Page 9 of A Minotaur Tale

“Yes, but she was involved, of course. In fact, when my father freed me from the rock, I was not yet alive. It wasn’t until my mother held me and cried that I took my first breath. Neither of them expected me to be alive, but my mother says that when my father pulled me out, I was just so perfect, everything they had ever wished for, that it broke her heart, knowing she would never actually have it. When she cradled me, the desperation she felt held enough magic to bring me to life. Well that, and all that my father poured into the rock as he carvedme out.”2

“I read about how nymphs are formed, but you were a bit of a puzzle to me. I admit, I had more reading planned.”

"You've been busy lately, your reading habits have changed, too."

Asterion blushed, his ears wiggling. "Yes, I uh–needed to focus my research ahead of the holidays."

"Oh?"

"They put me in charge of the holiday festivities. As far as I could tell, it's a bit of a trial, to see if I can do it. It was really important to me that I not mess it up, since it's my opportunity to show them that I am not an idiot."

"Of course you aren't!" Cora could hardly believe such a thing! "I don't see any of them in my library day and night with their noses in books!"

Cora was so annoyed that it took her a moment to realize what he meant by being in charge of the festivities.

"Wait a moment, does that mean you are in charge of the decorations?"

He nodded.

"And the holiday market?"

Another nod.

"The ball and the–Asterion! That is so much work!"

"It hasn't been easy, I'll tell you that! It's part of why I wanted to plan tonight for you. I've needed every spare moment to get everything ready for the town, I worried that you'd think I forgot you..."

Cora smiled and looked away, though the second she did, she realized they were in a quite close cave, and she looked like an idiot being suddenly interested in a wall, when really it was obvious she was just being shy. "It likely worked to your advantage... I sort of thought you had, and then I realized that maybe I was disappointed about that... This was certainly a surprise."

"Do you think you can forgive me then, for my lack of attention the last several weeks? I wanted to make sure that I wasn't messing it up again, like I did with the cookies. I am sorry for that, by the way. Back then, I didn't know where you lived, and following you to find out, or ambushing you when you left for the night both seemed..."

"Creepy?"

"Let's say uncouth."

"Oho! Whipping out the big words, are you?"

"I've got to! The girl I'm interested in, you see, she's more into big words than big–ahem–sorry,thatwas also uncouth."

Cora giggled and covered her face. "No, no, it was funny! Do you normally woo women with bigotherthings?" She bumped his shoulder, inviting him to tease back.

Asterion coughed, rubbing a horn. "Well, it's not as if I lead with it–"

"Unless of course, you'reveryhappy? Then you might have no choice but toleadwith it!"

"You little minx!" Asterion looked down at her in shock.

"Sorry," Cora gasped. "I like teasing, and word play, and just playing in general."

"No, I like it," he said softly. "I think I'll like playing with you."

"Oh, point scored! But I did set you up for that one."

"You did, I'm just glad I didn't miss it. I'll have to brush up on my wordplay."

"But really..." Cora looked down at Asterion's clothing. It was drape-y and he didn't seem to wear trousers with it, as his furred legs stuck out the bottom of his tunic. "Is that something you have trouble with... leading when you don’t mean to? It doesn’t seem like your chiton would do you any favors there."

Eyes blinking, Asterion was silent for a moment. "Well, no, I'm a gentleman, I tie it to my leg, of course."