#earthrunes

There is a raven in the hold.

Zara did not know about the raven until now.

How long has the bird been there?

It is a crime, not knowing.

She has not been in the ayrie, but she saw it. She is not fooled.

But she has to see him! Away from the Varich. Hm.

The varich moves from Kennel to Ayrie and back again, but other times he hunts.

Or trains.

But his patterns , ironically, are not always predictable.

Zara can be patient.

And she has allies.

Squire Tylar , a boggan, is in her debt

And boggans can go almost anywhere and be welcome

*************

"And one two three, one two three" Grand Dame Bondraste says as the music plays.

"He's too stiff," Magnus observes.

"It's not the type of dancing he's used to, " Bachdion says.

Adam is dressed up fancy.

And his dance partner is....

Stevi, the satyress is dressed in a gown.. She's one of the troubadours

Stevi curtsies "it's okay, Adam, this isn't my usual type of dancing either, but Ball room dancing is elegant if we can get the hang of it"

"Yeah, no, cool. Me either. Dancing,not the dress. I mean, I don't wear dresses much either." He grins.

"You look fine in that suit" She laughs "But if you want to try on the dress let me know"

Bondraste chuckles "Now you two, part of being a Fiona is appreciating the finer things in love, and couples dancing is one such. And courts have courtly dances"

Adam is distracted by the Grand Dame......

"Adam, when you dance with a woman, you must act like she's all the stars in your sky manifest" The Grand Dame fusses

"Sorry!" He refocuses on Stevie and offers. "I'm... really sorry. That was rude."

He offers his arms again.

Stevi takes them, "It's a learning experience"

Adam pauses to feel the music, the beat... and nods to Stevie?

Stevi nods back, and they dance

"One two three, one two three, you're making a grand circle with twin brushes of your forms along the canvas of the ball room floor" Bondraste says

Adam.... tries.

"Loosen a bit in the shoulders, it should flow" Magnus says

Adam flexes his shoulders DOWN.

Stevi fights a luagh "not too much the other way.. "

Adam tries to make all the instruction work.

It takes time.. and the tapping and the music...

Bachdion plays softly on a piano. And things relax.

Ok, that makes it easier. Adam relaxes.....

... and finds there is a rhythm there; the tapping and tune and all.... oh, that's ok.....

And yes, the chant of one two three one two three...

That helps, too! It is... soothing. Beguiling. Beckoning.......

And for a moment, he feels like a sidhe! he knows the grand whirl of pageantry, the layers of meaning in every motion

His breath catches, he yearns, he STRIVES!!!

And there's a soft gasp and then.. the music stops

"My lord" Stevi's country twang is..caught with respect and wonder

Adam hangs up, freezing.

"That was very well done" The Grand Dame said.

"Indeed, for a moment he really looked like a sidhe" Magnus said "Amazing"