#earthrunes

A head-tilt. "The... the team here in Grass? Yours? Yes, I'd thought you might lead it."

"Oh, it is absolutely mine. Mine to lead, and if I catch anybody in the act anywhere even arguably close to my jurisdiction, well...." She leans back and raises her cup to her lips. "...their consequences will be mine to decide, as well." A smile...and a sip.

August doesn't seem to know if he should be relieved or worried. "That, ah, that should be..... do you know who you'll have on your team?"

"Hmm...swift riders, hard fighters. Claire and Leonora would be my first choices."

August nods. "They would be good choices."

She taps a delicate fingernail against the side of her cup. "I'll have to think about others. And of course, we need a solid force here at home, still."

"And someone to lead it. Derynwydd comes to mind."

"Well, of course." She nods. "My first choice."

".... but it's been suggested she might go to Gardens, help with things on that end. Liaison between us and Rivervale."

A blink. "Hm. Well...of course she has the connection with their...what do they call it? Hill?"

"Mountain. Yes, our House brother."

A sigh. "Well, I suppose that sort of liaison makes sense. No matter, I'll decide on somebody. Well, when do we begin?"

"We don't have a date or time, and the start will be staggered." He shifts, sips his tea. "My team will start in Tijuana. Yours here. Derynwydd in Gardens. The time zones alone....."

"In that order." She nods. "Good. Well...we certainly must use the time before then to our best advantage, hadn't we?"

He nods. "Yes. I'm not sure how much good it will to do try and improve my Arts in the time we have left. It might be better spent working on combat skills?"

"Mmm..." Coradel smiles and brushes his closer leg lightly with the toe of her riding boot. "Perhaps...grappling?"

"I already bested him once that way, but if it comes to .... oh."

"Yes. Oh." An amused little smile, and she sets down her cup.

August does the same, and watches her a moment. "I wish we could do this together. The quest. Be on the same team."

"That would be glorious," she agrees. "But think of the stories we'll be able to share with each other at the end of it." She slips her fingers into his hand...and another stroke with the toe of her boot against his calf.

He squeezes her fingers. "True." Softly.

"Will you let me know the make-up of your team, when you have it? And who's standing guard here?"

"Of course. Perhaps we could plan together....in private..."

"Ah." Another lightbulb. He rises, drawing her up with him.

A pleased expression as she stands with him. A bit slow sometimes, but he does catch on....

He steps towards her and kisses her. Well. Thoroughly.

When they break, she purrs softly, "Well, this promises to be a very interesting planning session." And she slips her arm into his.

"I think it should be a private planning session."

"I find that most agreeable, my lord." A smile.

He puts his hand on hers where it rests in his arm, and leads her to a more private setting.

Coradel allows herself to be led. It's an interesting change of pace.

(Fade........)