Marriage is Murder

"You're not the only one without a partner, Mate," Angus said. "Brian and I neither one have partners. Brian, if you want to cook, I'll go."

"Is that a dare?" Brian asked.

"No," Angus said. "I know you can cook. Maybe its a bit of a challenge but its not a dare. But you're not focusing, so perhaps you're best without a chef's knife in your hands today. Maybe a long walk would do you good."

"Well, lets go," Brian said. "There's a lot of ground to cover. And it could be anything hidden anywhere. He hasn't given any information other than that. Good luck, I guess, Everyone. Use wand sparks if you need help, and be careful. There is a lot of wildlife and challenges here in the mountains."

*****
(resuming after training weekend)

It was late when Robert returned from Michael's. Brian was still sitting up, cleaning his guns for the third time.

"You're going to clean all the shine right off that thing," Robert told him quietly. "She's fine. Stop worrying."

"It doesn't need to shine," Brian said in almost a mumbled tone. "It just needs to fire."

"She's fine," Robert said. "She's dealing with this better than you are. Go get some rest. She'll have the bandages off in a couple of days and then she'll be able to come home and go back to the thinner veils until the bruises fade. She's looking very good, actually. You aren't going to notice anything was ever done when the bandages come off."

"Thank you," Brian said.

"You're welcome," Robert said. "Now--give me those things and go get some rest. " he picked up the pistols and waved Brian off, putting the guns back in their wooden box.

"There's more in the potions lab. You know I always make quite a lot at one time," Robert said. "If you need more, go and get it. You're right. You shouldn't get low. As for the blue moon, I'm surprised you haven't encountered that before. They're rare but not all that rare. They act differently on the night creatures' physiology because it is merely a phenomenon of two full moons occuring in the same month. That increases the pull a night creature has towards those things the full moon causes. It is a much shorter interval between full moons in a month where there is a blue moon. Its very simple. The longer one goes without being affected, the less severe the affects can be. not entirely but nothing cures that curse once its started.

"As for the guns, best you let me handle those. Those are specificalaly geared to fire silver. Probably best for you not to handle them."

"I am not a seer," Robert said sternly. "I don't mark bullets for anyone except those who have already wronged my family so seriously that there is no other recourse. And even then, even if I had had word from a seer, I've always believed in our freedom to choose our own destinies. I will not mark any weapon against anyone until such time as they have committed a crime worthy of death. Brian's need to clean these tonight comes out of his own frustration w/ the creature that disfigured his wife, not from any planning on my part. Or from anything having to do with Jack. Brian is doing the best he can do keep is own stress completely under wraps. And so he kept his hands busy. Nothing more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am very tired and I do believe I will go get a bit of sleep."

"I'll go with you," Kate said. "Goodnight, everyone." She and Robert went upstairs, with Robert taking the guns with him.

"I don't know whether its working late or starting early," he said, kneading a massive batch of bread dough. "But either way, I seem to have a lot of duties on my list today for some reason, and I just didn't seem to find time to go to bed. So I showered and got started. I do have to start the deep cleaning for fall before it is entirely too cold outside to do much heavy cleaning inside. And only so much can be done by spells. There are some things that are much better done by hand.

"And i promised Michael I would see to it that Alette got a good meal at least once a day while he is taking care of Khaat. Oh wait. You didn't know did you. Michael did about 3 days in jail in Rome recently. Alette was trying--again--to prove she still had her touch at an art museum in Rome. Michael found out and went to stop her and Alette knocked over a nearly priceless piece of art glass, and they were both arrested for burglary. Khaat and Robert got Michael out and cleared him but Alette is still in jail awaiting a hearing. I do believe Khaat and Robert have hired sufficient legal support for her, but that doesnt' stop Michael from wantin to be sure that Alette is taken care of. So--I will take her a meal in Rome while breakfast is cooking this morning. If you think you can keep an eye on the kitchen for a few moments when I go. It won't be for a little bit--the food isnt' ready yet. But--I wanted Michael to be able to devote his attentions to Khaat right now. So i said I'd take Alette her food."