"Lessons She Must Learn" Log Date: 7/25, 7/30/01 Log Cast: Vayu, Faanshi, WolfEyes, Salmalin Log Intro: Her first true mission as the Voice of the Sylvans isn't exactly going well. For many days now Faanshi has been among the Apisachi, seeking a way to convince them to let Salmalin al'Sar out of their (admittedly lax) captivity... but the only problem with _that_ goal is, first she must somehow find enough bravery to stand up for what she knows must be done, after a lifetime of being a shudra and submitting obediently to the will of others. So unversed is she in the state of things between Apisachi and Varati that the Apisachi take into their own hands her necessary enlightenment. Wind Runner, a fierce warrior, has gone in search of one who can hopefully enlighten them both and has brought him to the Apisachi Camp. But the Imphadi Vayu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, is loathe to cross paths with the disgraced kshatri Salmalin and does not hesitate to let him know his disgust for him... and as for Faanshi, the man has yet to be convinced that she is up to the task of taking on the lessons she must learn.... *===========================< In Character Time >==========================* Time of day: Morning Date on Aether: Friday, August 29, 3908. Year on Earth: 1508 A.D. Phase of the Moon: Waning Gibbous Season: Summer Weather: Clouds Temperature: Comfortable *==========================================================================* Waterfall - Northern Forest(#1732RAh) A large foothill, rests here covered by the surrounding forest. Runoff from in the mountains trickles down a mountain stream and cascades off a small forty foot cliff. The waterfall ends in a serene pool, some twenty feet across. The waters of the pool appear cool, but almost see through they are so clean. From there the water drains out another stream and to the east. On the east side of the waterfall is an opening to a cave. To get past the streams and to the opening there is an ancient natural stone bridge leading across the stream straight to the ledge in front of the cave. Contents: Vayu Obvious exits: Hollow Tree West Cave Cave Southwest Vayu While often we are told that the outer shape does not make the inner, we sometimes forget that the inner mettle of a man will often shape his appearance, by virtue of determination and will. This Varati man shines with his inner strength, body shape and language radiating confidence and self-reliance. Tall, this Varati man - perhaps six and a half feet, perhaps a little less; his shape is, as the Varati are known for, seemingly chisled from some sort of dark brown granite. He does not appear exceptionally strong - for a Varati - but rather appears to have the hardiness of one who has travelled many miles during their life, and has endurance to outrun the greatest Olympians. He is lean, like a runner, but the muscles stand out as proof of said miles travelled. His face is beholden of the strong features of the Varati, dusky skin matching his hard grey eyes and jet black hair - everything is a square, hard angle, matching his prominent nose and jaw. He is marked with a mustache and goatee, as is the style of the Easterland Varati. These are noble features, matching fierce purpose with kindness and acceptance - he is, without fail, a handsome and regal man. Age can be see creeping in around the edges of his eyes, marking him in his early 30's, but it does not diminish his appearance one whit. With the return of summer warmth, Vayu has replaced his winter hunting garb with a lighter, more colorful set of clothes. He wears a toga-style robe - yes, a Varati taking fashion hints from the Empyre - that wraps over one shoulder and falls to the side, desert-dweller style. It's a deep red in color, embroidered with blue and gold in the Clan colors of Khalida; apparently the humble scholar is part of the Amir-Al's own clan. The edges of the robe are embroidered with yellow script that is well-nigh indecipherable. Perhaps an ancient prayer to Atar? Despite the plain fare, however, the Varati man holds himself as though he were a king among men - or, perhaps more accurately, a sage among students. Not condescending, but certainly aloof - kindly, but still distant. Faanshi At first glance, some things about this young woman are easy to discern. The garments she wears are those oft seen on Varati females, yet, she stands at only 5'9", small for a woman of that race, and her build is delicate for a Daughter of Fire as well. Shy or perhaps trained to submissive silence she must be, for she rarely raises her eyes to anyone unless specifically bidden, and she speaks almost always in a demure, deferential tone, regardless of whom she addresses. What portions of her skin are visible are a warm shade of gold; the few strands of her short hair, coal-black. Neither of these are terribly odd for Varati, yet no Varati would have her eyes, huge and liquid, set at a slight slant in her face... and the rich brilliant green of summer leaves. She is simply clad, her garments of humble make but excellent repair, the clothes of one whose household garbs even its servants well. A leyang of subtly patterned shades of red swaths her form over a gold-hued choli and scarlet silwar; her veil is blue silk, light and gauzy, just enough to give a hint of the shape of her chin and her mouth beneath it. On her feet are a pair of simple leather zoris, whose long straps are looped up her calves and tied behind them. Morningtime in the summer forests of the Apisachi. The clearing is relatively deserted, all Apisachi currently not assigned to guarding their 'special guests' off hunting and doing other such beginning-of-the-day activities. Vayu is perched in a low-hanging branch of a nearby tree, apparently pretending to be a monkey. He hefts left, jumping to the next; when he grabs it, he swings under, backwards, to jump to the next, and so on around the tree. Quick and tireless about it. "Whoop!" he exclaims soon enough, slipping free to plummet toward the ground. Luckily, one hand is quick enough to grab hold of a passing limb to arrest his fall. "Damn. Haven't practiced *that* in a while," he mutters. The Apisachi might be scattered -- but this isn't exactly news to the maiden who has had to dwell among them for the past many days, even more uncertain of her place than normal. She has arisen with the dawn, has Faanshi, to murmur her prayers to Ushas and practice her treasured lyre as softly as she can, nervous about revealing too much of her familiarity with it to people who do not yet seem friends to her. But one thing has remained a constant in the shudra healer's life, and that is the large dog who trails loyally around her everywhere she goes. It is Kosha who comes bounding in out of the trees first, canine eyes greeting the morning with enthusiasm, canine tail wagging up a storm -- and the moment he spies Vayu he lets out a loud bark of inquiry. And of alert to his mistress, coming after him. "Don't you bark at me..." Vayu comments, cocking his head at the dog in curiosity. The dog does the same. Letting slip his hand from the limb, Vayu drops into a crouch, eyes never leaving the dog's. "Mrrrnnnrrg?" he inquires, and Kosha yips in response, tail wagging slightly. Vayu stands, looking past at you, his face impassive. "Ahhh," he says, "I was wondering when our paths would cross. I've heard you're giving these Apisachi no end of grief, what with not being weepy and vulnerable and all that." What? He remembers you? "Merciful Holy Mother," Faanshi blurts before she can stop herself, so stunned is she to see another Varati here. And one who, it seems to her, ought to be familiar somehow. A memory that still has not entirely recovered from the strain it underwent not terribly long ago searches for a name to go with this man and comes up with nothing -- only a sensation that surely, he must be _important_? The halfbreed's eyes, gentle, but wary and shadowed, swiftly plant their gaze downward while the rest of her wrestles with the question of how exactly she should behave for this one -- is she shudra to him? Or the aide to the one the Varati openly acknowledge as Voice to the Sylvans? Or is she the _actual_ Voice, in his knowledge? She allows little more than a hint of this surge of indecision into her voice, however, as she then remembers her manners and presses her palms together at her breast, bowing and saying, "Namaste', Imphadi... if I have caused the Apisachi any consternation since my arrival, they have not brought it to my attention." Well, nothing aside from general annoyance that she is in fact _here_. But we don't need to mention that, do we? Given attention by the stranger, Kosha amiably lopes over to investigate him. He seems friendly enough to be sure, but ah, will he pass the first of the crucial tests of worthiness? To wit, does he know the proper places to scritch a dog behind the ears? Hopeful liquid brown eyes consider Vayu, expectantly. Hey you. Biped. Make with the scritching! Shifting to a shoulder-forward position, Vayu leans back against his Practice Tree. His face remains as water, unchanged by your greeting; manners and propriety have their place, but Vayu never seems to go to that place. Nor, apparently, does he feel it neccessary to introduce himself. "Wind Runner kidnapped me three days ago - or rather, I allowed myself to be kidnapped - in order to try and speed this process along, considering whatever treaties got broken were likely written by me." Sniff sniff. Oh, the dog! Vayu smiles lopsidedly, bending slightly to scritch the dog in, yes, all the right places. "What I need from you, madam, is a rundown on how all this started, what the issues are, what the demands are, and why in hell's kitchen I needed to be dragged out here over the shoulder of an amazon...." Blank shock is the first sensation that sweeps over the maiden, and she risks another peek over her veil as she wrestles with her fractious recollections. You have seen him before, shudra, surely you must have... but still no name comes. Faanshi's gaze stays up, and something of her inner turmoil reflects itself in those green eyes now as she hauls in a breath behind her veil. One glance to Kosha to make certain he is not pressing unwanted attention upon the man, and only then does she ask, "A thousand pardons, Imphadi, but I must ask... who... _are_ you? The Amir-al has not sent you, or the Maharani? To look for me, or the Imphadi al'Sar...?" Vayu lets out a coughing laugh, and straightens up again. "Go play," he says to Kosha, wrinkling his nose at the dog. He folds his arms over his chest, chin lifting with an utterly unconcealed expression of displeasure at his surroundings. After all - this is not spywork, so he does not have to hide how he feels. "I am Vayu Khalid Al-Sirat, former Minister of Intelligence, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Wherever I end up going, it is because the Amir-Al sent me - but he does not always send me directly. I am here of my own accord because it is for the good of the nation, not because I was given instructions to be here. And no, no one has been sent to 'find' you," Vayu says, words bitten off to hang in the air in a cloud of glass shards. _Ushas..._ He _is_ important. Faanshi must wrestle to keep herself from kneeling right here and now, for all that the habits of most of her life begin to dictate that she should be showing obeisances. The man does not seem to be demanding it of her -- and for all that her ability to judge such things is in its infancy, it seems to her that he speaks to her as Voice and not as shudra. And so she remains on her feet, even though her eyes still betray her profound discomfort. No stammer comes into her voice, though each syllable she utters is a shy one as she bobs her head and answers, "Thank you, Imphadi Al-Sirat..." Well, that's a start. What else to say? Starting with the beginning sounds like a plan -- though it's still the habits of a shudra that make her condense all that has occurred into the briefest form possible. She may have been given a diplomat's job -- but when someone who so obviously outranks her demands information of her, it's very hard indeed to keep from giving only that information and nothing more. "I... ah... was bidden by the Maharani to come and fetch the Imphadi al'Sar, but the Apisachi will not permit him to leave. I wait to speak with her again so that I may try again to bring him safely back to Atesh-Gah...!" "Impossible. Correction - not impossible, merely a waste of time that is uneccessary..." Vayu says, hand cutting through the air with a whiff of air following it. "The Maharani sent *you* to deal with the problem, and ergo does not wish to deal with it any more than she absolutely has to. Considering the circumstances, I would venture to say you are authorized to cut whatever deal is neccessary to be cut in order to get out of their lands. Within reason. Why was Salmalin in Apisachi lands, and why is he held hostage?" Damn. Vayu's voice is like so many cracks in a rock, ice snapping pieces off one shard at a time; all business, no fun. Not happy with being away from his other business. But still... it's better than being unemployed. His voice is unnerving to say the least -- but at least, so far, he does not seem displeased with _her_. That, at least, is a modicum of comfort and gives Faanshi just enough strength to keep at this with something resembling composure. "All that I have been told, Imphadi, is that he was sent by her to look for _me_ while I was missing. She thought I was with the Apisachi when I was lost among the Ettowealona. So she sent Salma..." At this, she catches herself, unsure whether she should really be referring to the man who carries the title of Voice in the eyes of most Varati by his first name, before this newcomer. "... the Imphadi al'Sar here. The Sachem... has told me that I may leave at any time but she wishes us to learn the ways of her people to best be Speakers for them. They are upset that we are both here... because of a treaty that we must have broken." A beat. Two. Then, trying not to sound any more plaintive and confused than absolutely necessary, she adds, "I know nothing of such a treaty." Groaning heavily, Vayu places his head in both his hands. He takes in a deep breath, hissing it out with deliberate slowness. "Oh," he says, very quietly. "*That* treaty. That would be my treaty with them. Illuminate me this, however - have they described this treaty at all to you? Or stipulated you must remain here because of this treaty?" "They have... not spoken to me very much at all, Imphadi," the maiden admits, settling unconsciously into the waiting stance she's always used before the Queen, her hands clasped behind her back lest she betray her uneasiness by their quivering. There's one crucial difference, though. She's still looking up. "The Sachem said that _I_ may leave freely... but I cannot go back to Atesh-Gah without the Imphadi al'Sar...!" Now a tendril of what may be worry works itself into her gentle voice; it wouldn't take much discernment to conclude she's anxious for the welfare of Salmalin al'Sar. "Most of the tribe will not talk to me, except when I help with the work... the Sachem has not been here, at least... as far as I can tell." "So you're saying the Apisachi are currently run by complete idiots? Somehow that does not suprise me greatly. They won't let Salmalin return, and you can't leave without Salmalin. Wonderful... Bear in mind, however, that most of the tribe does not concern you - they know nothing worth knowing, and what they do know that is useful can be drawn out from mere eavesdropping and the baises present in the tribe's leadership..." Vayu answers, beginning to pace toward you at a slow, stately march. He waves here and there with one hand, perhaps unconsciously slipping into pedant mode. Or more likely, deliberately exercising it to make you listen more closely. "Now, what do they want from Salmalin?" WolfEyes has arrived. Rest assured that Faanshi is listening with every scrap of her being; indeed, her attention is so thoroughly focused upon the Varati man that Kosha, having realized that he isn't about to get scritches any time in the foreseeable future, has in fact wandered off in pursuit of a particularly tempting-looking squirrel. Failure to pay absolute attention to one's betters, after all, still means in Faanshi's unconscious that one gets beaten. So she listens, unable to hide the tension in her eyes and the sense of barely contained fragility in her slender frame, as though she is a vessel of glass given the task of bearing a great weight of stones... but she is listening. And so far, carrying the weight. "The Sachem has seen fit only to tell me that Salma--" Again she catches herself, aware that Vayu Al-Sirat has called the man under discussion by his first name, but reluctant to take the same liberty until she is certain it is safe. "That he may only leave when she thinks he has learned enough about the Apisachi people." Vayu snorts softly, and it is not a particularly kind noise. Wetting his lips, he turns his gaze skyward, hands lifted there as he stares. "Would that I could call down the wrath of heaven and burn most of this world away... It would save so much aggravation. I'll have to ask WolfEyes about Salmalin, but it seems strange that they would hold Salmalin here when they prize freedom so much. There's more at work here than I'm hearing...." Vayu states, his tone decidedly suspicious. At you, at them, at damn near everything around him. It *is* a surreal situation. From the sky comes the scream of an eagle, followed swiftly by the bird itself. The bird drops swiftly into the clearing by the waterfall, carrying a bundle of fur in her talons. She releases the bundle to fall to the ground even as she flares her wings for a landing, the feathers at the back of her neck gleaming bronze in the sun. Faanshi is still an innocent in many ways that the world judges such things -- but it has seemed even to her that this situation is passing strange. The challenge, though, has been trying to figure out not only what to _do_ about it, but how to find the fortitude to do it. Only when she has had to work her magic has this girl been comfortable with showing initiative... but now she's in unfamiliar territory entirely. And a worry that has been plaguing her ever since the blind Sylvan called ShadowEyes told her to her face that her being chosen as Speaker was a mistake surges up within her now, punctuated momentarily by a jolt of startlement she can't suppress at the bird's landing; her attention flashes that way, then back to Vayu again. "Imphadi... I... have been waiting to speak with her but the tribe does not tell me when I may do so. I am not skilled at this. I... do not know how to ask without giving offense." Now, a creature poised between child and woman, servant and ambassador, she pushes herself into some of that desperately needed new initiative. "May I ask your aid...?" Vayu's brows crease up, and he utters a low growling noise. "Zaminayah, woman! You're the ambassador the Maharani sent to these people; a little waiting is fine, but if you get tired of waiting, you bloody well tell them 'Now, or we burn you to ash!" He snorts again, shaking his head as he starts to circle around you. "Remember the cardinal rule of society - society has rules, but if nobody calls you on breaking them, you have just *made* the rules. My secretary and friend whom you have met, the indomitable Auvrey, did not become Provost and a Birr because she bowed her head during the time of testing... Remember, you represent the Amir-Al. Not yourself." The eagle settles, flipping her wings to her back before slowly dissolving into magical motes of amber, bronze and blue until only her amber eyes are left amidst a cloud of coloured flecks. The flecks vanish into the ground, leaving only the eyes behind. A few moments later, the motes return, reforming into another shape entirely. The name of Auvrey doesn't exactly sound familiar, but now is hardly the time to admit it. Not when Faanshi is being circled, or so it seems to her, like a lamb under the eye of a hungry wyvern. Her jaw tightens under her veil, a flimsy enough bit of gauze that it can't hide that sign of her discomfort, but she manages not to flinch. Much. Again her gaze flashes to the changing creature not far away -- if there's anything she's learned in the company of these Sylvans, it's that animals _and_ people have a habit of changing form around here -- but still, her attention is upon the Varati man. "I do not want to burn them, Imphadi," she murmurs quietly, steadier for once. "Half my blood is as theirs. But I do not want them to harm Salmalin either, or refuse to listen when we must speak with the Voice of the Most High...!" Hrmm. Maybe the chit's capable of conviction in her speech after all? Vayu draws up, eyes seeming to withdraw back into his head as they gloss over briefly. "Blood or not, it would solve a great deal of headaches if I had enough power to burn away anyone who was obviously a detriment to society's growth as a whole...." Vayu answers. He does not need to add that there would be a whole lotta burnin' goin' on. He stops his movement, feet twisting in place as he looks you over again. "I remind you, we do not *need* to consult with the Amir-Al or the Maharani. That you are their envoy means, in a nutshell, you act with their power. The power to bind and to break previous binds... Why has it taken you so long to work out a solution to this? Do you have a solution, that needs only be approved by the Amir-Al? Or are you afraid to step without his aquiescence?" Vayu's voice actually gets softer near the end, less accusatory and more supportive. The shape the motes are forming is revealed to be that of a woman. The last few flecks of magic trickle into place, and an adult Sylvan female is revealed, amber eyes blinking. She looks around the clearing before turning to the bundle the eagle dropped, undoing the ties and pulling a shirt out, shrugging into the garment before making her way towards the two Varati. A great deal of the aforementioned headaches have, in fact, been suffered by the shudra. Not that she's going to admit it, but she doesn't really have to, not when her inexperience and hesitation and self-doubt are written upon what's visible of her face and her entire frame as legibly as the words of any book. "I have no solution yet," she says, "but I have hoped to speak with the Sachem to ask her what else Salmalin must learn... and about the treaty... and what Varati have said to the Apisachi before because no one ever said anything to me about these things. But she has not been here for me to speak with--" This is all stoically said, for Faanshi half-expects to be chastised for it, and indeed her shoulders have subtly braced themselves. But it at least has the advantage of being truth. Moreover, she also makes herself admit, "I have been... less than whole of heart, and thought... I should make myself be able to speak clearly before I spoke again... and have been practicing alone the words that are in my heart...!" "The real trick," Vayu says, smiling a little as he sits down next to you, "Is getting your heart to twist so the words it speaks will be what others want to hear..." A blatant advocacy of duplicity, from a high-ranking Varati? Jesus. At least he's staraightforward about *this*. "*I* can tell you about the treaty, and tell you that barring severe semantic monkeying, it is essentially irrelevant at this point in time, other than to say the Apisachi may not visit violence upon your person unless you constitute an invasion. Which would be hard to prove. As for what Salmalin 'must' learn, he doesn't have to learn anything. The Apisachi have gotten in a little over their head, and I'm sure we can work something out..." No talk of burning people alive? No talk to skinning Sylvans? Well, there's Mr/. Vayu Nice-Guy again. Always accomodating. [OOC Note: at this point, WolfEyes lost her connection, and Faanshi and Vayu's players decided to pause. Accordingly, it is OOC presumed that a yowl of alarm from her dog sent Faanshi pelting off in search of Kosha, and after rescuing the canine's nose from a badger den she returned to where she had been conversing with Vayu. Only to find that Salmalin has caught up with him as well -- and the two aren't exactly fond of one another...] Vayu blinks very slowly, head cocking a touch. He begins to smile, just a little, and bends over, one finger to his ear. "Pardon me, I did not catch your wordsthere, little one... Perhaps you could repeat them for me? *My* documention is filed and registered at the central library at Massada, my personal library, Haven's Scriptorium, and the sub-branch at Port Al'Salla'Hin...." Vayu answers, smiling quite broadly now. His tone is overly sweet - quick sickly, really. "The difference between us, you writhing little maggot, is that I *allowed* myself to be kidnapped in the hopes that I could do some good between the Sylvans the our empire; my time over a Sylvan's shoulder is the direct result of your own incompetence in looking for the aforementioned documentation. Thirdly: Faanshi refuses to exercise her power as Voice of Atar, but even if she did, her powers do not extend to this conversation, as she is a diplomat to the Sylvans, but before me is no more than a half-wit Shudra in dire need of growing up. While I intend to help her with that, this leaves you with two options: you can either do things the proper way and assist me, thereby assisting yourself. Two, you can refuse this, and I can leave, and issue a report that claims that you have been unduly corrupted by the heresy intrinsic to the Apisachi tribe, reccommending that you be burned at the stake for impeding a resolution of this situation. I leave you withthose choices." By the end of his little tirade, Vayu stands straight as a rod,eyes biurning through the bronze mask of his face in raw, unconcealed, nearly rabid anger. But he does not move or act on that anger. Vayu's words are taken in stride and in fact seem only to make Salmalin more stubborn. Whether he is wrong or right does not appear to be much of a concern to the wreluctant ambassador crouched before the now angry looking Vayu. "When you are angry you look much like a horse with poor shodding. I bet people are impressed.. I must say that you do a fine job of being the fire filled Varati. However, I refuse to be bullied by you. You came here on your own accord... that is fine. But I still insist that this discussion is between you and Faanshi. As I remember it.. my role in all of this is only part of a charade. My 'assistance' was to go about acting the Varati male so as Faanshi could do her job with little hassle as possible. Now if you wish to go issue your report and tell them that I am doing as I was ordered by the Maharani herself, then please be my guest. " Kosha's nose has been safely dislodged from the badger den -- though the badger was less than pleased, and almost managed to score rents in Faanshi's skin as she pulled her wayward hound out of reach. Now, only disgruntled at having been pulled off what he considered his rightful prey, the dog slinks back into view at the heels of his beloved mistress as the healer maiden murmurs stern reproaches to him... ...only to come to a dead halt on the edge of the clearing by the waterfall as the voices of Salmalin and Vayu come to her. First the latter's, speaking of _her_. Her need to grow up... her apparent refusal to exercise power as the Voice of Atar... and it freezes her in her tracks. _What_ power? Salmalin's reply to the other man, though, manages to snap her out of her daze. Her face pale and set behind her veil, the shudra comes into earshot. From anyone else her words might sound as though they cut in to the conversation; from Faanshi, however, they are a gentle interjection. "Imphadi Al-Sirat, I know that I am as a child in this task that the Maharani has set before me... and a blind child at that. If there is power I have not exercised..." And now, something that might almost be frustration sounds through in her soft voice. "It is because I do not know what it _is_...! And please, I must ask... the Imphadi Salmalin has been my only guide in all of this..." Plaintively, she finishes, aware of the magnitude of improbability of what she utters even as she says it, "May we not... speak together as allies? As one, to enact the will of the Amir-al?" Vayu waves a hand at Faanshi, the gesture flowing out in a cloud of dismissal and unconcern. Her opinions have been put on hold for the time being, his teeth grit in anger. "Look, you," he hisses, stalking closer and closer to Salmalin with a very serpentine stance, head lowered, "For the entirety of my existence, I have been treated *worse* by my own people than by the candala I am supposedly to look down upon; because of the 'taint' my duty to the Amir-Al entails, I am scorned by the warriors. I am spat upon by the Agni-Haidar. I am laughed at by the Atarvani and the Vaisya. For *once* in my long-spanning time as servitor to the God-King himself, personally adopted by him, I should like some small measure of respect from those whose asses I am forced to pull out of the fire. I am here of my own accord, to try and avoid an international incident which *you* would have caused." With that, Vayu launches a large and swiftly-moving fist at Salmalin's face, ducking sideways as he does so, in effort to try and avoid whatever counterstrike might be launched. While Salmalin was expecting to be attacked he did not anticipate the man being so fast. Even as he tries to roll away from the punch he catches the fist on the edge of his jaw, forcing him land on his back rather hard. Luckily Salmalin is used to being beaten upon and so he starts to laugh, though a cough finds its way in between breaths. "Oh mighty savior... oh martyr... Thank heavens you showed up when you did. You and the chip on your shoulder." He coughs away the dust in his throat and then starts to push himself up, not even an ounce of anger showing in his body. "I do not see why you blame me for this. Or Faanshi.. The Sylvans demand us to do something.. What? Deal with random Varati that they seem reluctant to show us." Rubbing at his jaw he sighs. "Beat me up all you want, but if you want respect just because your life is so terrible, you have the wrong man. You are not the only one to have a hard life... little boy." Faanshi is accustomed to being dismissed; it's happened to her a great deal throughout the course of her young life. She is also accustomed to carrying within her a burden of grief and shame and disillusionment that strikes up a strange, fierce pang of sympathy for Vayu in her breast -- at least until he actually swings a first at Salmalin. Then, all at once, the sight of the two men beginning to fight cracks open a still-fresh wound in her spirit, releasing from within her a flood of frustration and even anger too great for even her soul to bear for very long. "_Stop this!_ Do not make me put you both to sleep -- I _can_ do it!" The shudra surges forward, determined to throw herself between the two men, both of her hands shot out towards each one of them and almost perceptibly ringed with crackling aether. "Salmalin, you are kshatri! Act like it! And you--" Her gaze whirls on Vayu, and it is filled now with what can only be... fire? From this meek creature? "You speak of wanting to help us -- then do so! I will gladly respect you, Imphadi, for wisdom and experience, but not if you insist upon attacking my friend!" "Hah!" Vayu exclaims, straightening. His eyes narrow very slightly as he peers down at Salmalin, arms folded over his chest as he considers. "Little boy, mmm? How many years your superior am I, you are wondering. I couldn't possibly be more than five, by the look of me, could I? Or are looks able to lie that much?" Cocking his neck to one side, his neck ripples from base of the skull to about halfway down his back. Not a very threatening gesture, just rather disturbing. Eeew. "I enjoy my life a great deal. My only reason for desiring respect of some meagre amount is so that I am not grossly inconvenienced at every turn, nor bothered by those whose company I do not enjoy - two wonderful privledges I feel unable to attain most days. I hold you directly responsible because it is because of the two of you that you have not left already. Ergo, I have come to make that happen. Likewise, I do not need to beat you more than to get your attention, because I *know* I am better than you." So saying, he does not appear to be angry any longer. Either he lost control for a moment, or faked it. Or he's always that angry, and only lets it go at key moments. "And you..." Vayu says to Faanshi. "You can put me to sleep? You might be surprised." And he smiles, and winks, almost asking for her to try it - like he would enjoy the challenge of not going to sleep while Faanshi worked her magic. " He takes a deep breath, one brow arching. "Now, oh lady... What the hell do you propose we do to get you out of here. I have tendered some of my suggestions on the legal aspects of this matter - what do you think?" From afar, Vayu notes that when Vayu finishes speaking, you begin to smell the breeze of an ocean that isn't there, and you can feel Vayu's presence on the edge of your mind. 'You are not the only one with skills no one pays attention to...' it ghosts. Wind Runner has connected. Salmalin shakes his head. "A child.. pretending to be in control. Comparing age is like comparing the size of one's sword. Do you even listen to yourself or is it just the sound of your voice you like to hear?" Not that Salmalin is one to talk, but he does find Vayu very amusing. As he stands up he brushes the dirt from his pants and then cracks his neck. Not as impressive, but at least he can cover the small shiver that comes over him. To Faanshi he says nothing, he does not even look her way just yet. His fight is with the other guy. "Oh.. so you know do you? You seem rather high on yourself... I am pretty sure it is not your job that makes people dislike you." And this coming from the man who seems to like everyone. With that he falls silent, running a hand through his hair as he lets the 'real ambassadors' sort out their plans. For just a fraction of an instant, Faanshi's features crinkle strangely behind her veil as she freezes anew, one palm pointed towards Salmalin, the other towards the newcomer who claims to have come to extricate them from their dilemma. Her gaze holds, full of undeniable fright that Vayu might suddenly grow wrathful at her for presuming to speak sharply to him, unutterable surprise that he actually does not... and the exhausted, edgy desperation of a maiden who has been entrusted with a vital task when she is barely able to keep her own heart whole, much less sway an implacable tribe of hostile Sylvans into releasing a prisoner. Vayu has proclaimed her in need of growing up, but there is nothing childlike in her normally gentle summer-green eyes. Instead, they are bleak, stark... and fiery. "Salmalin, I beg of you, please cease," she says then, not looking at him either, instead staring at Vayu as if seeing him anew. To the latter she adds, somehow still achieving the words of deference despite her agitated gaze, "Imphadi, the only plan I have is to speak with the Sachem and tell her that which is. That the Maharani bids me bring Salmalin home. And to learn from her what will satisfy the Apisachi for this to happen. For the sake of the father I never knew, I do not want to make enemies of them. I would prefer to make them friends. And they _are_ right -- Salmalin and I both must learn the ways of the Sylvans and share the ways of the Varati in order for us to be Speakers. If you can help us in this, I welcome your wisdom. Will you help us?" Vayu turns his head, not really quite waiting for Faanshi to respond. "Nor, I am sure, it is yours that causes people to dislike you. If you do not have anything constructive to say, be quiet so that at least *I*, and hopefully Faanshi as well, can think. You do nothing but distract from the issue at hand." Interesting that when the momentum of the situation is dead, Vayu immediately switches his attention to the most pressing matter at hand. At least he's pragmatic about what he does in daily life. "I will help you... conditionally," Vayu says. "I will help you, providing that you acceed to the Maharani's wishes *before* acceeding to the wishes of the Sylvans; it may anger them, but at best, they know that some of us have never broken a promise we have made. Wind Runner, at least, knows this. Learn their ways if you wish - I know all races but theirs, and I don't think anyone else has learned the intricacies of Sylvan culture. But remember that first and foremost you must obey the Amir-Al. I do not question your dedication, but if he says you must come home first, you must do that first." Salmalin is only along for the ride. It was not his choice to be put in this position, to be kidnapped or to have to deal with ego driven children. He was perfectly content to waste away his life at the bottom of a bottle. It is with this thinking that he does not reply to either Faanshi or Vayu. He has already given his input and besides... letting Faanshi deal with this on her own is better for her in the end. Walking away now he starts to whistle lightly as he makes his way toward the caves. Kosha whines at Faanshi's heels, not liking the tone of this confrontation at all -- but the dog stays determinedly there, ears up, refusing to budge from the maiden's side. It is Salmalin's moving away, though, that catches the maiden's eye. She flashes a sidelong glance to him as he turns to leave... and in that instant her all-too-revealing eyes turn bereft. In _that_ instant, she _is_ as a child, one who seems to realize she has to face a thunderstorm alone. Then she turns her stark attention back upon the man who remains. Any other person might take umbrage at the suggestion that her dedication to her God-King and His Consort is not sufficiently ardent... but this is, again, Faanshi. The girl's response, aside from a subtle quivering of her jaw beneath her veil, is polite even now... and weary beyond expressing. "When the Amir-al or the Maharani send new word to me of Their wills, then I am theirs to command. Until then... I can only find what ways seem best to me to carry out the command I have been given. In this... I _am_ as a child. But I have been a child without guidance. The Maharani commands me, saying, 'Do this...' But she does not tell me how. I am told, 'Be bolder, shudra,' but only by one out of ten Varati, and the other nine say that I should be ashamed and silent because of what I am...! Advise me now, Imphadi, and I will listen... but I beg of you. Do not mock the only friend I have in this place... and the only friend I have left among the Children of Fire." There is a brief shuffle as Vayu turns to watch Salmalin go - more than likely, the man will not register on his consciousness after all this is over in more than just a peripheral fashion. "The Divinities will not be sending anyone else after you to guide you. If it was the Maharani's command to bring Salmalin home, that is what you must do. I say this to encourage you not to promise he will stay here without returning home at least once." Vayu pauses, and turns to regard Salmalin again, and then shrugs. "You have one friend among the Varati, hmm? So do I, but she is not of the blood. But a mongrel Shudra, like yourself, who has raised herself from the naraki of a perverse man, who deigned her only worthy to service him in the bedchamber, to the most promising individual I have ever met. When I am dust on the wind, and forgotten, her deeds will live on in the scrolls of history. Whatever bereavement and alienation you may feel I feel it just as acutely. Do not let it affect your judgement in duty, however. How you behave outside of that duty is your business." Vayu pauses, only to begin again a moment later, "As I see it, this is what you must do - you must tell the Apisachi on no uncertain terms what it is you will do, brooking no dispute. Be polite, but firm, as they respect dedication and strength. However, do not spurn their desire for you to learn. Return after you report to the Maharani - this entire affair could turn into a boon for us." Salmalin slips past stone and tree, entering the cave to the west of the falls. Salmalin has left. Faanshi, decisive? It may well normally be hard to believe, so shy is she by habit -- but here and now there begins to show glimmers of possibility that such a thing could in fact _be_, as she pulls herself up to her fullest height. She has alluded to her questionable status, courtesy of her tainted blood, but that one passing mention is all she allows herself. Her eyes go stoic, eyes that more properly belong on an Agni-Haidar than on a delicate maiden. "This I know, Imphadi: that I do not wish the Amir-al angered, and to have to return with Lions of Fire who will take Salmalin home by force when the request of a woman such as I does not move the Sylvans," says she. "Thus must I seek a solution of peace." And now she makes good upon her promise of respecting the wisdom and experience of this sardonic newcomer as she goes on, "You have done these things... you have spoken to the Most High and the Maharani of great things. I have spoken only as a shudra. Do you think that if I return and tell them that the Apisachi will not permit Salmalin to return with me, that they will be angry, and send the Agni-Haidar to burn the forests?" Shaking his head a little, Vayu waves a hand in denial. "No, no... The Agni-Haidar are too valuable to be sent, and are too strong a message. More likely clan warriors, Messala or Bezhad, would be sent. He would send no Khalida, as they are his own family. We, are, that is." A little slip of the tongue there, Vayu? In name, but perhaps not in heart... He *does* seem to have the strangest habit of isolating himself from everyone on a personal level, extending his empathy to the situation, but not the individual. "Two things to bear in mind, Faanshi. First is that any attack upon the Varati people, no matter how small, Khalid considers an attack upon his person. This is because it challenges his authority and ability to protect his nation; he becomes the one kidnapped or attacked and the leader of the agressors becomes the actual aggressor. The semiotics of the Amir-Al's politics are interesting indeed. Secondly, respect in this nation comes with strength and the ability to stand one's ground; whoever stops the loudest and comes out smelling like roses is in charge." [A strange lesson indeed to be giving to a shudra -- but it was, Faanshi knew, one she had to learn... Her player, though, never finished this scene as she and Vayu had to pause. End log.]