"You are too kind," he murmured, eyes twinkling at their different perceptions of time. Luckily Jiao had told him something of Fae ages, comparable to the elves of his own world, and he took the words as the compliment they had been intended as. Alas, talk of gods was a far more solemn topic, the mischief fading to a more sober contemplation of the mysteries of the divine.
"On the other hand, it gives us a chance to live our own lives, to make our own mistakes and learn and grow from them," he countered with a smile. "I would rather have free will and the freedom to choose than be caught like a fly in amber, with my fate pre-determined and my choices limited by some puppeteer pulling my strings and directing my actions to suit their own will." Like certain New Gods he could mention... but that was neither here nor there, and he refused to darken such a lovely day with her name.
Besides, the mention of book and libraries he had yet to visit was far more captivating, and Isuma chirruped excitedly at her companion's eagerness. "I don't know if we were 'gifted' them," he admitted with a wry smile. "But I led the group who found them, and they are rather... unique. The Fae might be better suited to watch over them, truth be told. At least some of the books are Sentient, or cousins of the Sentient Books. One on portals, one on sharks that came alive and tried to eat me, and another with a question mark on the cover that we didn't get to open before Amalia tried to take the Portal Book out of the cavern it was stored in, and was transported to the portal in the Spire. Those who were with her tried to follow, and were separated. Some went to that portal, while myself and a friend's unicorn were sent to the Mathair. There were others on the shelves that we didn't get to see more of," he admitted with a pang of yearning in his voice. "But... their magic is clearly old and strong." He shook his head ruefully, looking at Tarasha again with gratitude. He nodded at their offer, asking nothing more, but glad that he had met another Fae who was kind and curious and shared a love of books with him.
"Oh, we can make it as public as you like," he teased back. "An open riddle duel in the Sanctuary square! But since I provided some of the riddles for the Fiat Lux game it wouldn't be fair for me to participate in that one," he admitted with a grin. He bent down a little at Isuma's imperious trill so Tarasha could more easily reach her for scritches, grin turning rueful at the pollen that dusted his shoulder and chest now. "I think this little one will insist on seeing you again, though," he chuckled. "The sooner the better!"
"On the other hand, it gives us a chance to live our own lives, to make our own mistakes and learn and grow from them," he countered with a smile. "I would rather have free will and the freedom to choose than be caught like a fly in amber, with my fate pre-determined and my choices limited by some puppeteer pulling my strings and directing my actions to suit their own will." Like certain New Gods he could mention... but that was neither here nor there, and he refused to darken such a lovely day with her name.
Besides, the mention of book and libraries he had yet to visit was far more captivating, and Isuma chirruped excitedly at her companion's eagerness. "I don't know if we were 'gifted' them," he admitted with a wry smile. "But I led the group who found them, and they are rather... unique. The Fae might be better suited to watch over them, truth be told. At least some of the books are Sentient, or cousins of the Sentient Books. One on portals, one on sharks that came alive and tried to eat me, and another with a question mark on the cover that we didn't get to open before Amalia tried to take the Portal Book out of the cavern it was stored in, and was transported to the portal in the Spire. Those who were with her tried to follow, and were separated. Some went to that portal, while myself and a friend's unicorn were sent to the Mathair. There were others on the shelves that we didn't get to see more of," he admitted with a pang of yearning in his voice. "But... their magic is clearly old and strong." He shook his head ruefully, looking at Tarasha again with gratitude. He nodded at their offer, asking nothing more, but glad that he had met another Fae who was kind and curious and shared a love of books with him.
"Oh, we can make it as public as you like," he teased back. "An open riddle duel in the Sanctuary square! But since I provided some of the riddles for the Fiat Lux game it wouldn't be fair for me to participate in that one," he admitted with a grin. He bent down a little at Isuma's imperious trill so Tarasha could more easily reach her for scritches, grin turning rueful at the pollen that dusted his shoulder and chest now. "I think this little one will insist on seeing you again, though," he chuckled. "The sooner the better!"
