<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Yeah a little playful banter back and forth might not be too bad.</div></div><br/>Tehr cleared his throat to answer.  He knew that Christina knew that he'd had one or two encounters with multiple partners that included men.  Though he didn't consider himself really attracted to men, he had to think that she was suggesting that there may have been some sort of sexual gain for him.  While she was right if she was thinking that, she didn't know the truth of it yet.  Though he would tell her, now was not the time.  Thankfully before he could answer Alex spoke up.<br/><br/>"In truth, my timing was very much motivated by personal and selfish desires.  House Hesfal is in a position similar, though I dare say worse, than house Wynt was a year ago.  My twin sister and I only came of age, celebrating our eighteenth birthday last spring.  Only once that happened was I sent to Londinium, before Tehr made his way there in truth, to try to reclaim glory for my house.  Though without a lucrative mineral contract under my belt, and no home to speak of, I found my situation much more precarious.  I withdrew from the courts before Tehr arrived in Londinium, and worked on strengthening old ties my family had to the commoners.  Though I had little luck, and found myself blocked by cronies of House Dale at every step.  With the downfall of House Dale, I returned to Court, and I will admit, I've heard the whispers among the nobility about Tehr's soon to be acknowledge position."<br/><br/>Alex smiled, referencing the rumor that floated around that Tehr would soon be named as official prince consort, then continued, "I wish only to see my house not fade into obscurity, and I'm smart enough to know a star on the rise.  I am glad to marry my house's fortunes to the greater glory of House Wynt, and promise something invaluable to Tehr and your house.  Complete loyalty.  It is, in truth, a loyalty borne out of complete desperation.  This might be the last chance for house Hesfal, but it is one that grants loyalty none the less.  When, and not if, Tehr is approached by others in the future for such an honor, there is no doubt that any other mage might have goals that run contrary to house Wynt's interests.  That is not the case with me."<br/><br/>Tehr nodded, "Mother you remember my letter about the thief who broke into my home, the one that Angelique scared off?  It was Alex who dispatched the thief after he left my home.  Even before the thought of joining our home was in his mind, he was running with interests parallel to ours."<br/><br/>Tehr took a sip of his tea, letting the women in the room react before switching topics, "So, have you and Lady Rosalyn come to an accord about the trade roads?  I can't help but wonder if I'll be traveling back to Londinium in a week with only my new apprentice at my side.  Hewthorne Hall will seem mightly empty without the beautiful Lady Rosalyn or the barely tolerable sister of mine at my side."  Christina wasn't the only one who could playfully tease after all.