[Now she has his attention. He does love stories, and moreso does he love the sort of person who is willing to tell it. As he listens, he carefully pours her goblet half-full, then offers it over. Then he does the same for himself, the garnets glittering the same way his rings do.]

I think it's an utterly fascinating idea. One of your teacher-y ideas?

[It's a first for him, but she's got him hooked. And to never know which one is true? Gods, she knows a hook. A good one.]

Promise I won't guess. But I will ask questions, if allowed. I love the details.