Tehr smiled slightly at Christina's question about the dryad, and after Carolyn tried to defend him, in a way, he had to tell the story.<strong>"Well as I said it was her spirit, not actually a dryad.  I planted the acorn and a few seconds after covering it with dirt already a sprout had begun pushing up from the surface.  I noticed a movement in the air and there was a gathering of... well... bits of nature."</strong>He shrugged slightly,<strong>"Pollen, seeds, bits of leaves, that kind of thing.  They swirled together in a small whirlwind for a moment and took only the rough shape of a woman, and then they began to speak.  She said she was the spirit of the dryad inside the seedling that was sprouting and explained everything I just told you.  I asked her name, but she seemed confused by that question, I think she was too young to even comprehend the question.  But she asked me to bring her sister back here and plant her nearby, so that they could both be surrounded by nature as well as close to the home of their awakening."</strong><br/><br/>Tehr shrugged his shoulders,<strong>"I'm not exactly sure what that means, and while I do have some concerns about that, I also think about what Mother Dryad said to me when she entrusted me with the care of the acorns.  She'd said that the acorns would help to tie my family to the land and the good people of nature.  While the Wynt estates are the home of our house, only our mother lives there now, and she was already talking about taking a trip back to Dover with the Hestfal's again when the weather warms a bit more.  While there is no doubt that you and I, Christina, have made Hewthorne Hall our home.  Also, the way she mentioned her 'sister' wasn't the same way I would mention you, I feel like it had a different connotation.  Though I'm unsure what that might be."</strong><br/><br/>He sighed and finished his thought,<strong>"So, to answer your question, as she was naught but a insubstantial collection of swirling motes, I didn't end up fertilizing her.  Though it's good to know you're consistently thinking about my seed.  I'd expect no less from you, my beautiful, perverted, sister."</strong>In truth he was surprised that Christina hadn't asked more about the sexual nature of his mother, as he could see the glint in her eye that topic wasn't done in her mind.  Or asking how he enjoyed spending a week with Carolyn d'Hesfal, whom he did spend a fair bit of time 'seeding' as she put it.  The time had been good for the shyer of the two Hesfal changeling sisters, and while she still preferred to stay in her human disguise, she had opened up to him some what, and no longer seemed quite as shy or uncertain by the time they'd returned to Hewthorne Hall.  In fairness, Christina probably just assumed that Tehr and Carolyn had spent multiple hours of passion together over the last week, and didn't see the need to bring it up.<br/><br/>He listened as Christina talked about the other noble families and nodded.<strong> "I bow to your judgement on the matters, and I am mildly annoyed that you are being harassed, I also know that you are a strong and intelligent woman and can take care of yourself.  However it does make me think that you should not attend any meetings alone with him.  The least offensive way to do that would be to simply take Heidi with you as your personal servant, your handmaid, and that the presence of another person might discourage him.  Alternatively, you could even take Alex,"</strong>he nodded to the changeling,<strong>"Who I'm sure could come up with a guise other than that of Alex ir'Hesfal that would make sense to be in your presence."</strong><br/><br/>He considered for a moment longer and nodded,<strong> "Yes, I think your judgement is sound, and since you met with them you'd know them better than I.  The appeal of meeting with the Bones and connecting with other wizards is tempting.  But I never had much of a talent for necromancy personally.  Still I think it would behoove us not to alienate any families.  We are a very small house, despite the favor and fortune we've gained in recent years.  While a family of artists might not seem important in the immediate, the storied history of national loyalty might be very important for swaying public opinion.  It might be worth putting up with, and deflecting, the advances of a peacock to at least stay on their good side." </strong>This last bit was directed towards his apprentice, who he had never seen any jealousy from until now.  But it was clear that Alex did love Christina and that was bringing out a bit of jealousy.  Tehr was just glad that his apprentice didn't seem to display any such thoughts towards him, at least none that he had ever seen.<br/><br/>To Alex he said,<strong>"My friend, You know I care for you as well and I'd not make you uncomfortable if I could help it.  But certainly you recognize my sister is a beautiful and single noble woman.  As long as that is the case there will be attentions on her.  We can't simply avoid everyone who makes us somewhat uncomfortable."</strong>He grimaced and thought of the crass elven woman that had visited Rosalyn, or the way that the Dale daughter, early on, had tried to seduce him.  No, there would always be distasteful people, they simply had to be managed.  Further he knew that Alexandria d'Hesfal was far more roguish then she had been displaying of late, and deception was her forte.<strong> "What say you apprentice?  Would you feel better about any such further meetings if you were at Christina's side in a secretive guise?"</strong>He grinned and added,<strong>"The other thing is making sure her passions are well satisfied before any meeting, and so dampen the fires in her body.  A task I'm sure you, or we, can easily accomplish."</strong><br/><br/>He grinned broadly.  Christina wasn't the only one who could try to embarrass a sibling.