#earthrunes

Velvet puts it away.

And rises.

----------

Temerity bounds about in the sparring area

August wanders past murmuring to something in his hands.

"My liege! " Temerity says "Duel me! Let us test sharp mettle ?"

August looks over, and pockets whatever he was talking to. "If you like." He selects a practice blade.

He steps into the ring and salutes her.

She gets a practice blade, and grins, "Now that the Banner flows over all the land, how fare thee?" She gives a bow and weapon salute

He bows And goes en guarde. "Exceedingly busy. "

"Word has gone out to the five corners of Concordia! The Truthbranches thrive, let evil shudder." Temerity is a great and fearless warrioress, but she tests her lord rather than seeking to best him

August has improved, not that she has a baseline...He fights solidly

"Thou hast the fundamentals of the three Bs...Blocking, Biting and slashing." She nods approvingly, "Thy style is a good all squarer"

"I focused on combat this summer."

"And leadershp for the fall?"

"Yes. And Arts."

"What arts do you wish to focus on?" She asks as she forces him to parry and go on the defensive.

He focuses on the sparring for a bit, then answers "Primal. I need to be able to speak to more complicated items."

"Ah, a whisper of a willow and so forth... teachers by the thousand"

She pokes through the hold in his defenses just to tap and show where it is

"Yes." He corrects his defense.

Better, she can't get through that time, "AHa, soon you will be invulnerable!"

"I still have much to learn."

"Ever and always , twas thus. I myself have battled and lost with numerous books. Strengths do vary, else I'd not be Tome bait"

August disengages and steps back. "Do you remember what brought you to our banner house?"

She stops the sparring and cocks her head, "Much is lost in the mists of memory for you sidhe, but a pooka remembers always. A mortal mother crying for a lost child, a field mouse nibbling at bonds, an angry monster denied a prize...the mouse beneath it's jaws... and it bites even as it's about to die... a name earned... a lord sees... and his eyes save. Clear as crystal"

August nods slowly and then resumes his stance.

"We all have stories, except maybe the Eshu..." She lunges and slashes with the practice blade, "Each story trapped in a larger story, till it seems but a chapter, and the powerful play goes on, and we each contribute our verse! You cannot avoid leaving a mark of some sort, even if only a face in the crowd... to live, is to open the book, and we smudge in ways that angers librarians I am sure but your verse I think will be a good one. "

"Each of us can only try our best." He parries.

She wears down his defenses, "Try is pie my lord, improve the recipe or not one will want it"

August, yes, tries harder, drawing on his lessons and thus (albeit unconsciously) on his Ailil teacher.

He actually tags a hit on her as he mimics one of Claire's feints and tags!

Temerity is delighted "Huzzzah!" And hits him in the face with the practice weapon!

He staggers back, dazed.

"Oh, sorry, lord"

A grin "But I do enjoy a good fonging"

"A good what? What -is- fonging?"

"A fong, ah, it's ... like but not quite... so more like.. if you take out the?"

"Something hard to describe, I gather."

She is, after all a pooka "For Leos like myself yees"

August shakes his head to clear it. "Well fought. "

"I might say the same" she says

"Thank you." He bows.

She puts things away, "Lord? You know that you have built it, they will come?"

"I have faith it is so. I have to provide for them."

"Young Tylar might want some cheese I think"

August nods. "I plan to offer what honors I can to all who quested with me. Yourself included."

A smile "I am glorious just being a truthbranch, my lord"

"Thank you, Dame. I appreciate that." A gentle smile.

"I mean, to work with the great sparrow herself, I know you're honored" a wink and nudge