#earthrunes

Dame Claire sighs as she enters the library

“Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,-
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.”

Bronte swoops to land on a nearby table, looking at the Ailil.

A slight smile at that "You are a delight, Bronte. I'll give you that"

She preens. Zara, meanwhile, emerges from the stacks. "Greetings, lady. May I help you?"

"Yes," Dame Claire says "Miss Zara, you and I don't know each other well...I'm a warriroress, you're an academic, but I think there is mutual respect?"

She arches an eyebrow. "Aye?"

"And yet , despite the fact you and he are both academics, you don't seem to like my husband?"

Her eyes narrow slightly.

"I do not dislike Magnus."

"Glad to hear it it" She says "But apparently he thinks you're trying to ah, censor him?"

Eyeroll. "Fiona. Always dramatic."

"Yes, but is it inaccurate?"

"It is a mischaracterization, aye." She picks up a book and moves it to a shelf. "I would like to stress upon him the importance of discretion. He values his own secrets, does he not?"

She ponders "Actually, he's of the belief that knowledge is best shared and sunlight is the best disinfectant"

"That is not, from my observation, entirely consistent with his behavior."

"And, pardon, but I do not invite sunshine and disinfectant upon mine own affairs. I am not his knowledge to share with his masters."

"Ah, well, perhaps it's better to say, once the matter is done he sees it as such," An amused look, "And I think I see a slight ah, clash . His masters?"

"He reports to Jude, amongst others."

"He's not sworn to Jude," Claire shakes her head. "Works with him, yes, or did but Jude's not his master" Clair takes a seat.

"Dither not with technicalities - nay, he is not sworn. It matters not. That man has no right to my private affairs, and your husband would gleefully toss about what concerns me with nary a second thought."

"Not gleefully, in this case technicalities matter if the lack of them leads to misunderstanding. He gets no chortles from communicating the history" a pause "That Man being Jude?"

Her look of distaste is likely answer enough.

"So it's not my husband who is on your bad side so much, but Count jude" She says "Well, I can undertand that" She says "my god, his excellency loves the sound of his own voice"

"Does he not? And delights in thinking he has the right to play with others as pawns. Feh."

"He lacks manners and discretion. He has no claim to my affairs."

"You know, there are those in my House who are masters at using others as chess pieces. I lack that knack myself, but I think the annoying thing about Jude doing it isn't that he's a Liam, it's that he does a victory lap with every pawn's move let alone the win"

"Aye!"

"That said, Jude's not getting the news of your involvement from my husband. Jude has a lot of sources, his own cantrips not the least of them"

"Then what has your husband to fear from me?"

"If he speaks not of me, we have no conflict."

"It's the principal, my dear. Only one woman gets to tell him what to do, or not do, " She says "And you're looking at her. And I have to admit, while you mean no insult to me it does feel like you're stepping on my territory"

"Wives can be... possessive" She shrugs

"I do not step upon your territory - but surely, you understand that I must protect that which is mine."

"We both have territories," A nod "But why didn't you come to me and ask me to keep him in check on your behalf?" Claire says "is it the Ailil thing?"

"I have no desire for aught beyond civility with Magnus." A soft huff. "Nay, I harbor no particular ill-will towards the dragons. Truth, I rather thought I was not in your notice at all."

"Well, I'm not good at the game of politics, but I'm not so blind as to ignore other players and whether you seek it or not, you are a player"

"I? I am a simple librarian, lady."

A smirk "You should write fiction"

"But... as one lady to another, as you say - I implore you to remind your paramour of the value of discretion, nu? That it is a matter of... etiquette. Fiona a'times act ere they consider."

Claire seems appeased "My husband is used to my reigning his enthusiasm in for his own good and for the sensitivity of others. Once more is no trouble for me... and besides, he clearly is giving the impression that he's 'Jude's man'" A smile "My husband is contrary. If I mention THAT idea spreading... well..."

"Ah, and you say you lack Ailil cunning." She places a hand on her chest and drops her chin. "Thank you, Dame."

"Thank you, Madame Librarian, for understanding a wife's pride" An incline of a nod "now, would you like tea? It's not my usual, but I have access to the Baroness pantry and t ook the liberty" She pulls out some of the rare stuff

"A woman of taste." Zara smiles.

"And what Delores doesn't know can't hurt us"

And soon, Tea is served and Claire inquires about what version of truth Zara prefers.