#earthrunes

"I shall have to corner her and learn details, since my husband is cruel and will not share." She pouts momentarily...then gives him a wink.

He looks stricken for a moment, then smiles, getting it. "I... wouldn't tell her stories. She tells them very well, and I would lessen them if I tried."

"Ah, nicely parried, my love." She leans over to give him a brief kiss.

He takes it. "Are we sparring?" Puzzled. "That was not my intent."

"If we are, it's playful, have no fear."

"I am no match for you with a weapon." He acknowledges.

"It depends on the weapon, I think." Again, a playful look, and she squeezes his hand. "August, let us have a dance after dinner tonight. Nothing formal, but I'll have the bards play in the gallery. For anyone in the manor."

He nods agreeing easily. "As you wish."

"And then, of course, tomorrow being Valentine's, all of the bannerhouse must go out into the city and make good example of what love and romance look like, don't you agree?"

"Yes. I've given instructions."

"I'm hoping I'll be able to have some of Vince's time. If not tomorrow, then.... soon."

She blinks at him in mild surprise at the comment about instructions, then beams and stops to reward him with a kiss.

"Oh? I'm sure he'll be happy to accommodate, but why?"

He takes it, but is also a bit nonplussed.

"Oh, I have a project I'd like to work on with him."

"A project?" Oh, that curious smile again.

"Yes. For the bannerhouse. There's a location here in Jefferson City that might yield some results, but I haven't the magic on my own."

"What kind of location? I promise I won't intrude on a project you're saving for Vince," she forestalls the concern.

"A bridge, across the Missouri."

"I don't understand."

He clears his throat. "There's a bridge across the Missouri that is a love bridge. I'd like to explore that with him."

"A...love bridge?" She smiles. "Tell me more."

"You know, locks on the bridge fence?"

He gets up to rumage and find something in a drawer.

"Oh! Yes, I do remember."

He offers it.

A newspaper clipping.

"You told me of this." She handles the clipping as if it were a treasure itself.

He nods. "So , if Vince is free, tomorrow would be auspicious. If not....." A shrug. "It will happen."

"I must visit there myself, sometime...but first, I am eager to hear what you discover with Vince." A gentle smile as she hands it back.

He nods and puts it away.

She moves to him and brushes fingers over his chest. "You are a brave and wonderful man, my love," she whispers.

He would demur, but then touches her face. "Because of you."

Her smile beams up at him. He clearly said the right thing.

"It's true."

"I'm just glad you know it about yourself. It took long enough for you to realize it." She turns her face slightly into his touch and kisses the heel of his hand.

A pause. "I'm sorry for that."

"Don't be. It was a journey you needed to take."

He nods. "I suppose. Yes. I regret it took so long."

A bemused look. "Is regret at all helpful in this context?"

"To remember, to avoid in the future.... yes?"

He stops and thinks. "Perhaps." Discouraged.

"Well...fine, then. I won't fight you over it."

Curious. "Oh, what was that thought?"

"I don't learn well."

"Because you have had some setbacks in some topics?" She waves it away.

"You could say that, yes."

"They are nothing to fear. Merely challenges."

"I don't know I'm afraid, Coradel, as much as .... I want to learn. To remember to avoid in the future."