He nodded. "Aye, Lady Winter is hunting with her husband, I believe in Lyonesse, and young Tannir has been working in the Vault with Father Camlin on the League treasury."


Tobyas quietly crossed to Azi, settling next to her cross-legged. He allowed himself a moment to look at Crispian and smiled, blushing knowing Azi saw the smile. Slowly, his smile turned to a scowl. "What's that ring? He had it not the night we ma...met," he said, catching himself with a smirk. "I'm quite sure that is some new item."

Azi took up Crispian's hand in hers, turning it gently to look at the ring. She could not remember if it had been there when they had last met. She looked at Tobyas and shrugged, but the look on his face was insistent.


Gently, Azi slipped the ring off of the young lord's finger to have a better look.

Ayslyn watched the crystal in front of him. He shook his head ruefully as he listened to first Crispian and Azi, and then Azi and Tobyas. "I pity the poor lad. Humans have always made love difficult." He listened as Tobyas related his memories of the night Crispian was with him. "Dammit," Ayslyn muttered to himself, "I'll have to work on my potions. I must be slipping, to have him remembering anything about my visit." He watched as they discussed the ring, and as Azi slipped it off Crispian's finger and examined it. The finely detailed willow on a silver band of twined ivy. "Oh dear. Best be careful with that lass. If the wrong people see that, and understand what it is... That could be trouble for the lad."

He sat back and watched, and waited.

 

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Azi turned the ring around in her fingers. It was strange, a warrior wearing such a delicate ring.. It almost reminded her of some of the Hibernian illuminations she'd seen in an old tome somewhere. She slowly slipped it back on Crispian's finger and looked at Tobyas.


"I don't think it holds any magic," she said thoughtfully, shrugging again. Crispian stirred as she patted his hand gently. She yawned softly and stretched her stiff back. "It's almost morning, perhaps I should wake him.."

Tobyas peered at the ring, noting the slender, delicate willow-image worked into the silver. His mother had worn something similar, commented about bringing it home from Emain. He frowned in thought.


"Aye, Lady, tis almost daybreak, and Lauds is nearly upon us." He rose, smoothing the monk's robe over his frame and stretching. "I had best be away before he wakes. It would be best," he said with a tight smile. "Thank you for your graticiousness and time." He gave her a solemn bow and smiled again before leaving the garden, entering the cloister gate.

Azi smiled sadly as Tobyas left. She sighed, fearing she hadn't been helpful in easing his mind or his heart. She looked down at Crispian, sleeping soundly in the dawning light. It seemed a shame to wake him, but her vigil on the hard stones had left her stiff and tired. He had slept peacefully for the most part, she thought, and without the aid of drink. For that she was glad.


"Crispian," she called softly, patting his shoulder gently, "milord, tis morning.."

The flames well leaping all about and the beam on his back pinned him firmly. The heat was becoming more and more intense. A mocking voice whispered that with a word, release from all the pain would come, a renewal of life, but there was a tinge of something vile to that offer. But the pain, the anguish was so much, ripping and rending at the very fibers of his mind.


As he opened cracked, sorched lips to plead for that release, he heard a voice, "Crispian, milord its morning." The voice was sweet, holding no offers of release but carrying no fright. His eyes flew open as he pulled in a great breath. He grabbed Azi about the shoulders, clinging to her.


"Thank God it's you," he mumbled into her shoulder. His chest heaved in great panting breaths for a moment, then settled as his pulse slowed. Why had D'vena used the manse and the fire? "I was having a bad dream," he explained, levering himself up against the railing. He smiled shyly at Azi. She looked a wreck, tired, deep smudges under her eyes.


"Let me get us breakfast, as a thank you," he offered, crooking his arm at the elbow for her hand.

 

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At the mention of breakfast, Azi's stomach growled loudly. She managed a smile and pushed herself to her feet. She stretched her arms to relieve a knot in her tired shoulders, and made a vain attempt to smooth her wrinkled robes. Straightening her cloak, she gingerly slipped her hand into Crispian's offered elbow.

Crispian placed his sword-hand over Azi's as they walked from the garden into the waking streets of Camelot. His back was ram-rod straight and he looked every inch the warrior-knight escorting a fine lady of the Realm, even if she were slightly taller.


A slight swagger in his step and commoners moved out of the way. He winked playfully at Azi, his spirits high and confidence returned, even if there was a slight air of haunting about him. As they passed a clot of boys rough-housing in the morning light, Crispian fixed them with a stern gaze, making sure they saw Azi. He nodded grimly at the tallest of the group. He knew what these lads were like, and had seen how they treated Azi from time to time when she made her lone way to the Academy compound.


He bought two sweet nut rolls and scotch-eggs from a vendor, passing one of each to Azi.


"I hope I did not cause you much trouble during the night, Azi. I must confess, you were often in my dreams," he said, hiding a blush by wiping his face. "But not in an ignoble way," he rushed to add, losing the battle of complexion badly, going red to the ears. "And I do thank ye."

 

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Azi smiled brightly as she watched her friend strut through the streets, exuding confidence. She giggled at her former classmates' wide-eyed stared as he paraded her past them.


The sweet nut roll melted in her mouth as she nibbled at it thoughtfully, listening to him talk of his dream. Dreaming of her? She laughed inwardly. Surely he was just flattering her as a grateful friend. A smile stretched her lips.


"Dreaming of me, Crispian?" she teased gently, "And you woke with such a jolt? Am I that frightening?"