#earthrunes

Hooves pound through the hallways of the hold

Daria the Centaur is on the loose

"Is it yule yet?" She asks

"No" Kylie Glitzertraum says as she works on her jewelry. Damnn, ever since her saining she's gotten good.

"I want to be sained too" Daria stamps her hoof, "I've been training, I know how to fight. But everyone wannts to keep me SAFE."

"oh cry a river" Kylie says, but she does feel sympathetic "Look, we got an offfcial namer... but he's not going to risk sainig you early"

"Arrrgggh, but it's 10 days away"

The nocker says "Come on... have you seen the new Dougal Poppinjay?"

"Poppinjay? A target?"

"Yup. Come on" She puts her current work down and heads off to show the fledge something new to hit

**********

August is in their chambers, preparing for a shower and then bed.

The door opens and Coradel slips in. She was kept a bit late with barony business. She gives him a smile as she sees him half-way disrobed.

"Was it a good day, my love?" she asks as she starts removing jewelry at her vanity.

August pauses as she enters, and smiles. He approaches behind her and encircles her with his arms. "It was. Yours?"

"Mmm." A pleased sound as she leans back into his embrace. "Some tedium with ordering supplies, but Delores assures me it will be managed. Something about a supply chain..." She shrugs. "Otherwise, yes. A lovely day."

August's reflection in her vanity mirror frowns, but she feels and sees him nod. No related tension in his frame. "Good."

A puzzled look at the reflected frown. "Problem?"

"Ah. No. You said it would be managed."

"And I believe it. But you..." she turns in his arms "...frowned. Tell me what you're thinking?"

"Ah. The, ah, supply chain. I follow the news; it is a troublesome time."

"Oh," she waves it off. "Temporary minor inconveniences. I'm sure it will pass."

He nods, slowly releasing her to continue getting ready for bed, with an affectionate kiss to her hair.

"I had a meal with Lord Hume recently."

"Yes?" Taking a seat at the vanity to brush out her hair.

A lingering glance, but he goes ahead to get ready for a shower. "He had an interesting idea for educational purposes. I look forward to seeing its evolution. Ah...." there was something more.

"Do you recall a maid? She must be a recent hire. Brown hair?" he just described a significant portion of the staff. "I think?"

"Educational purposes? Hm."

"Brown hair, and recent?" She considers for a moment.

"Possibly? I'm not certain. Somebody I should watch for?"

"No. That is, not necessarily. I'm ... I'm a poor judge." he seems lightly flustered "As you know. I often get these things wrong."

She sets down her brush and stands again, beginning to disrobe for a shower as well. "Still, I'd like to know. Why do you mention her?"

He pauses, a towel wrapped around his waist and nothing else. "What was her -name-...?" with a frown "She, ah.... it seemed as though.... it's possible she might have had some, ah, interest. In Lord Hume. We had trouble being certain."

"I warned him, I'm probably wrong but at the time it seemed.... ah, likely."

"Warned?" An amused look as she drops away the last bit of clothing and precedes him into the bathroom, turning on the shower. "She doesn't seem a threat, does she?"

He follows "No. No, she seemed very pleasant." vaguely.

She gives him an odd look, but then reaches for his hand to draw him into the shower with her. "Well, what did Hume think of the situation?"

He sets the towel aside and enters the shower. "He seemed ... ah, a bit adrift."

"Adrift?" Another amused look. "I suppose he's rather baffled by that kind of attention."

She gets soap and washcloth and helpfully washes August's back...and front....

Lingering now and then and stealing a kiss for emphasis.

He is quickly focused on this process, and returns the favor(s) in kind.

And discussion of the maid is soon forgotten.

Who?

Quite.