know what we were, and it feels like.... like somehow, spending time with Jennette is betraying whatever we may have had."

"But I can't... I hold back. With Sassy, with Jenn..."

"Hold back?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry...."

"So. Coradel is going on a journey, and you're worried."

"No, Deryn, what's wrong?" Genuinely concerned.

"Nothing is wrong. It's just... what it is."

He takes her hand, tips her chin to look at her. "You know... I spoke with Father Boccadella for some time when... well, when things with Coradel were happening, at first. He said something that's resonated for me."

"Yeah?"

"He said, sometimes God will put you in a place, or a situation, to... to keep you safe. To keep you... where you need to be, until, in His time, He's ready to move you forward."

"Like... well, like the way I was going to go to Seminary until I met Coradel." Shy, sad, smile.

"I don't..." A little frown and she changes course. "Yes, August. I can see that."

He shrugs, still holding her hand. "Well, maybe if you're holding back.... there's a reason. A Greater Reason."

Resigned. "Maybe."

He looks into her eyes, encouragingly. "Maybe?"

"Maybe there's a reason, yes. Still unfair. And... and jennette deserves better than that, doesn't she?"

He sighs. "Well.... Yes." sure of that but with more on his mind, "You treat her honorably?"

"Of course."

He nods. "You know how Fiona say that it's ok to have people, partners, in your life and you don't have to be dedicated to any one of them, as long as all are honest and honorable?"

"You know... You've heard that Dame Leonora and I ....?"

"I've heard, yes."

"But it doesn't... I don't..." A sigh.

"What?" Gently cajoling.

"I don't know what I want. And I don't want to string anyone along while I figure that out."

"But I do enjoy her company, and I don't want to hurt her..."

He gives her a soft grin. "Have you told her that?"