[Intro]
Following the crash of the Palace of the High Ones, Rayek has regained 
consciousness in Sorrow's End, to discover himself under the care of Mender, 
and the obvious of vivid curiosity in the village. Much to his annoyance,
for Rayek has also found himself frustratingly weak of body - and even
more disturbingly, magically exhausted and overstrained - many elves in
the village have flocked to Mender's hut, to chat with the healer, to
wait for Rayek to awaken, and to gossip about what happened with the
Palace.

Only a few elves are ones Rayek will speak with, however, and one of
these is Ekuar, the ancient rockshaper who once helped Rayek hone his
powers....

----------
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar shuffles in, and looks toward the pit.

Petalwing flitflitflits up as soon as it sees Ekuar! /Hellohello moverock 
  highthing!/
Petalwing climbs up out of the sleeping pit.
Petalwing has left.

Rayek stirs sleepily.

Visiting chamber
Cool and airy like most of the Sun Folk's constructions, this hut's primary 
  chamber is tinted faintly along its walls with images of the green growing 
  places. The hanging strings of beads in the two windows and the doorway 
  rattle lightly in passing breezes. Candles in holders in the shapes of 
  wolves' heads cast warm circles of illumination about the room.
Contents:
Petalwing(#3061)
Ekuar
Sleeping pit
Obvious exits:
Cellar<Dn>  Out<SE>  

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing raises a tiny finger to its mouth. /Shhh! 
  Sharpdark highthing be stillquiet!/

Rayek rolls over slightly, mumbling, "Mmmmm?"

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar sits quietly.

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing oooohs! It perches on the edge of the 
  sleeping pit and peers happily at Rayek. /Sharpdark highthing wake now?/

Rayek, his dark brow furrowed, whispers at Petalwing, "Awake, bug... 'mawake... 
  " He lifts his groggy gaze, and a half-smile touches his features. "Ekuar... "

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Hello, brownskin."

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing beams. /Petalwing take care of sharpdark 
  highthing while sharpdark highthing take nap,/ it states happily.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You did an exccelent job, Petalwing."

Rayek experimentally tries to sit up, frowns at himself as the room tilts 
  around him, and finally scoots one of the pillows over closer to the 
  rockshaper so that he can at least be closer, even if he is so cursed tired...

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing preens, and flitflitflits in satisfaction.

Rayek glances around the room, and seems visibly relieved that Ekuar is the 
  only elf in sight.
Rayek finally looks back at Ekuar--or rather, doesn't quite meet his gaze. 
  Troubledly, he says very softly, "I was... worried about you, teacher... "

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar peers over at Rayek.

Rayek adds gruffly, "It... has been a long time... since we have seen one 
  another."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Too long, brownskin."
Ekuar climbs down into the sleeping pit.
Ekuar has arrived.
Ekuar moves over next to you in the pit.

Rayek looks his ancient mentor up and down intently, searching for any sign of 
  harm to him, and again he seems palpably relieved. He starts to speak, but 
  pauses, amber gaze strangely full, as he takes in his friend's appearance.

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing perches happily nearby, playing with a 
  sliver of clearstone it found, and occasionally flitting around to 
  investigate noises out on the path.

Ekuar says "Why would you think I am hurt?"
Ekuar leans over and puts his arm around Rayek, hugging him.

Rayek, scooped up into Ekuar's arms, returns the embrace as fiercely as he can 
  manage. "It is nothing, now... words of that foolish Go-Back, nothing more... 
  " Contradicting the airy smoothness of his words, Rayek shakes, till at last 
  he slumps back on the pillows next to the other elf.

Ekuar smiles at Rayek.

Rayek, slightly ramblingly but with determination--as if he still lacks 
  strength to really keep control of his thoughts--says, "Now that I know you 
  are safe... I can return to the Palace... we can... it will need your 
  power...!"

Ekuar says "Have you been feeling better, brownskin?"

Rayek lifts a hand to his head. "I... feel as though I have been flung into a 
  mountain," he murmurs, ruefully.

Ekuar says "You were."

Rayek's hand drops, and he looks up at his friend, his gaze pained. "I 
  remember... the weight of the Palace just... vanishing. I had to stop it...!"

Ekuar nods.

Rayek mutters, "Too much... too much magic. And it was too large... I... " He 
  trails off, the anguish in his face increasing.

Ekuar takes your hand gently.
Ekuar says "You did well... you saved the palace from total destruction... we 
  can repair it."

Rayek, unable to voice the thought that he'd failed to fly the Palace of his 
  own power, grabs feebly at the hand and clings to it. His eyes clamp shut.

Ekuar says "You didn't fail..."

Rayek's mouth tightens. "But... I did not succeed... " Almost pleadingly, he 
  grips the gnarled hand between his bronzed fingers. "I-I must return, 
  Ekuar... the Palace cannot remain broken...!"

Ekuar says "Yes"
Ekuar says "But you are not ready yet..."
Ekuar says "You can hardly send..."
Ekuar says "When you are ready, we will go together."

Rayek scowls, but to himself, disgustedly. Then as if realizing that whatever 
  pain he won't let himself quite admit to is nothing compared to what Ekuar 
  was once dealt by the trolls, he blushes slightly....

Ekuar says "You are so strong, brownskin"

Rayek snorts derisively, one dark eyebrow cocked in self-directed irritation. 
  "I shall have to be... I cannot allow myself to remain here long... "

Ekuar says "As soon as you are ready, we will go... Just have to wait for 
  Leetah."

Rayek blinks. "Lee... "
Rayek's eyes widen, and he even pales slightly, as he sits up far too fast and 
  nearly crumples over again. "I-I cannot see her...!"

Ekuar says "Why not?"
Ekuar says "She can help you."

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing blinkblinkblinks and pipes up at Rayek, 
  /Softpretty highthing have muchmuch makebetter magic!/

Ekuar says "Yes, much makebetter magic."
Ekuar says "And I have a feeling she will be just as understanding as I am..."

Rayek scowls stubbornly, a suspicious flush darkening his hollowed cheeks. 
  Lowering his gaze, Rayek mutters, "There is... much to misunderstand, between 
  us... "

Ekuar chuckles and shakes his head.
Ekuar says "Why do you think she came here, if not to help you?"

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing peers up at Rayek, and chirps wisely, 
  /Softpretty highthing good for sharpdark highthing!/

Rayek snaps at Petalwing, though without much force, "You know nothing of it, 
  bug... "

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing thbptpbpts! /Petalwing see more than 
  sharpdark highthing think!/

Ekuar giggles.
Ekuar says "The little dears are incapable of lying, Rayek..."

Rayek frets, slumping down on his back again, his head tossing restlessly. His 
  voice lowering to an embarrassed whisper, he mutters, "I... do not want her 
  to see me like this... "

Ekuar says "If she doesn't see you, you will always be like this, brownskin."

Rayek flashes Ekuar a startled--and frightened--glance. And mutters vehemently, 
  obstinately, "I can relearn my magic if need be... "

Ekuar just looks at you.

Around the sleeping pit, Petalwing hmmmphs! /Silly sharpdark highthing! No 
  think good all alone in homeplace!/

Ekuar says "The Preserver has a point."

Rayek, uncharacteristically struck speechless, seems to wilt. "I... "

Ekuar gently squeezes your hand.

Rayek whispers at last, "I... do not know what to say to her."

Ekuar says "Don't say anything, brownskin."

His black eyebrows drawing together, Rayek peers at you uncertainly. "But... "

Ekuar just looks at you again.

Rayek shudders, trying valiantly to regain his composure, and finally requests 
  urgently, "Ask her... to come soon, then... I... cannot... wait long."

[End log.]