#rescuemiriam

"Of course not, House Ailil prides itself on being a meritocracy. Now, I was asked to swear an Oath that I would never betray the House or work against its plans, but I declined. What thatmeans is I'll probably never rise above knighthood, at least not by Ailil hands, and in Ailil factions will never be a major shaker. But as I rather enjoy knighting about, that's no problem to me. I suppose i should be furious, but.." A pause, "i'm actually proud of my house. We are good at what we do, and I personally think sharing power between the seasons helps the Dreaming. I think Magnus was worried you and August would reject me as soon as you heard of my House." She says. "I admit, i'm still not sure where I stand with August. Liams are very idealistic. I kind of admire that, but it's a pain when you feel kept at dist..." She realizes what's she saying, "Ah, preaching to the choir I suspect. Sorry."

She pinches her fingers in the air. "Little bit." Then considers her again. "If you're proud of your House, why did you refuse the oath? Do you plan to betray your House?"

"It depends. If my House were to do something blatantly self destructive? Yes, I might feel the need to foil it in order to save it. They might call that betrayal, I would call it foresight and loyalty. They're the ones who tell me honor is what I make of it. Well then, I abide by their rules and my own and will pay my house in the coin of my choosing."

A shrug, "Besides, it's fun to tweak at their noses a bit."

A broad smile. "I like your style." She looks down at the men on the patio again, and adds, "Just don't hurt Magnus, and we'll be fine."

A glance back, then, a smile, "I respect that. Fair enough. But if we fight, I'm not dumb enough to make it a joust."

"Mm, smart choice." Still watching the men below, she sighs. "I wish Deryn could have been here. Maybe we should do this again, make sure it's a time she can join us."

"I only really met her once, but she did me a good turn, and set her idiot brother straight about things," A bite of her bottom lip, "From what I gather from what I've been told, Sparrow has had some bad hands dealt in her life and is worried about sharing the misery. I... think I can relate. I don't like being a hindrance. I don't think I am, but if I thought I was, pride might have me close up too. "

"What I know of her story isn't mine to tell. But...you're not wrong, as far as I know. I'm concerned. I understand being proud and wanting to prove that you can do it yourself. But...I keep thinking she's going to work so hard, she's going to drive herself to a very bad place. And I want to reach out and offer help, but whenever I try, it only seems to push her away further. I invited her to this several times...and I'm not entirely sure she really had work that prevented her from joining us."

"oh, I believe she has work. I think sh..." A bite on her lip, "I think Magnus told me something, but I'm not sure if it was in trust or given to me to talk about."

A sharp look, and then it goes calculating. "Can you...talk around it?"

"that's what I'm trying to determine. Like I said, she did me a good turn once. I need to decide if that means I'll do as she'd have me do, or d o as I think good for her. IF there is a difference. I can tell you that that she really is dedicated to her job, and a good part of it is necessity."

"Oh, I believe she is dedicated. I just would like to see her happy in her dedication."

"Let me think on it?" She says, "I can't say I'm seelie and then go discard honor jusst because it's suddenly in the way."

A smile. "That's fair. Just know that I want to be on her side, if she'll just let me. I don't want to say that I want to help her...I came a bit too close to doing that, and she shut down, and I don't blame her. Who wants to feel helpless and needy? But...well, I want to help her now. And someday, I want to find the people who hurt her so badly and make them pay in kind." A quiet intensity.

"I think I like your style too, Coradel."

A smile, "But I think the boys are finishing up." A frown, "Magnus looks irritated. I better check on him."

She sighs. "Oh, damn...what have they said to each other this time..." And she leads Claire back inside.

((End scene))

((Resume)) The ladies separate as they reach the main floor, Coradel seeking out August on the patio.

He remains on the bench where he was left, coffee mug in hand.

Meanwhile, Claire and Magnus are talking inside a bit.

She moves to stand near him, and rests a hand on his shoulder. "One thing about this house...it has plenty of angles from which to view people. The Baron might love it. " A little squeeze. "That looked like an argument."

He looks up as she touches him and shakes his head, baffled. "It sure did, didn't it?" Glum. "No clue how it got that way. Must be a talent of mine."

"Mmm. Arguments do seem to be attracted to you. I hope they don't swarm. " A gentle smile. "What was it about?"

"Claire." From glum to grim.

"Why? I like her." Simple commentary.

"Coradel, I swear, I said maybe three things. I said she was Ailil, she is. I said the House prides itself on Oathbreaking, they do. And I said I wasn't here to fight. I have no clue what just happened." Frustrated, he stands. "I don't -know- her to like her or not."

"Well...maybe that's why it happened. Making comments about her House because you don't have anything to say about her, yet."

"I should have said nothing?"

A shrug. "Maybe. Or maybe asked about what he thinks about her, first." She gives his arm a little tug. "Come on...I want to show you all the stables, maybe we can ride for a bit."

(Elsewhere) "You can't expect a Liam to downshift that fast, Magnus."//"I'm trying to help Sparrow by giving him someone to talk to who CAN talk about her problems, and he's focused on how you're Ailil and can't be trusted, even if it means helping a woman who was his daughter"//"What's more important, helping Sparrow or forcing him to deal with me?"// "..... I'm thinking."

He walks with her, easily. "Well, it's obvious what he thinks of her...."

Meanwhile, between both groups, Delores goes about her cleaning chores

She stops him. "No...it isn't. The 'obvious' usually isn't. There's more to learn there." Then a bit of a smirk. "I've been living in an Eiluned hold too long. C'mon." And they continue inside, seeking out the others.

Upon finding them, Coradel announces, "Come with me to the stables...I want you to meet Samson."

"Delighted," Claire says, then looks to Magnus, "Won't that be nice, Magnus?"//"It's a horse," Magnus starts to say then gets poked, "A fine one I'm ssure, yes, let's meet him."

He may not believe Coradel on that, but he seems to be thinking about it. He nods to both Magnus and Claire, follows Coradel out to the stables.

It's a couple of minutes' walk. "August and Claire, you said you both ride? Magnus, you willing to give it a shot?"

"I tried once before, ended up in a pond, but sure," Magnus says.

Claire nods delighted, "I like horse riding, but I so seldom get to do it. "

August nods that yes, he has had some experience.

"Magnus, the trick is a balance between your control and the horse's control. It's a negotiation. If you don't have the expertise, don't get pushy." Inside the stable she leads them to Samson's stall. He's a tall, black stallion, and he has looked over the end of the stall on hearing Coradel's voice, and whickers a greeting. "Here he is. This is Samson. Samson, these are August, Magnus, and Claire. " (If they haven't noticed yet, Coradel finds it unnecessary to use mortal names.)

"He's beautiful,"Claire says, "May I touch him?"

August nods to the horse. "A pleasure to meet you, Samson. I've heard only good things about you."

"Should I be jealous?" Magnus mutters, then says "Hi, Samson."

She gives Samson an nod of reassurance, and then says to Claire, "Sure. He gets a tad skittish with strangers sometimes, but let's see."

She strokes him soothingly, nickering a bit at him, and calming, then a frown, "Oh you poorr thing, you have some old scars here."

Coradel's expression darkens abruptly. "Yes." A grim voice. "That was her doing."

August gives Coradel a puzzled expression.