Log Date: 5/20/96
Log Cast:
	Rayek, Ekuar, Ktai, Youngblood
Log Intro:
	Rayek and Ekuar have returned to the Palace of the High Ones,
only to be met by Tilia, Go-Back, former companion of Rayek's, and she who spent
years in wrapstuff with her spirit infused into the Palace itself --
providing Rayek with the means to move it. Tilia, along with the Glider
Ktai, has returned from hunting Rayek during his absence from the Palace,
and has ordered him, at dagger-point, to stay out of it. He has ceded
the guardianship of the Palace to her, but it has eaten at his spirit,
losing him some of the good of the healing done him by his time spent away.
	Now, with the Palace open again, elves have begun to return to
it, though Rayek has once more fallen into solitary habits, avoiding most
of them....

----------
A hunter's senses can hear the familiar uneven scraping tread 
  approaching the cave... but it doesn't take a hunter to hear the breathy, 
  tuneful humming as Ekuar draws closer. A send-touch, light and familiar: ** 
  Brownskin? **

You locksend ** <shortly, restrained, as if he is wary of amplifying himself 
  too much in the Palace's presence> I'm in here, Ekuar. ** to Ekuar.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar's send blurs and contracts for a moment, as if 
  distracted (well, more distracted than usual). ** Oh, my. A visitor, it 
  seems... **

The uneven footsteps have stopped a distance from the cave, and 
  you can hear Ekuar's cheerful murmuring to someone's greeting.

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek allows himself a response, though he seems 
  strangely listless of tone -- uneasily familiar, that listless tone, despite 
  the underlying bite. ** There are a few visitors around the Palace. They've 
  come to see it. **

Ekuar locksends ** <after a few more moments of distant murmuring to an unseen 
  visitor> The Palace? Yes, yes, I think they are here to see it... But he 
  also asks to speak to the Master. <a pause, and then, gently:> Will you 
  claim that position, and come speak to him? **

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek, when he answers, does so numbly: ** That honor 
  is no longer mine to claim. **

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar touches you fleetingly, tenderly, reassuringly 
  matter-of-fact: ** That honor is not yet settled. You mustn't see this an 
  issue of yes or no, light or dark... You have as much of a claim as anyone. 
  More. You have the right to speak, if not as the assured Master, then as one 
  of the Palace's caretakers, eh? **

You locksend ** <bitterly> What, and turn the Palace to my own ends, as the 
  Go-Back so adamantly accuses me? I'm surprised she hasn't sealed the doors 
  against me, or moved it to some place I cannot find... ** to Ekuar.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar sends, forthright, ** I would never let her 
  seal the Home against you... Whatever else the poor little warrior has tried 
  to take from you, my dear one, you always have me. And you have the Palace. 
  It does not belong to Tilia, eh? It does not belong to you, nor to me. ** A 
  faint tendril of weariness threads through the send, but it is not the 
  physical weariness of an ancient body. It is a soul-deep exhaustion, mingled 
  with sorrow, emotions the rockshaper seldom indulges in. Even now, there is 
  only the hint of them, as he sends, ** All my dear children. Fighting over 
  the Home as if it were a jewel in a Troll-fight... So wrong, so hurtful... 
  How can I make her see that? **

You locksend ** <Even augmented by the Palace's nearness, Rayek's sending is 
  flat, blunt.> I would not profane the Palace's halls with fighting. But 
  _she_ does not care to believe that... I might as well be Winnowill, to her. 
  Let the visitor speak to her, if he wants to see the Palace's master. ** to 
  Ekuar.

Ekuar locksends ** I know that of you, dear lad. And I have directed the 
  visitor to Tilia, if he cares to find the 'Master'. For what it's worth, 
  Brownskin, I think the GoBack is wrong to do as she is doing... I wish I 
  could understand her, eh-- her reasons, her feelings. **

You locksend ** <curtly> What is to understand? ** to Ekuar.

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek, before you can answer, suddenly releases a 
  sharp, short burst of a sending, anger at Tilia for presuming that _she_ has 
  the right to dictate where he sets his feet, as if he's her personal 
  chattel. Underlying this, though, are sparks of guilt -- awareness that he 
  is responsible for the years-long suspension of her life, and that in some 
  way, many of her accusations are true, for he could see no other ends but 
  his for the High Ones' ancient Home for the longest of times...

Ekuar locksends ** Perhaps you made mistakes, Brownskin. That does not make 
  the warrior's actions right, now... Using the Palace for revenge, to punish. 
  It will not solve the pain she feels, it will only cause more, for all of 
  us. **

You locksend ** I shall spare her the opportunity. She does not wish me in the 
  Palace's halls -- so be it. <To the airwalker, the matter is apparently 
  settled.> ** to Ekuar.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar's thoughts are uncertain, considering all sides 
  of the complicated whirl of issues. ** Are you sure, dear one? I don't want 
  to use the Palace as a rope in a tug of war, I love it too much and too 
  deeply. And if you say we will leave, then leave we will. But only if you 
  are sure this is what you want, eh? Do not embrace anger at ill-treatment 
  and leave because you are stubborn. ** A gentle, paternal caress. ** For you 
  -are- stubborn. Perhaps as stubborn as she is, hm? **

You locksend ** I am clearly not wanted here. <There is ache in that sending, 
  though he strives mightily to suppress it.> I have no reason to stay. ** to 
  Ekuar.

Ekuar locksends ** Wanted? Wanted... by whom? By Tilia? Whether she wants you 
  or not, it does not matter. You know it well, she is neither owner of the 
  Palace nor owner of you. **

You locksend ** I have flown the Palace but once under my own strength, 
  Ekuar... once. All the succeeding times... were because of her. She is 
  right... I did use her. What greater right can I claim to remain as its 
  guardian? Let her have it. Perhaps she will take it as an apology, since she 
  does not want to see my face unless it's on the other side of her dagger. ** 
  to Ekuar.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar sends, after a quiet moment of thought, ** May 
  I come in, Brownskin? **

You locksend ** <assent> ** to Ekuar.

Ekuar steps into the cave.
Ekuar has arrived.
Ekuar calls out, as his eyes adjust to the dimness, "Brownskin...?"

Rayek lies on one of his purloined furs, feet pointed at the mouth of the 
  cavelet, head pillowed on his crossed arms. He glances over his shoulder at 
  you as you hobble in, and his amber eyes glint in the shadows.

Ekuar moves in further from the heat and brightness outside, shuffling his 
  padded wooden foot softly along the cave floor. Large, dark eyes glimmer 
  faintly as he regards you. "Is there room there for these old bones?" he 
  smiles.

Rayek half-smiles up at you, rolling slightly to one side.

Ekuar carefully lowers himself to the comfort of the furs, setting his staff 
  aside and stretching out his good leg with a sigh of relaxation. "I don't 
  seem to rest well, these days," he admits, a world of subtext beneath the 
  words.

That rouses a flash of concern in Rayek's pale eyes, as he frowns up at you. 
  "Something is wrong....?"

Ekuar reaches out to pat gently at your dark arm, his hand faintly cool. "I'm 
  not ill, dear one, put your mind at ease. It's... this situation. All of it. 
  I miss you, and I feel so helpless." His bare head moves slightly, side to 
  side. "I don't understand, fully, why all of this need happen."

[Neither, unfortunately, does Rayek -- and although he allows Ekuar to
 give him what comfort can be given, the erstwhile Palace master nevertheless
 stubbornly refuses to set foot even close enough to touch the Palace's
 outer walls. He spends all his time either hunting, looking for fresh
 sourcwes of water, or remaining perched on the hill overlooking the
 elfin Home, telling himself he is guarding it, and avoiding the thought of
 what he will do if Tilia emerges. Eventually, though, at least one other
 elf in the Palace's shelter comes out to seek _him_....]

----------
Log Date: 5/11/96, 5/21/96

Near the Palace, Ktai kas been seen more and more, to be just sitting outside 
  on the steps to the Palace quietly.

It has been days since Rayek has come near the Palace; _he_ can be seen, when 
  anyone chances to look, scouting the nearby hills for fresh prey to hunt for 
  Ktai and Ekuar. Or practicing, with a hard glitter in his eye, at his 
  magics: lifting himself, sizable rocks, whatever might chance to be at hand. 
  Up on the hillside where he's been making his private camp, the black-haired 
  hunter can be seen even now.

Near the Palace, She glances over. She isn't sure if she should go over 
  there... he has been known to have such a violent reaction around her... 
  tending to walk off brusquely or worse...
Near the Palace, Ktai stands slowly, and with a sigh. She's learning to move 
  about without her magic... but it isn't easy... not after so long...
Near the Palace, Ktai has left.
Ktai moves away from the huge stone structure nearby.
Ktai has arrived.

His magic, more than anything else, signals his presence; he's high enough up 
  the hillside that his stance and face cannot be easily read, to gauge his 
  temperament. But perhaps what can be seen of his distant movements shows 
  enough: he either dances, or works at fighting drills -- both brown hands 
  clenched on the shaft of his spear. Or perhaps both.

Ktai just stands quietly, watching with dark eyes. She won't close any more 
  distance without invitation, if not permission.

If he knows he is under scrutiny, Rayek gives no sign of it, as he thrusts his 
  spear at unseen opponents, whirls in mid-air, all while keeping three 
  hand-sized stones flying in orbit about him.

Silent, she shakes her head. Such control. How long has it been since she rose 
  into the air by her will? One year? Two? More?

At last, quite abruptly and all at once, Rayek's airborne dance ceases. The 
  three rocks zoom groundward; Rayek himself lands squarely on both his booted 
  feet, head hung slightly as he catches his breath.

Ktai watches with mild concern, but still remains quiet.

Rayek finally looks up, and sends down from his position up the hill, ** Ktai. 
  **

Ktai moves as if to indicate acnowledgement, and perhaps you can see her lips 
  move as she answers in speech. "Rayek."

Rayek steps down the hill towards you, mouth quirking a little at the manner 
  of your reply.

Ktai just stands there, quietly watching.

Rayek finally asks, when he's reached you, "You wanted something?"

Ktai shakes her head, and when she speaks, her voice is soft and quiet. "No... 
  I was just watching... I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"No." Rayek shrugs bare brown shoulders. "My exercise was done. Worry not."

Ktai nods faintly.
She looks hot, but she is slowly becoming accustomed to the climate. It 
  doesn't help that she is still wearing what is left of her old leathers.

Rayek looks you up and down critically. "Is there enough water in the Palace?" 
  he abruptly demands.

She just sits there, trying to catch her breath.

Rayek frowns, studying you, and leans his spear against the rocks. "You should 
  not be outside in the heat," he observes. "You were not born to it."

Ktai smiles faintly.
Ktai says "I prefer to be outside..."
Slowly, she stands again, but is apallingly pale, even for the now-obvious 
  reddening of her face and hands.

Amber gaze dubious, Rayek offers you a hand to help you up. He smirks 
  slightly, though, avoiding comment on his preferred locale.

Ktai takes your offered hand shyly... almost as if she is reluctant to bother 
  you.

Rayek asks again, black eyebrows arched, "Is there adequate water in the 
  Palace?"

Ktai nods slowly. "There is..."
She fidgets with her fur collar.

Rayek glances up the hill, then down it, as if considering where to guide you 
  for better rest. "Come then to the shade, at least," he requests, gesturing 
  up the hill a short distance, where the Daystar casts a measure of shadow 
  along the sand.

Ktai blushes -- but can you truly tell the burn from the blush -- when she 
  notices that she still holds your hand. However, she doesn't drop it...
Ktai nods. "Very well..."

Rayek, with that, guides you to a place to sit. Briefly, he vanishes himself 
  up the hill into the rock-cranny he's claimed as his camp, and emerges with 
  a fur. "Slightly more comfortable than sand," he remarks, smirking slightly 
  once more.

Ktai follows after, slowly, and while you vanish, she waits. When you return, 
  she nods. "Thank you... I'm sorry to be such a bother..."
Ktai stands akwardly in the shade, trying not to blush... trying not to be a 
  bother, but failing at both attempts.

Rayek reaches up to firmly press both your shoulders, once, and bids you, 
  "Sit. You are no bother." His mouth curls on one end as he adds, "I have 
  been barred from assuring you do not faint within the Palace, but outside, I 
  can at least provide you aid."

Ktai blinks, then sits as she was bid, uncertain of what else to say or do.
She reaches into her pouch and draws out a crystal figure, gazing at it, 
  trying to cool her blush.
Ktai sighs, staring at the crystal, turning it over and over in her hands.

Rayek studies you, eyes narrowed a bit. And he states forthrightly, "Have you 
  decided, about a healer?"

Ktai looks up from the crystal, only a flickering look, actually, then sighs. 
  "Yes."

Rayek crouches before you with an easy grace he hadn't been displaying years 
  ago, when he'd left the Palace -- his time away has apparently treated him 
  well. "I can send to Sorrow's End from here and ask the Mother of Memory to 
  send Mender," he notes. An offer he's made before.

Ktai looks at you, her eyes defeated. "All right."

Rayek frowns, sternly, not looking that look -- but in a way, at least, 
  understanding it. "Or..." For an instant, his gaze is pained, as he flicks a 
  look over his shoulder at the Palace's high walls. "... I could escort you 
  to the Sun Village."

Ktai sighs. "Either way... I leave it to you to decide."
Ktai closes her eyes against the crystalline image before her, and sets it 
  beside her on the fur.
Ktai dropped Small crystal shaping.

With that, Rayek's frown deepens into a scowl, and he surges to his feet. "I," 
  he snaps, "am not the one languishing from lack of magic!" He starts to 
  pace, irritated. "I will not force a healer down your throat."

Ktai opens her eyes and quite literally hurls the crystal at you with her 
  hand. "I already told you yes!"

Rayek's upper lip curls as the crystal strikes him. His expression abruptly 
  turns cold, withdrawn, and he growls, "I will call for Mender, then. _If_ he 
  comes, fight with him as you will. I'm leaving."
Rayek, with that, stalks off a ways along the pass.

Ktai pales, swallowing. "Rayek!"
Ktai stands, wavering from the heat, but falls near the crystal - which she 
  grabs, hurling it against a rock. It shatters in a sprinkle of shards, and 
  she stares at her heads, tears in her eyes.

Small crystal shaping has left.

Rayek pauses some distance away, and turns towards the Palace, staring up at 
  it bleakly. He tenses, then begins to send, with effort...

Ktai stands slowly, and even slower, walks closer to you.
Ktai begins to speak... her voice lifted against the distance, the effort 
  showing in roughness. "I'm... sorry... I didn't mean to throw it... I just 
  can't ... can't... sense anything! It's like you're 'flat'..."
Ktai mutters at herself in annoyance. "Oh, go ahead, Ktai... make a fool of 
  yourself... why can't you just love and let it be at that?"

Rayek is still scowling as he lets the sending end -- though to scorched 
  magic-senses, no other sign save a shift of his brow suggests he's done. 
  Hearing your hesitant tread, then your words, he turns stiffly back. "I have 
  sent to Sorrow's End. As best I could. The Go-Back will have heard, 
  doubtless."

Ktai slowly walks nearer, her voice softer... meek, even. "Thank you..."

The crystal shards glisten in the distance.

Rayek eyes you warily, as if expecting to have further small objects hurled at 
  him, but his mouth lessens it its tension, just a bit. Then, perhaps 
  troubledly, he glances away from you as well as the Palace. "Thank me if 
  Mender chooses to come, and if he restores you," he replies roughly.

Ktai sighs, and holds out a hand, palm up, empty. "I'm thanking you now."
Ktai closes her eyes and looks down. Turning, she lowers her hand and walks 
  slowly and blindly away.
On, she walks, slower and slower still, finally stopping some distance away.
A feeble send, obviously painful to send, for the roughness of it. ** Eren 
  thanks you... Rayek... **
Ktai sways, but picks her feet up and slowly moves away again.

Rayek jerks his gaze up, amber eyes gone a little wider, giving him an 
  uncomfortable look.
Rayek finally scowls at himself, then floats up, glimmering, and quickly 
  closing the distance between himself and the taller elf.

Some distance away, Ktai draws to an unstable halt, and sits on a rock.

Rayek hovers there. And finally, once he is in earshot, speaks up gruffly, 
  "You're... welcome."

Ktai looks over, and moves her lips, but tries to send again. It's rough... 
  and only a few words are clear enough to understand. ** ...love... ... 
  ...Rayek... ** But the words are enough to get the meaning across.
Ktai closes her eyes, sitting very still, resting... for sends are painful... 
  and those last attempts even more so for thier content.
Ktai sighs softly, relaxing slowly. It helps that she's gotten rid of all of 
  that leather... but it's still hot.

Rayek lands, noiselessly, the scowl vanished from his face and leaving him 
  seeming uncharacteristically vulnerable.

As light as your landing is, she doesn't hear you.

Ktai's lips move. "Stupid, stupid stupid..." She's muttering to herself.
Ktai shakes her head sadly.
Very slowly, she puts her elbows on her knees and follows with her chin in her 
  hands. Her eyes remain closed: she has no idea how close you really are.
Ktai very slowly falls sideways, curling on the rock... already half-asleep 
  from exhaustion and sending. Her breathing slows, she relaxes a bit more... 
  she sleeps.

[Scene continuation. Youngblood arrives, and approaches the two elves,
 intending to greet them....]

Rayek leans over Ktai's curled form, frowning severely to himself.

Ktai is curled on a rock, sleeping.

Youngblood glances at the two and tiptoes warily over

Rayek straightens, scowls mutely, and flicks his amber gaze around to a rain 
  of crystal shards scattered around nearby. His hand flicks out, to, and the 
  shards start to glimmer, to gather themselves, and pile neatly out of the 
  way.

Youngblood coughs softly to gain Rayek's attention.

Ktai sleeps like one who has over-exhausted herself both in heat and other.

Rayek's head immediately snaps up, though without a noticeable break in the 
  golden shimmers rippling out from his brown-skinned hand. His scowl doesn't 
  quite vanish, as he first finishes retrieving the largest of the crystal 
  fragments, then turns his attention to the stranger. "Speak," he says curtly.

The curled elf doesn't twitch, doesn't even seem to move. The only indicator 
  that she is only sleeping is the slow and steady movement of her arm on her 
  chest.

Youngblood blinks, 'I'm sorry to interrupt.' He says patiently, 'But I was 
  wondering if you could perhaps help us...Ekuar mentioned to you that myself 
  and my sister wished to speak to you? You know a great deal about the 
  Palace, afgter all...She has lost much of her memory to a painful 
  accident...we were wondering what the palace could do about it., perhaps the 
  magic.."

Rayek first blinks, then scowls again, sweeping a glare around the litter of 
  tiny rocks nearby to see if any more of the shards he's decided to gather 
  are lying about. "The Palace only enhances what magic elves make in its 
  presence," he answers brusquely. "It does not heal; I do not heal. I cannot 
  help you. Wait if you will for the healer I've called for this one." He 
  gestures briefly at the crumpled elf.

She is not sleeping peacefully... her face is almost blank, but there are 
  tell-tale signs of tightening about her eyes and mouth... as if something is 
  not right, but she is beyond being able to do anything about it.

Youngblood blinks, "She..she is a healer, Rayek. And when we entered the 
  Palace, she began to remember more, then she fainted, and fell asleep. I 
  think her own healling magic was doing it. But I do not understand how." He 
  glances at the crumpled elf and frowns, "What is wrong with her?"

Rayek, if he is surprised that this stranger knows his name, gives no other 
  indication of it than a twist of one corner of his mouth. He glances down at 
  Ktai, grimly; when he speaks again his voice is still curt, but very 
  slightly softened. "Her magic is gone; she has not learned to function 
  without it, and the Daystar's heat here drains her."

Youngblood blinks his large blue eyes in concern, "She cannot function without 
  magic? Can..can a healer help that!?"

She shifts a bit, but not enough to endanger her tenuous position on the 
  rock... but it does allow for one arm to uncurl, a hand opening palm up, the 
  long fingers trailing against the sand.

Youngblood regards Ktai with sympathy.

Rayek turns away, crossing his arms across his leatherclad torso. "A healer 
  has, before." He does not elaborate on that, but rather adds, "Mender is 
  skilled."

Youngblood nods, "He is. I've met her. Not as good as Leetah, at Lostholt, but 
  he is good.' He murmurs thoughtfully.

Rayek's bare shoulders tense, very slightly, but he does not speak.

The hand twitches once, sending a small spray of sand on the side of the rock, 
  then goes still again.

Youngblood frowns, noting Rayek's reaction.

Ktai sighs in her sleep, a heavy sound... but she does not wake.

Youngblood frowns concernedly. "How did this happen?"

Rayek, without looking up, says in a low voice, "She told me she tried to go 
  out to her daughter, a skill she does not have. It burned out her magic."

Ktai shifts position again on the rock, and this time -does- roll off, landing 
  in a small ball on the sand. SHe still doesn't wake. She might not be able 
  to.

Rayek turns round, and frowns. "Great Sun," he mutters. "She needs shelter..."
Once more, the dark-skinned elf begins to glow, this time as he kneels down to 
  carefully pick up the fallen female. It's an awkward proposition -- she is 
  taller, clearly, than Rayek -- or would be, if he did not blaze with magic.

Ktai doesn't even react... as if she cannot 'feel' the magic burning about 
  her. She sleeps unnaturally on.

Youngblood watches very curiously, blinking occasionally as he steps out of 
  the way.

Rayek curls his arms under Ktai's neck and knees, and floats with her, up the 
  hillside, into a half-hidden cave.

Ktai sleeps through it all.

Rayek's brow remains darkly furrowed as he lays the maiden on his sleepfurs, 
  and steps back to the cave's entrance, to stand watch.

Youngblood sends openly ** Will she be allright? **

Rayek steps back into view after a moment, up near the cave's entrance. At the 
  sending, he glances down towards the stranger, and sends shortly, ** If she 
  stays out of the Daystar, she should keep till Mender comes. **

Youngblood hrms. "Well, that's good to know."

Rayek leans against the mouth of the cave, staring sullenly into it.

Youngblood stands quietly, regarding the dark, sullen elf as if he doesn't 
  know quite what to say.

Rayek flicks a look down from the cave entrance at the uneasily lingering 
  visitor, a steady sort of 'And your point is...?' regard.

Youngblood smiles wanly, "Nevermind.' He withdraws.
Youngblood approaches the huge stone structure.
Near the Palace, Youngblood steps through the doorway into the Palace.

Ekuar steps out of a cave high above and comes down to the open floor of the 
  Pass.
Ekuar ducks out of the cave, squinting in the brightness. "Eh, whose voice was 
  that I heard out here?"
Ekuar peers about, somewhat vaguely. "I could have sworn I heard someone else 
  out here."

Rayek lifts his head to look at the rockshaper as he emerges, and he says 
  lowly, "Your visitor found me."

Ekuar props his staff crookedly against his body and rubs at his bleary eyes 
  with his single hand. "Hm? My who?" He blinks, his wits slow to gather after 
  awaking so suddenly. "Oh! Eh, me, yes. The lad whose sister is no longer 
  herself." The corner of his sensitive mouth quirks ruefully. "Oh dear. 
  -That's- what I forgot... I told the lad I would, eh, speak to you. About 
  whether the Palace might help his sister."

Rayek sighs, barely audibly. "The Palace does not heal. Nor do I."

Ekuar looks at Rayek, eyes deep with unspoken feeling. He says gently, "There 
  are unguessed depths, dear one. Places and powers as yet untapped... too 
  often overlooked. Hm?"

Rayek avoids looking down the hill at the Palace's glimmering shape; instead, 
  he scowls at the scuffed toes of his boots. "If Mender answers my call to 
  Savah, perhaps that will be enough to aid the maiden."

Ekuar nods thoughtfully. "Did you tell the visitor you had already sent for a 
  healer, for the pretty Glider? It might settle his mind, eh, on his sister's 
  behalf." He glances back into the cave for a moment, expression somber. "I 
  wish the lovely one had not tried to hold out so long against this. Poor 
  child."

Rayek says quietly, "I told him, yes." He slides a look into the cave, 
  briefly, gaze strangely liquid and sympathetic.

Ekuar settles himself a bit more comfortably, easing some of the weight off of 
  the wooden leg, resting his thin spine against the rock face. He gazes 
  absently down toward the Palace. "Mm. You know, my dear, despite the heat 
  and the dust... I believe the Glider will rest much better out here. With 
  you." The words are benign, spoken lightly, but he sounds as if he truly 
  believes them.

Is that a blush under Rayek's brown skin? Uncomfortably, Rayek murmurs, 
  "She... said she preferred being outside."

Ekuar's good arm moves as he gives a faint shrug, still watching the Palace 
  with loving regard, as if looking at a member of his own family... as, in 
  many senses, he is. "She can be-- eh-- stubborn. You'd know that better than 
  most, I suspect." His eyes crinkle at the corners. "I'm glad you're looking 
  after her, Brownskin..." the aged voice trails off, and he cocks his head. 
  "What's that glittering in the sun? There?" A gaunt forefinger indicates a 
  pile of crystal fragments.

Rayek lifts his amber regard, following the point. "A crystal. Ktai... broke 
  it." his tone is embarrassed.

Ekuar glances away from the shattered pieces, measuring his pupil with a kind 
  gaze. "Oh?" he says softly. "Was it... important to her?"

Rayek's brow furrows, as he considers this. "I... suspect so," he murmurs, a 
  husky edge remaining in his voice. "I remember her with a crystal before our 
  journey."

Ekuar looks from Rayek back down toward the Palace for a moment. "Mmm. I'm 
  surprised she left it lay, where the birds and beasts might scatter the 
  pieces."

Rayek continues to lean against the cave mouth, arms crossed along his chest. 
  Staring down at the pile of shards, he answers, "She collapsed before she 
  could recover the shards. I started to pick them up."

Ekuar ahhs softly, as if all is explained, whether spoken or unspoken. "It's 
  kind of you, my boy. To look out for her."

Rayek gives a vague frown; whether to his ancient companion or to himself, it 
  is difficult to say. And again, there comes a hint of a blush across his 
  angular cheeks. "I... understand the state she is in," he allows.

Ekuar runs one finger along his staff introspectively, eyes focused again on 
  the shining structure below. "I'm sure of it. Eh, you have shared many of 
  her troubles, in your time. I don't know if she realizes just how much the 
  two of you have in common, hm?" He leaves this last-- possibly unsettling-- 
  statement without further development. Instead, he murmurs, "It took a bit 
  of work, dear Leetah and myself, and Savah, helping you... you remember. I 
  wonder if Mender will be able to cope now?"

"I hope so." Rayek doesn't shift his stance; his voice becomes even 
  quieter, however.

Ekuar reaches out in his familiar way and pat pats at your arm consolingly. 
  "There's the Palace, of course. That will help. And eh, there's me, and 
  there's you." He smiles. "We may not be healers, neither one of us, but we 
  can surely lend our strength to someone who is. Don't forget how it used to 
  be, eh? When I was first teaching you? I didn't float the rocks, but I knew 
  how to show you, how to help you."

Rayek looks to you, then, and there's worry in his lambent eyes. "She says she 
  does not feel the Palace, Ekuar -- that I feel 'flat' to her. She has no 
  sense for magic." He frowns. "I found her trying to float pebbles, and 
  thought of you, teaching me."

Ekuar cocks his head. "Ah. Hm, 'flat', you say?" One gnarled finger strokes 
  his chin. "Reminds me of you a bit, dear one. Such trouble with your magic, 
  remember? Like a blackened tree after lightning had hit it, charred and 
  shocked." Another smile, wise and patient. "It came back to you, though. Eh, 
  again like a burnt tree, we just had to nurture you, and wait for the green 
  shoots to grow again."

Rayek smiles wanly.
Rayek lifts a hand to fidget with the wolf's head pendant dangling at his 
  breastbone, and glances into the cave again. "She is willful. But if I can 
  submit to a healer's attentions, so can she."

Ekuar bobs his head happily. "That's the spirit!" He chuckles. "You're two of 
  a kind, that's for certain. That must be why you two flare up at each other, 
  now and again. Strong wills always tend to run into one another, like two 
  strong currents causing a splash of white-water."

Rayek's wraith of a smile flickers again, but his gaze is distant. "She was 
  not in the Mountain, when I was there. I wonder..." He frowns. "She said her 
  brother has died. I would search for his spirit in the Palace, but I do not 
  know which Glider was her brother..."

Ekuar's eyes are drawn back to the Palace, despite occasional glances at 
  Rayek. He seems to be tracing his gaze over every glowing spire... to store 
  it, perhaps, in his heart? After a moment, he sighs sympathetically. "I'd 
  try and ask among them, if you like, but you know how they tend to separate 
  from worldly matters once they-- eh-- leave the body. As if conscious 
  thought sleeps, hm? Especially the Gliders... I suppose they often live so 
  detached from the world that it is little effort to forget about it ae(oops) 
  entirely, once the body is dust."

Rayek says only, "The spirits would be less aware of me, with me out here."

Ekuar pulls his longing eyes away from the beloved Palace, looking sorrowfully 
  at Rayek. "Yes..." he says, almost in a whisper. Then: "You know, dear one, 
  I will shape the walls to let you in. Eh, you needn't even ask. My powers 
  are yours."

Rayek stares at his aged mentor for several long moments. Then: "Tilia would 
  know."

Ekuar nods, simply. "Mm. I suppose she would feel my shaping... Of course, eh, 
  I've been shaping other things. Decorations, details, hm? So perhaps one 
  more surge of shaping would be no more important than the rest." He tips his 
  head to one side, lifting his brows. "There are always ways for a rockshaper 
  to keep out someone with a dagger, isn't there, my dear?"

Rayek smirks, but uneasily. "I shall not profane the Palace's halls with 
  battle, and if I go to the Go-Back, there will be battle. If she wishes 
  peace, she can come to me."

Ekuar nods again, agreeably, but adds: "Well, Brownskin. There wouldn't be 
  battle if we were protected by rock, would there now? A dagger cannot chip 
  through the Palace." His eyes twinkle faintly. "Still, I can understand not 
  wanting to add fuel to the flames."

Rayek abruptly shifts his stance, still scowling, rather more notably as Tilia 
  is discussed. "I have pledged her the Palace's guardianship. She can call me 
  a liar if she so wishes, but I will not go out of my way to earn the name."
Rayek suddenly grins, fiercely, eyes glinting. "But I shall also be a thorn in 
  her side. If she steps out of there she shall have me to face! Till then..." 
  He faces his old mentor directly and goes on, "I found something, scouting, 
  I'd like you to see, old friend."

Ekuar tips his head back, leaning it against the cliff wall, eyes fixed 
  ruefully on the sky for some moments. "Forgive me, Brownskin... I suppose I 
  get muddled sometimes, I do not pay-- eh-- proper attention to the giving 
  and breaking of words." He glances back down to Rayek with interest. "What 
  is it?"

Rayek nods, intently, and offers Ekuar his bare brown arm. "I will float you 
  there... come?"

Ekuar tucks his staff against his body, face lighting up like an eager child's 
  at the prospect of floating. His cool, gnarled hand slips confidently into 
  Rayek's.

Rayek lifts up, his body glowing, and Ekuar carried deftly in his grasp. The 
  darkskinned hunter glides up over some of the nearer slopes, out of the 
  immediate line of sight of the Palace and the pass in which it rests.
Rayek sends, ** Down there, ** as he floats towards what appears to be the 
  mouth of a cave, but oddly located, an open and smooth hole in the rock 
  floor of the cliff face.

Ekuar beams down at the windswept landscape. "Hoo! Look, look down there! Ha 
  ha!" The ancient never seems to tire of floating; his voice is as bright and 
  cheerful as it was the very first time Rayek lifted him into the air, so 
  long ago.
Ekuar peers down where he is directed. "Is it an animal's lair?"

Rayek drops feet-first into this tunnel, slowly, letting Ekuar take his time 
  to see. "No animal made this!"

It's a tunnel, clearly, but running almost straight down, and wide enough for 
  an elf to lie across it with space to spare. Its oblong sides are smooth, 
  without corners.

Ekuar gives a gentle shiver, his eyes widening. "Oooh," he says wonderingly, 
  gaze lingering on the smooth rock walls. "There's been a shaper here. Oh my, 
  yes. A powerful one, I can feel it."

Rayek murmurs, "That is what I thought," as he descends. "I left flint and 
  tinder at the bottom, to make a torch" -- and with that, the airwalker 
  lands, carefully. The objects he mentioned can be seen in the wan light that 
  filters down from above, and after he sets Ekuar on his own feet, Rayek 
  bends to light the torch in question.

As he does, things can be noticed about the room: sand and dirt and dust have 
  gathered on the rock floor from the open hole above, and the air is slightly 
  musty, though clean enough. The dimensions of the chamber cannot yet be 
  seen, but then, such things might not necessarily be judged by sight.

Ekuar leans on his staff steadily, craning his neck to look with amazement at 
  the shaped space, eyes nearly glowing in the old residue of magic permeating 
  the rock, the air. "The stone speaks," he murmurs, half to himself. "What 
  have you seen, hm?" He takes a shuffling step, then another, to lay his hand 
  against a surface melted smooth by some rockshaper's power, communing 
  quietly with his soul's element.

A flash of... something. An old memory? Not as old as either of the elves 
  here, but not recent, either. A sense of the rock being used to confine... 
  to bind. To hold.

Rayek's voice sounds in the quiet, as with a slight hiss, his torch splutters 
  into life. "What do you think, Ekuar?"

Ekuar's forehead wrinkles very slightly, and he strokes the stone gently with 
  soothing fingers. "Ah," he breathes. "You were used... Against someone. 
  Caught. Caged." Magic-hazy eyes seek Rayek's. "A powerful shaper made this 
  place, indeed... And not simply for hiding. There was struggle. Rock used as 
  a prison of sorts, I can hear this from the stone." He frowns very faintly. 
  "So powerful... I thought it must have been long ago, when we were new to 
  this world, perhaps. But it's much nearer than that."

Rayek holds the torch up to illumine the chamber: it is bare, stark, and on 
  one wall can be seen four odd little protrusions, two pairs, placed as if 
  someone's outflung wrists might fit between each pair. Off to one side can 
  be seen a side niche, outside the glow of the torch.
Rayek frowns softly. "I had thought to claim this as a better place to stay... 
  but wanted to see if you got the same feeling from it I did."

Ekuar continues to caress the stone, stroking and patting it... almost as if 
  comforting the inanimate wall. "Eh! There are feelings here, layer upon 
  layer." He looks appraisingly at the protrusions, eyes wise and solemn... he 
  has seen all kinds of devices for torture and confinement, indeed, and these 
  are not entirely foreign to him. "But the stone itself is not evil. Not to 
  blame. In time, with a new companion dwelling here, eh, I daresay much of 
  the darkness-- the heaviness-- would fade like leftover dust."

"Then it could be cleansed..." Rayek squints at a small pile of bones -- an 
  animal, perhaps, that fell down into this pit and could not escape. "Made 
  liveable...?"

A faint, delicate sparkling, barely perceptible with the eyes (although 
  tingling to the magic senses) wavers in the air around Ekuar's hand, and the 
  stone beneath the aged palm stirs slightly. Ripples, almost restless. He 
  turns his head and blinks eagerly up at his tall pupil, face alight. "Oh, 
  yes!" he carols. "And I'd so love to get to know this stone... may I, 
  Brownskin? May I help you make this place your own?"

In the torchlight, Rayek's face is shadowed, sallow, but he allows a smile. 
  "Ours," he offers.

Ekuar's smile is open, honestly and deeply pleased. "Something else to work on 
  together, hm?" He sighs with pleasure as he allows himself another tweak to 
  the stone, sending a bit of it shimmering and flowing under his hand. Then 
  he pauses, and blinks. Hesitantly: "Shall I... still try to keep our room in 
  the Palace, Brownskin? I've been there in your stead-- eh-- keeping your 
  place, perhaps even silently reminding Tilia what she has done. Ought I to 
  continue?"

Rayek walks over to inspect the side niche, wrinkling his nose at the scents 
  of a single abandoned -- and rather ripe -- fur left in the shadows. At the 
  question, he pauses, though, and his shoulders slump. Is he troubled?

Ekuar hastens to add, trying to reassure, "For whatever reason, the little 
  warrior has not, eh, barred me from entering. So if we need anything from 
  within, I can always go in and fetch it myself." A flicker of one eyelid 
  that might be a hint of a wink. "I haven't given my word not to shape myself 
  a tunnel under the walls."

Rayek's head lowers a bit, giving him a troublingly defeated air. At least for 
  a moment, that is; when the moment passes, he briskly resumes inspecting the 
  bare rock chamber, and tells you, "There is nothing I need from the Palace 
  to survive, dear one, but do not let that stop you from going into it."

Ekuar regards his young friend with eyes that soften and glimmer in the 
  torchlight. "I will be present there. I will visit, and do a bit of shaping. 
  But my home is-- eh-- here with you. As ever." He gives the rock wall 
  another slight nudge, shaping a faint, swirling palm-print into the yielding 
  surface-- a palm print crisscrossed with lines of age, missing its middle 
  finger. He smiles cheerfully. "Be sure to tell me how you'd best like this 
  place, hm?" Within the happy question is a clear undercurrent of fussing, 
  the same sort of protective instinct that led him to reshape the Palace 
  sleeping chamber into as comfortable a place as possible.

Rayek turns round to you, half-grinning, the expression gentling his features. 
  "There should be... stairs, perhaps. You can't float."

Ekuar hobbles energetically to one wall. As he rests his hand against it, 
  gathering his power easily, he suddenly pauses. Looks up, far above, and 
  shrugs. "I suppose it would be troublesome, always having to ask you to 
  float me in and out..." He begins to concentrate, the unnaturally-smooth 
  stone answering his gentle call, surging and creeping, as he says with a 
  rueful smile, "But I do so love to fly!" The enjoyment with which he begins 
  his task, though, says that he -also- loves to shape new things, especially 
  for Rayek.

Rayek steps up behind you, watching, expression lightened for once. "We will 
  need a source of water. And light." He smirks at himself. "And sleepfurs. I 
  may have to learn to tan."

Ekuar's face glows, the joy in shaping and in helping you combining almost 
  palpably in the air with the powerful aura of his magic. "A fountain!" he 
  cries excitedly. "Oh, my dear, it's been a while since I got to make a nice 
  fountain. Like that one at-- eh-- ah-- that one!" Slowly, spilling over 
  itself, rock is rising fluidly, turning, twisting, as a spiral staircase 
  takes gradual shape.

Rayek supplies, "Willowholt," as he watches the stairs rise out of the walls 
  and up through the tunnel overhead. "Should we bend it, do you think? To 
  keep out sun or rain? Wind will not get down here..."

Ekuar's eyes sparkle. "Just the thing! A nice bend, so the water doesn't drop 
  down and, eh, ruin all your nicely-tanned new furs!" A mischievious chuckle.

[With that, Rayek adds a new task to keep himself distracted... the making
 of this underground lair into a retreat... a place where he can put
 himself out of sight of the Palace, if not out of mind....

 End log.]