#earthrunes

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Coradel looks over the edge of her tea cup as she and August breakfast in a little nook that overlooks the gardens. She watches him a moment, smiling gently.

He smiles back, happy.

She reaches to stroke his hand gently, then takes a sip before putting down her cup. “I always love seeing your smile.”

He ducks his head self-consciously. "Well. I can't seem to help it when you're around."

She taps his nose gently. “Not always true, but thank you.”

“Mm.” A remembered thought. “You should know that you will not have to be concerned about Sir Neachdainn’s visit.”

"No?" Casually, as he takes another crumpet; yes, they served crumpets.

“No. He has already been and gone.” She nibbles on her own breakfast.

He swallows his bite. "Did he give you any insights?" Sip.

“Well, mostly that our ideas about Lesleah’s assignment here are correct. But also that it’s something of a no lose situation for House Ailil. Apparently part of the culture of the House is to trade in favors, and when she was sained a squire, she suddenly wasn’t in a position to make good on the promises she’d bargained with.”

“So if she ‘redeems’ herself by finding something valuable worth as much as those promises, she wins and the House wins. If she fails, the House already sees her as an embarrassment, so not a loss.”

-Now- he frowns....

“It’s sad,” Coradel finishes, sipping her tea.

"I suppose." Without much conviction.

He exhales, frustrated. "This will make it even more difficult to ... incorporate Dame Claire."

“Incorporate her?”

"Into the fief. How can you include her when she comes with a squire you -know- is a spy and a risk?"

Coradel sits back and looks out at the garden. “I think we likely have more than a few spies here, August. Squire Shadecandle, for instance, was less than stealthy in scooting away from the garden after listening to Derynwydd and me talking with Sir Neachdainn.”

“And...I see more opportunity than risk, here.”

He sips his tea. "I believe Squire Velvet to be loyal." Calmly.

“August, do you know what inspired Sir Neachdainn to share information with me, without demanding a price in return?”

"I have an idea." -Now- there's a hint of a growl in his voice.

A smile. "Not that. He's not a stupid man, August, and he knows there's little to gain in spending energy in pursuit of me. No...he said it has more to do with sentimentality, both for this Hold and for the Baron he served here. August...sentimentality, fondness...they can be very powerful forces, once formed."

August pushes a mini-quiche around on his plate. "I'm sure they are. I just doubt that he is affected by them, myself."

"I have no such doubts. Now, think about it, August. Lesleah is being squired by a seelie member of her house, in a Fiona household, after a major heartbreak and embarrassment before her unseelie brethren. If she has experiences here that help her form such sentiment, such emotional connections...that may well make a great difference in the young woman she will become." A pause. "But if she meets nothing but rejection and suspicion here...well, we will have created our own enemy."

"I have said I will stay away from her. I have asked my squires to do the same." He concedes.

A brief silence. "Well...that is one approach...but I think they'd do far better by forming friendships with her. Unless you want them to have her as an enemy."

"I thought it best to be reciprocal; Dame Claire wishes me to remain apart."

A sigh, and she sips her tea without further comment.

August clears his throat and wipes his hands on his napkin. "Who are you taking on your journey?"

A blink, and she sets down her cup. "Only myself."

"Alone?" Puzzled concern.

A smile, amused by the need to clarify. "Yes."

He shakes his head slightly. "You should have someone with you." A thinking pause. "Sir Bachdion, or Vince."

"Oh, August..." she waves off the concern. "I'll be fine."

He takes her fingertips. "Coradel, I'm not worried about you being able to defend yourself, or ... or whatever it is you're going to do. I want you to have company. With you. Bachdion or Vince." Gently, with care, and a soft sense of loss.

"You're going to be gone for a few days, you said."

A puzzled look...then dawning realization. "You think...if I'm gone too long, I'll jump into the arms of any willing lover?"

"You'd never betray our Oath." He assures. "I do want you to be comfortable, and since you won't let me go, take one of them." Reasonably.

She looks at him with an expression that might easily be accompanied by an Awwwwwwww! Then she says softly, "I'll consider it." She rises from her chair and moves to him, gracefully claiming his lap to sit upon, her fingers in his hair as she looks in his eyes. "I love you, August Truthbranch."

Another soft smile. "I love you, Coradel Truthbranch."

"Mmmm." A happy smile, and a warm kiss.

He grins and kisses her back.

"So, ah, do you have time today? I thought, maybe, we could go to the nature center.... or "Shrek the Musical" is playing in town...." and so the young man tries to entice the lady out with him for the day.

((Scene))