#earthrunes

"You look like a Fiona," Coradel says simply. "I've certainly had my moments that way."

A look to August.

"I rest my case." he murmurs to Selena, not without humor.

She smiles and nods.

"Oh I'm not brave enouggh to be a Fiona, Barones" She wipes, but her hair has red strands in it now

"Well, perhaps not. But, Selena...what I said is true -- if you wish to love a noble, you must accept that he will be called into dangerous situations now and then." It took long enough for Hume to accept this, but never mind that now.

She tilts her head slightly. "Does he know?"

"I.. don't wish to love him, I have to... i mean, I do love him" A sigh "he.. he says I'm the nicest person to him. He... he likes me, but I don't know if ..it's more. Boys should come with labels"

She smiles at August's joke, weakly, and returns the now damp cloth

"Please, consider it a gift." he insists.

"th.. thank you baron. you're both very kind, and I've been rudely demandin"

"Well, I think that you should get that particular investigation underway. If you're sure that's what you want to get involved with, that is."

August clears his throat. "I have found, in my own experience, that an open and honest conversation, sincerely intended, can be beneficial in these circumstances."

"And, you're welcome. Bannerhouse Truthbranch does focus on the love between mortals but... nothing harmed by fostering care and compassion between Fae."

"I'm... I .. I am constrained by Da'an... in some things, but I...I'll try to be more open, and hope" She bows "Do.. either of you need drinks?"

A bemused look at August, something unsaid. Then to Selena she says, "Perhaps we'll take some tea with breakfast. It's time for August to step away from his work for a while."

She takes her husband's hand to emphasize the point.

"I need to return the original..." he murmurs; duty first.

"Whom does the original go to?"

"It's Magnus's work."

"I'll get the tea and breakfast ,should I bring it to the library?"

"No. That is, ah, unless you wish it?" he asks Coradel.

"Oh, August, you know he's still sleeping in. Come, have breakfast first, delivery later." She tugs his hand gently.

She shakes her head to the piskie. "I'd rather have it in that little alcove that looks over the garden. Winter yet but pretty."

August nods agreement with that, at least, and goes to wrap up the original to take it away. "Bronte?" he calls softly.

"the alcove, yes my liege"

Bronte mmphs

maybe she's not crazy about the idea of a meal in the library, and is gglad it's moving to the alcove

"Will you take the new pages to safety?" he asks, "I'll come bind the pages later."

Bronte eases at that "And my axe" She assurres

She smiles at the bookwyrm. "Thank you, Bronte."

"Thank you." August echoes. "Coradel, do you think we could freshen up before we eat?"

And Selena curtsies, and goes to prrepare tea and breakfast in the alcove

Bronte beams back to Coradel and August "“There are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematician that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one.”
― G. K. Chesterton"

"Oh, I suppose. I like you mussed, though." She gives him a playful hip bump."

A curious look to Bronte at the quote, and then a smile. "Lovely, thank you, Bronte."

A sheepish chuckles. "I'm more than mussed; I'd like a shower and a toothbrush, some clean clothes...."

And mused August, and ravishing Coradel who might enjoy BEING mussed, head off for a bit of a clean up, and a lovely breakfast with a view

(End Scene)