Log Date: 11/8/95
Log Intro: After having attempted -- and failed -- to relay an apology to
Leetah and Lursa via Cutter, Rayek disheartenedly decides that there is
nothing further for him to do in Sorrow's End. Thus, he prepares himself
for the journey back to the Palace, and for explaining his purposes to
Ekuar and Savah....

----------
Hall of Memory
A circular room containing a low bench. The high domed ceiling soars up into 
  restful shadows. Framed by a circle of painstakingly worked stained glass is 
  a chair, lovingly shaped from silky smooth stone. The floor is painted pale 
  blue and inlaid with tiles of russet and opal in a circular pattern. From 
  the high ceiling are suspended fringed tapestries on either side of Savah's 
  chair, with a multitude of pale pastel square panels patterned with floral 
  designs. A carpet of scarlet fabric with a gold border lies at one edge of 
  the room beneath Savah's chair.
A soothing, many-colored light emanates from the colored glass panes of 
  Savah's chair, a visible sign of her magic.
Contents:
Ekuar
Savah
Murals
Brightmetal Knife
Obvious exits:
Ahdri's Chamber<W>  Savah's Chamber<S>  Out<SE>  

Ekuar's gaze moves back slowly, inexorably, to the doorway of the private 
  chamber. He says quietly, affectionately, "You knnow how Brownskin is, my 
  dear. So very hard on himself... Carrying, eh, so many burdens that others 
  would gladly share." He smiles faintly. "I'd rather..."

Rayek steps out of Savah's chamber, clad in different clothing, his hair 
  groomed again. As he comes into earshot, he frowns.

Ekuar gives a lopsided shrug to Savah, turning away from the private doorway. 
  He doesn't notice Rayek.

Rayek studies the pair of elves, then inclines his head, tightly, and speaks. 
  "Mother of Memory... Ekuar. I wish to return to the Palace."
Rayek's tone is low and grim.

Savah looks at you for a moment.
Savah turns to face Rayek, taking in his improved appearance. She smiles 
  warmly, holding out her hands to him. "Your stay with us has done you good, 
  dear one."

Ekuar turns, first his bare head and then, more carefully, his body, shifting 
  around on his staff. He blinks at Rayek, first perplexed... and then, with a 
  growing awareness. A deepening sadness, softly apparent in the gaunt face. 
  Whatever Rayek tried to do, whatever progress he made... it didn't work. Or 
  so it seems.

Rayek's mouth tightens a little, and he looks away from Savah, as if disputing 
  her claim but not vocalizing that argument. He does not look at Ekuar, 
  either, although it is clearly the rockshaper he addresses as he goes on, 
  "Do you wish to linger, Ekuar?"

Ekuar straightens up, resting the staff against his side, arranging the light 
  cloak neatly over his armless shoulder. His eyes widen, wondering and deep. 
  "Why... eh... no, Brownskin! I'm coming with you." His voice is gentle, but 
  matter-of-fact, without wavering or prevarication.

Savah asks Rayek softly. "Is your return so urgent, dear one?"

Rayek's eyes might, just _might_, lighten a little at Ekuar's response; 
  perhaps that's relief in his expression, though if it is, he quickly hides 
  it. And he still does not quite look at Savah as he replies, "The Palace has 
  gone unguarded long enough."

Ekuar tips his head to one side. "Well," he says thoughtfully, "I didn't leave 
  it -entirely- open to... eh... mischief, you know." His eyes, though 
  carrying a mist of sadness at Rayek's apparent inability to leave his sorrow 
  behind, sparkle in their depths. "Good smart rock there, Brownskin."

Savah's eyes glitter. "We did make preparations, dear one. You were still 
  unwell, then."

Rayek pulls in a breath, lets it out again. "There is... nothing further to be 
  accomplished here," he says quietly.

Savah tilts her head slightly, her cowl rustling. "Is there not one thing, yet 
  left undone?"

Ekuar draws in a quick breath, as if to say something overlapping the end of 
  Rayek's flat statement... but he lets it out again with a soft, sad, "Oh." 
  His eyes scan Rayek's face, looking for the tale there.
Ekuar looks at you for a moment.

Rayek crosses his arms where he stands, expression harsh, bleak; his amber 
  gaze swings at last to Savah, then. "I am doing that, by departing," he says 
  bluntly, without elaboration.

Ekuar says plainly, gently, "Wouldn't the furry wolfling offer forgiveness, 
  then, Brownskin?"

Rayek turns away, gaze on the door leading outside -- and perhaps, without his 
  knowing, raw and lonely to the two observing him. "Trollkiller has accepted 
  my.... apology."

Savah waits for Rayeks answer, her expression warm and sympathetic.

Ekuar lifts his brows, ingenuously curious. "But then, my dear... why...?" 
  There are so many questions that could appear there. Why this pain? Why the 
  never-ending longing? Most of all, why, here in Sorrow's End, can Rayek not 
  lay his own Sorrows to rest? But Ekuar adds none of these. They are apparent 
  in his face, his voice, his eyes, regarding his dear pupil with candid 
  sympathy.

Rayek slides a glance at the small rockshaper, and his own lean frame might be 
  seen to tremble, just a bit -- though in the gentle, soft light of this 
  place, who can say? "I have... no choice. I must go."

Savah walks over to Rayek, looking down at him. "You must seek your own paths, 
  dear one. And you will not be alone, now."

Rayek looks up at Savah bleakly, silently, expression stark.

Ekuar nods once, decidedly, at Savah's comment. But he says, with the mildest 
  contradiction, "Brownskin... ah, you are still young. There is always a 
  choice." He gives a sweet, wise smile, that takes any implied rebuke from 
  the words, glowing instead with trust.

Rayek turns away again, and answers, tonelessly, "I chose. As did she."

Ekuar's expression is blankly puzzled for some moments, following the leap in 
  Rayek's thoughts... But here, and for this time, there is only one 'she.' He 
  purses his lips, distressed, and gives the barest sigh. "Oh, my boy. My 
  dear. A choice is not a closed door. It's only... a branch in the pathway." 
  His eyes shine. "Remember, I told you, eh? Nothing ends. No choice can make 
  an end."

Rayek's hands clench, stiffly, and he looks down at the floor. "Unless an end 
  is what is needed."

Savah says "Will it end with the Palace, dear one?"

Ekuar pipes up, his voice sure. "I don't believe it is. And-- eh-- neither do 
  you." His mouth curves in the softest, the faintest of smiles... at once 
  encouraging and kind.

Rayek simply gives Ekuar a hollow, level look that indicates that yes, he 
  absolutely believes it.

Savah looks to Ekuar, and smiles gently.

Ekuar meets Rayek's eyes silently, acceptingly. His smile remains, although a 
  familiar sadness wells within it. He glances up at Savah.

Ekuar's deep, ancient eyes twinkle just a touch as he regards Savah 
  affectionately.

Savah smiles to Ekuar, and looks back to Rayek. "With the little Palace so 
  near the large, we will never be entirely parted."

Rayek, failing to see the nuances in the older elves' silent exchange, asks 
  Savah without looking at her, "Is there a zwoot we may procure, if none of 
  the Gliders wish to convey us?"

Savah says "Of course, dear one. All that you need will be made ready for you."

Ekuar mms, candidly regretful. "A zwoot. Well, my. Not as much fun as a bird, 
  eh, Brownskin? So high, far up in the air..." He sighs in quietly happy 
  memories of arriving at the Festival.

Rayek says lowly, "I will inquire if any of the Gliders with birds can convey 
  us."

Ekuar ohs! He leans over his staff to patpat Rayek's arm. "No need, Brownskin. 
  I've had my time in the air, ah, indeed. And as long as I'm with you, I'd go 
  the whole way on this old foot!" His eyes glimmer fondly.

Rayek considers Ekuar for a moment, and his eyes lighten slightly, glistening, 
  though he cannot manage a smile. He then asks humbly, "If... one of you will 
  send, when the zwoot is prepared....?" He glances from the door back into 
  Savah's chambers to the door outside and back again, as if considering where 
  he wishes to be.

Savah says softly. "We will, dear one."

Ekuar looks up at Savah, smiling, and then back to Rayek. "This, eh, gives me 
  time to go do a last bit of visiting! Gather some tidbits to take back with 
  us."

Rayek nods to Ekuar, without energy.
Rayek turns, then, and murmurs, "I will wait... outside the village."
Rayek concludes, as he slips out, "Mother of Memory... thank you."

[And with that, Rayek slips outside the village, to wait for Ekuar to catch
 up with him. End log.]