#earthrunes

"I dont plan on calling her anything, Sir."

"What will you do when you met her in the halls? Or attend the same functions? She's got a year and a day with us"

"Walk the other way."

"May not always be possible, but certainly better than some options" He sighs, "eat lad, eat. you'll need the protein when we're poking each other with practice blades"

Adam eats.

"This is really good, Sir."

And it is, some GOOD quality steak cooked by experts

"Adam, are you going to hate all sidhe now?" A sip

"Huh? No!"

He is startled by the question.

"But Leonora took a body... The Baroness, took a body. Sir Segei? he took a body. " He points out "Just like the one calling herself Minerva took Minerva O'Connel"

Adam pokes uncomfortably at his food. "I wasn't there for it. It still sucks, though."

"It does...stories vary... and reports are nebulous." A breath " I know of some folks who were taken who were in comas. then woke up Sidhe... perhaps a mercy? I know some absoulte monster of human beings who were taken by sidhe... and who even at their most tyranical were NICER than the sociopaths they kicked out"

"What, like, getting their souls ripped out healed their bodies?" Teen skepticism.

"Not as far fetched as you might think, we've both seen spring magics, heather balm, and other healing effects. Sidhe souls are pure fae, and it's not beyond them."

A shrug. "Still sucks."

"It's magic and wonder returning to the world , did you think wonder wouldn't also be terrible?"

"It's terrible, all right." He moves some food around his plate.

"So we come back to the question of whether you'll be able to work with sidhe from now on knowing what you know" He says

"As long as I don't have to work with her, I'll figure the rest out." A bit sullenly.

"No promises. She's part of this hold now, and you will have to work with who you have to work with. We can't let Tiffs dictate the rules or customs here"

Bachdion does not say this cruelly, nor dismissively, but very matter of fact

"Yes, Sir." To his credit, he seems to understand.

"Good fellow." A nod

Adam eats a little more.

"Now, about fencing... how do you feel about learning some advanced techniques?"

"Sounds good!"

"Excellent... don't get me wrong, you're not really ready for them... but what the hell right?" A grin "You prefer to try to stumble about with two weaons, buckler, or cloak?"

"Two weapons!"

"Florentine, very hard to do, but amazing if you can pull it off."

Adam grins. "Ready when you are!"

"Finish your veggies. Champions eat their greens"

Adam rolls his eyes good naturedly, and dors.

A chuckle and nod

"All done." He scarfed it up pretty quickly.

"So you are.." He lays a soft flower down for the serving staff, and they depart heading to the dueling grounds

.......................

In the library, August works on book repairs. Careful work with natural materials; fabric, leather, glue, ink, paper.

A figure swishes in the hallway

not the strut or stride of some ladies, but the swish swish swish of a dress on a woman at a no nonsense pace

Coradel moves like that, at times, but that is not her tread. August muses as he works.

Definitely not Coradel

The raven haired beauty looks into the library and then sees August, a nd she gives a curtsey "My lord. Pardon the intrusion"

Dark eyes set upon the newcomer, though she may not realize it.

He rises and offers a bow in return. "Lady?" Curious, as he does not know her.

"Lady Minerva will ..." She pauses "Well, I was going to say it will do, but even the name appears to be in question." She gives no pout, but rather looks about as it gives her time to consider "Pooka are very difficult to understand,but it would appear one of Leonine character believes my name not fitting." Something about this sidhe before her makes her ...hesitant so she changes the subject for now "This library, the Baroness told me it was exceptional, I thought her pride might lead her to exagerate, but I see now it is quite extensive"

"Minerva is a beautiful name." the young man responds. "A lion pooka? He has a good heart. And thank you; I'm proud of the library and what it means. May I introduce myself?"

"I was hoping you would" She says even as she runs her fingers lightly over the spines of some of the books.

Another bow, as appropriate. "Baron August Truthbranch of House Liam, bannerhouse Truthbranch.

"Ah," At the word Liam, her face,just for a moment slips, an expression similar to what might have if they were told that no, that was possum Ala King you just dined on wasn't it scrumptous? "I...forgive me, Baron.I'm still relearning a lot. "