Sitting outside the Headmaster's Office, she felt a bit unsettled. Pulling at her bodice, even taking a moment to pull at her loose leggings. Sitting up straight, she sat on the hard wooden chair, with legs crossed, and her cloak lying over her lap. Suddenly, the door opened, and there stood a man the likes she'd never seen. She glanced away as she realized she was staring. Clearing her throat, she smiled that dimpled smile, and extended her hand to him.

"I am Boudicca...I presume you are the headmaster, Briarius Ravensheart? It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I appreciate you taking the time to see me."

***Stepping inside, wearing that familiar dimpled grin, she undid her cloak. Slipping it down off her shoulders. Allowing it to simply drape over the chair which was pointed out to her, to take. Wearing a corseted dress, which was all one piece, save for the blouse beneath it, it was royal blue, setting off the tones of her face and hair.

Before sitting, she waited for him to walk to his seat. As he waited on her, she sat down with a nod to him. "I am happy that you found time to meet with me, I have heard much about you and the Academy."


Folding her hands in her lap, she crossed her long limbs, pulling at the hem of her dress, to cover her knee, even though she was wearing leggings. Tossing her unruly auburn locks back off her face, she stared up at the Headmaster as he took a seat across from her. Smiling emerald hues took in his features, before her eyes settled on his. She always looked everyone directly in the eye. Within his, she liked what she saw.

"So, Sir Ravensheart...what is it you would like to know about me? Other than I recently relocated here from another realm, and am looking for a way to spend my days doing something positive with my time?"

Boudicca then fell silent as she watched Briarius staring back into her eyes. Most people are uncomfortable when meeting someone and staring into their eyes. Not Boudicca, she wlecomed it. And as he would grow to know, their was nothing "usual" about her by nature.***

***Boudicca smiled revealing those deep dimples of hers again. Not looking away from him, and those eyes the color of precious gems, she found it easy to hold his gaze.

"I am retired actually. There are many things that I can do. I know from what I have heard, that you are looking for people with the gift of Magic. I do come from the ancient lineage of the Picts....the Druids of Caledonia.
I don't know how familiar you are with my people, well...I...uh...::She for the first time broke his stare, her eyes looking down for a moment. As she lifted her head, her cheeks were flushed a bright crimson.:: I...well I was once the Queen of Caledonia. A fact that I truly do not want known to anyone, other than if truly necessary. ::She fell silent a moment studying his eyes, seeing trust, she went on.:: Not having any sons, my eldest daughter, Katherine, is now the Soverign. In my old realm women are allowed to rule. Not like in others, where they are merely baby factories, chosen for their pedigree to breed and give the King an heir."

"What exactly are you looking for as far as teachers go? I understand many people have applied for a variety of positions. If you can give me some ideas, of what you have a lack of teachers for, that might help." "Also...I was thinking...if it not too forward of me to ask....I would like to invite you to come to my Manor house. I just recently purchased and moved into. As I am new here, I haven't met many people...and I thought perhaps, if you would rather "pick my brain" in a more relaxed atmosphere, this interview could go much better. We can get better acquainted, and perhaps putting our heads together, you can figure out where I would be best suited for your Academy."

"I have so many different ideas, and each one has a story connected to it, and I am afraid that I would take up your entire day here." ::She let out a soft lighthearted laugh:: I know you have other people to interview daily. Oh, and of course your wife is invited as well."

::Sitting up straight, her legs crossed, one over the other bobbing nervously. She placed her arms on the chairs armrests, and still sat with her hands folded within her lap. Emerald hues darted away for a moment, as she swallowed hard, then her attention was caught by pupils moving about outside, walking from building to building. When she turned her head back to look at him, he was staring at her. Unsure whether he was in shock, or offended by her offer, she looked back at him, unable to break her gaze from those gorgeous blue eyes. No man ever made Boudicca feel nervous. Not even with a broadsword poised at her neck. Briarius Ravensheart Headmaster was obviously something completely new to her.***

***Boudicca watched as he stood, and walked to the window, listening to his every word. Falling silent, she realized that he was being patient with her. In her excitement, and perhaps being in the company of the Headmaster, she began to ramble. Silently, that familiar blush of crimson rose once more to her cheeks.

Softly she replied..."I am very sorry, Sir. I am a widow myself." She was thinking to herself that the woman must have been half mad to have left a man, the likes of the Headmaster. She sat in silence a long moment. Allowing him a moment to have his own thoughts. Clearing her throat, she realized he wanted an answer from her there and then. Not later over dinner.

"Sir, I was once a warrior. I no longer consider myself one. I can teach theology of some of the religions my home realm, Earth. Or...I can teach about battles. Lecture on the different battles of which I am aware....and the futility of man's inhumanity against man."

Feeling that she had far to little to offer the Headmaster and his Academy, she rose to her feet. Putting on her cloak, she reached into her pockets and pulled on her leather gloves.

"I am sorry, Sir...but I believe that I have wasted both your and my time. Your time being very precious, I apologize. She smiled a nervous smile, "Seems I am a jack of all trades, yet Master of none. Of course the invitation to dinner still stands if you so desire. Just let me know when it would be convenient for for."

Stepping back behind her chair, she placed her hands on top of the chair she had been sitting in. She had her eyes cast down, and had only recently lifted her eyes to look at him. Silently, she stood unmoving.
She'd said far to much, and already having made a fool of herself, she felt it best to simply remain quiet.

***Shocked by his reply, expecting him to say anything other than that, her mouth fell slightly agape. Staring into his eyes, and the smile on his face, she shut her mouth, and tilted her head at him. "What good do you think I can be of your Academy? Aside from teaching others about the realm I came from, it's people's, it's habits, traditions, it's nations, it's wars....Earth 101." She couldnt help but chuckle to herself on that one.

Staring into those hues, she could easily get "lost" in them. "So...Sir Briarius...what were your ideas, as far as to what to do with me?" She had stopped squirming nervously. "And please, just call me Boudicca."***

*Running her hands along the finely carved woodwork of the chair, opposite the desk from him. Tilting her head a moment. She offered up a shy smile. "Do tell me, what could I possibly offer you, and the rest of the faculty, that you currently lack?"

Feeling the chill coming out of somewhere, perhaps an open flue, or window, or doorway, Boudicca felt a chill run thru her. She waited patiently for his reply. Staring into his hues of the purest azure, she came around the desk, and stood in front of him now. Staring up at him, she found his scent to be intoxicating. Not wanting to act like some silly school girl....but as the woman she was. One who found his mind to be as sexy as his presence. Pulling her hood back down as she stared into his eyes, she just leaned in and kissed him. Soft and tender...gentle like. Though reserved, he could feel the hunger there, lying just below the surface.

Backing away slowly. She went on in a sulty low voice. "You can answer that guestion, when you come to dinner soon at my home. Choose a night good for you, and I will accomodate you. Gladly." Moving back to the door she entered thru, she smiled at him, as she lifted her hood and covered her auburn locks against the biting wind outside. Good Eve, Master Ravensheart." With that, she exited the door, staring at the perplexed look upon his face. With a nod, she was gone from the hall and back outside. Looking at where her home was...she wasn't that awfully far from his school or the Headmaster Quarters.

Hopping up onto her mare, she rode off towards home, still unable to wipe that smile from her face. She hadnt felt alive like this, in far too long. The thought occured to her, that she might have run him off with being so forward. She tossed the thought from her mind. Whether he will admit it or not, she could tell he had enjoyed the kiss. At home, she handed her mare to the stable boy, and took the stairs two at a time.

Now came the waiting game.

::Right after the headmaster left his office, a quiet little giggle came from the light fixture above his desk::

Ooooh... Nana would say she wanna do him like the monkeys in the zoo!

::a barrage of giggles filled the office and the light fixture jiggled. she had never understood until recently what her guardian had meant by that. Health classes were coming in handy. Then the light ficture rocked oddly and then there was a thud on the top of his desk followed by another one on the floor. A few papers flew like feathers. Cadence had fallen out of the light fixture she'd been dusting and was giggling too much to fly. Yes, she heard the whole thing. Well, she had to do his office sOmetime! Might as well been now. It was his open door, right? Well, she naturally moved in to clean and had kept herself invisible and quiet. She didn't want to disturb the interview and besides, it was good practice for her spiritual advisory job to pay attention to the goings on. Well it was in her mind. She made herself visible then and she stood up to check herself and the stuff to make sure she didn't break anything. She didn't. The papers were quickly put back on the desk. They might've been placed exactly as they had been before if not for the fact she was standing on the wrong side of the desk. The papers were upside down. Casting a spell to clean up the rest of the office, Cadence quickly went invisible, took flight and left. She was too afraid she'd bust out in a fit of laughter if she saw the headmaster right now::

*** When Boudicca went to towne to personally pick out the items for Cook, to make a perfect dinner for Briarius, she overheard some women talking. There was one who had auburn hair, not unlike Boudicca...however she spoke about her feelings for Briarius, and was confiding this to the woman. Taking a seat, a bit around the corner of the fountain from where they stood talking. Boudicca knew it was shameful, but she HAD to listen.

Seems there was a yet ANOTHER redhead interested in Briarius. Hearing this, Boudicca raised her eyes to the heavens. She then stared at the large basket full of food for a wonderful feast. She walked to the carriage where her footman waited on her. Stepping inside the carriage, her face was void of all emotion. Before he shut the door, she spoke softly; "I want you to take me by the Orphanage." "Aye, M'Lady he replied.

In no time at all, they were at the gate to the orphanage. Her footman came round and opened the door. She handed him the overflowing basket. "Place this at the gate, and ring the bell. When you see someone approach the inside door, then let us take leave". "Aye, M'Lady."

Boudicca watched as he did exactly what she said. Within a moment he was running for the coach. Hopping up to his bench seat, he cracked the whip and they were off. After a few moments, he reached back and opened the door between them. "Anywhere else you wish to go M'Lady." Shaking her head, she said, "No" just above a whisper.

As he approached the Manor she was finishing penning a note. As he opened the door, she held the letter out to him. "Take this to the Ravensheart Academy. You are to not hand it to anyone other than who it is addressed to. If he is not there, ask when he will return, and you can go back then. Nodding, he helped her step down, and then watched as she went inside.

Letting out a low sigh, he hopped back up on his bench, and went back into towne. He would have to go around, even though the Manor was caddy corner from the School. Arriving, he walked up to a few people and asked where was the Headmaster's Office.

Finding it with little trouble, he stood in the door way staring at the raven haired younger man, with eyes the color, the likes he'd never seen.
Clearing his throat, his hat in his hand, he waited for the Headmaster to take note of him. Briarius waved him into his office.

Smiling, he nodded at the younger man. He then extended his hand with the note in it. As soon as he took it, he did one last thing. "You are Briarius, Sir?" "I am." The man replied, his eyes not leaving the letter.
Nodding his head, the footman took his leave. He would not wait for an answer, as Mistress Boudicca did not tell him to.


His coach had already left the front entrance of the Academy, by the time Briarius read this note::

Dear Sir,

I regret to inform you, that I will not be able to become a member of
your staff. I believe that I lack the scholarly attributes that you are looking for at your Academy.

It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am afraid our dinner is off as well. I have come down with some form of flu, and intend on spending the Holdays in bed, till the fever breaks and I am no longer contagious.

My apologies, Sir. Perhaps another time. Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,


Boudicca