Log Date: 11/25/96, 11/27/96, 11/28/96, 11/29/96
Log Cast:
	Tilia, Rayek, Ember, Ktai, Azeure, Adi
Log Intro:
	After years of self-directed angsting in more ways than most elves could
bear for long, Rayek has found that angsting is almost more easier than
settling within himself the problems that made him angst in the first place.
But in recent moons at the Palace of the High Ones, it has become progressively
more apparent to the airwalker that he cannot afford to indulge himself in
self-pity -- not only because it continually wears down his spirit, but also
because Winnowill and the Gliders of Blue Mountain seem intent on continually
harrying him and Ktai. Worried, now, and feeling more determined to act than
he has in quite some time, Rayek goes to search for the one in the Palace
over whom he's been angsting the most....

----------
You step through the tall doorway, and into the...
Scroll Chamber
This smallish chamber is sparsely furnished, bearing only a single empty chair 
  which faces a platform; on this platform are the holders for the two halves 
  of the Scroll of Colors. Around you, the pale walls seem to ripple in 
  places, but perhaps that is a physical sensation, a trick of the light; what 
  cannot be a light-trick is the sense of *presence* in the chamber, of 
  welcome, and of magic.
Contents:
Tilia
Scroll of Colors
Obvious exits:
Out  

Rayek appears at the doorway of the chamber, soundless of tread, thoughtful of 
  eye.

Tilia dozes, or perhaps just rests in the Chair, watching the stillness of the 
  Scrolls.

Tilia
This is a terribly small goback woman, come of age in spite of her diminuitive 
  size. She is not unattractive, strong jaw nearly flat, eyes long but thin, 
  eyes thin but piercingly dark.  She is haggard and worn and hard as the rock 
  of the earth, her furs open and sporting many small holes and a few larger 
  ones. She is thin, but stern, the wind having eroded at her.
Carrying:
Wooden Spear

Rayek studies the small elf in Orolin's Chair for many moments; perhaps 
  thinking himself unobserved, he frowns ever so slightly, perhaps even with a 
  tinge of nervousness. At last, though, he speaks up: "Tilia?"

Tilia looks over. She nods. "Rayek."
Tilia looks at you for a moment.

She _is_ awake, then. Rayek straightens, unconsciously assuming that 
  withdrawn, reserved stance in which he moves almost constantly nowadays -- 
  but it's belied by his eyes, which remain nervous. "May we... speak?"

Tilia keeps an eye on the brownskin, suspicion in her expression. "Alright."

Rayek's right hand slowly clenches; a muscle twitches slightly in one cheek -- 
  small, subtle signals of uneasiness. But, perhaps by way of substitution for 
  sending, he keeps his gaze up and direct. "I have been... a fool," he 
  begins, voice rough. "Some no doubt say I still am. I have to come to see... 
  to _ask_... if you will help me try to amend this."

Tilia's suspicions turn to realities, and she frosn before settling back, 
  watching at the scrolls. "That's it?"

Gruffly, the airwalker answers, "It's the best start I could think of." Is he 
  blushing?

Tilia certainly doesn't notice. "Alright, and then what."
Tilia reposes...
Tilia certainly doesn't notice. "Alright, and then what."

"I... am not proud... that I have hid from you and your son, and what happened 
  long ago." Rayek's eyes remain closed, his carriage tense, black eyebrows 
  knotted in what may well be self-directed distaste. But as he speaks, his 
  voice takes on more of his characteristic firmness. "I would like to make 
  amends for it. I will not presume to speak for you and Vale, but it has 
  crippled me."

Tilia looks over her shoulder again and stares for an unblinking moment. "Why?"

At that, Rayek's amber eyes do open, and he frowns slightly, taken aback by 
  the question. "Why what?" _Curse it, must she force me to explain an 
  apology?_

Tilia says "Why are you crippled."

He's definitely blushing now, to an eye looking close enough to note it under 
  his dark skin. "Guilt," he retorts bluntly, mouth curling in a smirk, 
  contradicting the hotly embarrassed glimmer of his gaze. "Sorrow. Cowardice. 
  Blindness. What more do you wish to know?" Only on that last question does 
  his voice soften a trifle, mellowing, as he tries to make it an honest 
  request for talk, rather than a weapon with which to parry aside inquiry.

Tilia says "Those last three are certainly a reason to appologize."

Rayek inhales, again clinging to composure, and managing in brusque reply, 
  "Yes." His gaze remains steady on the Chair and its occupant, now: a wary 
  gaze, this. Waiting. Maybe even pleading, though it's doubtful the airwalker 
  would admit to such a thing. "Thus... I ask your forgiveness. I offer in 
  return my pledge to avoid making such a sun-scorched fool of myself in the 
  future."

Tilia says "And that's it? I say it's okay and it's okay."

Rayek's eyebrows draw together, annoyedly. "Of course not--" The words come 
  out sharply and he cuts himself off, with an effort, before going on in a 
  quieter tone, "I... do not know. But I do know that things will never be 
  right between us unless I stop hiding from you -- and unless you are willing 
  to let me try to redeem myself!"

Tilia says with a certain pointed simplicity, "I never stopped you."

Both Rayek's hands curl now, and uncurl, as though he channels nervous energy 
  into his fingers rather than allowing it to come out in his words. "No. You 
  haven't. You won't stop me now, either, unless you tell me you don't _want_ 
  to walk on firmer ground with me." He sighs, pauses, then adds, "I would 
  like to know what you want, plainly, unveiled by my own words become 
  questions. The Gliders that come here and play word games give me enough of 
  a headache."

Tilia continues in her jaded tone, "I've never stopped you from your doing 
  whatever you think needs to be done. If you want to do, do."

For all his attempts to keep himself composed, Rayek's gaze flares, and he 
  glances away for a moment, wincing just a bit. "I _know_ I have spent years 
  demonstrating little more cleverness than possessed by the back end of a 
  bristleboar," he grinds out, huskily. "And somewhat less consideration than 
  that for any wishes aside from my own. I am _trying_ to stop that. Are you 
  willing to listen to me, to try to forgive me, or have you condemned me past 
  forgiveness along with the rest of your Go-back kin?"

Tilia says "I will listen."
Tilia settles back into the Chair, tossing some hair from her face.

Rayek, eyes slitted and glowering at the floor, takes a deep breath and 
  concentrates on releasing it. Finally, he lifts his gaze. Expression and 
  voice both now wearied -- and more visibly hurt, on some level, because of 
  it -- he says lowly, "Thank you for that, at least. Is there anything I can 
  do to try to earn your forgiveness, as well as your ear?"

Tilia says "Only if you stopped pretending that it mattered and actually did 
  something about it."

Rayek scowls, almost whirls away to stalk out of the chamber, and halts 
  himself with a visible control. "What can I do about it, then," he growls, 
  "that _will_ matter, if an apology has no importance for you?"

Tilia says "You talk. Gliders talk. Almost everyone around here just talks. 
  /Do/ something."

"Curse it," Rayek bursts out, clenched hands lifting, "that is why I came to 
  you -- I am no High One! How am I supposed to know what I might do unless 
  you _talk_ to me?" He starts to pace, features twisting, pained. "Do you 
  want me to leave the Palace, or stay? Throw myself before the spears of 
  Kahvi's warriors -- or your own? Plant myself on the highest spire of this 
  place and broadcast to every elf in sending range how foolish I, who once 
  fancied he'd become a High One, am?" Again, his face twists in a wince; his 
  voice grows rougher.

Tilia says "No. I would rather you just got back to being Rayek."

Rayek stops cold, almost trembling, and stares at the smaller elf for some 
  time. Finally he retorts sardonically, "You would have me return to the 
  arrogant one who thought the Palace was his plaything, to take it and fly it 
  where he willed?"

Tilia says "Rather that than this creature who's afraid of himself."
Tilia says "And everyone near him."

Ember assumes she's not quite this close to hearing distance. Instead of 
  waking up here, she arrives in the doorway after Rayek's latest bellow. Her 
  eyebrows are elevated, and for the moment, she carries her spear like she 
  might mean business. ** What are you, ** and that's a general 'you', ** 
  yelling about? **

Tilia leans back in the Chair, scowling to herself, arms folded acrost her 
  chest.

Rayek does whirl, then, to find the Wolfrider huntress behind him. She, 
  perhaps, can see fury and hurt warring in his hot golden stare; finally, 
  then, he yanks his gaze away from both her and the small elf on the Chair, 
  and locks his regard on some safe spot on the far wall. "I am trying," he 
  growls tightly, "to apologize to Tilia, and she thinks I should stop being 
  afraid of myself and everyone around me."

Ember relaxes a bit, leaning on her spear. ** Seems to me, ** she replies 
  after a moment, ** that apologizing takes a lot of bravery, usually. 
  Admitting you're wrong isn't easy. ** Especially, she doesn't add, for Rayek.

Tilia says "This sudden urge of bravery does not wipe out every cowardace for 
  eights of turns."

Ember stares at Tilia, briefly. ** Timmorn's -blood-, Tilia. Give him some 
  credit. He's trying. You're not helping any. **

Tilia sets her jaw to the side, watching the still Scrolls.

Seething, Rayek gives that spot of wall a glare that suggests he'd like to 
  melt it with the strength of his own eyes. "If the Palace's master," he 
  snaps testily, "has suggestions on brave deeds I might attempt to win her 
  favor, I am open to suggestions -- or am I not supposed to be apologizing 
  for my blasted pride?"

Tilia says "You do what you do, Rayek. Don't ask me to be your mother."

Ember mutters, "It sounds like you're already acting like his mother," to the 
  air.

Tilia snaps, "I didn't ask for this."

Rayek stiffens. Then, as though hurling down a challenge wand with his words, 
  he snaps over his shoulder, "I need neither you nor anyone else to be my 
  mother. But neither do I need, or want, you to be my enemy, or, by the 
  Living High One, a thorn in my side!" He pivots back to face the Chair, now. 
  "You don't want my words, you condemn me for my actions of old, but will not 
  tell me what actions I might do to make amends -- the headaches I get from 
  you are worse than from any Gliders! Should I even bother to pursue this, or 
  simply accept that I am hated, not needed, and not wanted, and remove myself 
  from this place forever?"

Ember begins to snap back at Tilia, but is overtaken by Rayek's vent. She 
  finds herself merely blinking, trying to locate a place for herself in this 
  argument--preferably somewhere out of the way.

Tilia says "There is only one thing you can do, Rayek. Stop it. Stop being 
  afraid and start defending yourself once in a High One's birthday. Stop 
  thinking just because some people think you're a longtooth's rear that 
  you're going to believe them. The Rayek I knew believed in who he was. The 
  Rayek I knew would do something. I may not like you, Rayek, but by the heart 
  of the Palace I respected you."
Tilia says "And now you're this way and want me to say it's alright. It's not. 
  It's a wish, and you can't do anything with wishes. You do things with doing 
  them. If you want to ammend, /ammend/. Don't just stand there."
Tilia's gaze has eventually moved over to burning little holes in Rayek's head.

Rayek stares at the little Go-Back all throughout her reply, and when her 
  heated stare rests on him, he doesn't flinch under it. "I have kept to my 
  promise to not move the Palace," he hurls. Another wand. "I have striven to 
  keep elves from harming elves in these blessed halls. When PaleMoon went 
  missing, I set out with Ekuar and Youngblood to recover her. I have, _by 
  your own decree_, not worn a gift from one who cares for me to keep Sar from 
  causing harm in this place." More wands. "Sar has attacked my life, and 
  Winnowill my heart and soul, and still I remain, here, trying to help guard 
  those who seek the Palace's shelter!"

Ember scowls, abruptly, at the floor, and backs up somewhat. This has the 
  scent of challenge, and a third party shouldn't be involved. Her grip on her 
  spear shifts uncomfortably. 

Tilia says "So why do you need my forgiveness. They're things you can't 
  change, and things that aren't important any longer. When has my word meant 
  anything to you."
Tilia settles back into the chair, calming again to watch the Scrolls of 
  Color be precisely what they seem.

Rayek's voice, through his last vent, rose in volume and sharpness; now, it 
  plummets again in decibels, and loses the crackle of anger. But his tone 
  stays sharp, an unsheathed and unadorned dagger. "I don't ask your 
  forgiveness for defending those who need it, and cursed if I'm going to beg 
  for your respect. But again, and plainly, just in case you missed it the 
  last time: I wronged you by hauling you into the past, by forcing you to 
  throw your Self into the Palace and cursed well near killing you, and by 
  forcing your son to be born apart from the elves he should have known and 
  spending a world's age in wrapstuff! I've apologized, because I ache over 
  it, and it keeps me from the only Purpose I have left in my life: that of 
  defending those here!" Then, finally, the edge in his voice turns jagged -- 
  as he exposes, perhaps, something of the wound in his soul. His shoulders 
  shake, and he forces them even as he growls out in finish, "I want... to 
  help. To guard. To defend. And I cannot do it unless I know that if I need 
  to, I can counsel with you when danger threatens this place and all within 
  it."

Still, as a statue, a practiced move this little Goback has, and then her head 
  inclines but slightly into a nod.

Ember raises her eyes to study Rayek, and a small smile, sympathetic, 
  understanding, curves her lips.

Tilia, not noticing Ember's manuver, says in a voice quiet that it tries to 
  hide in the corners of the room, "Alright."

By now, perhaps deciding that this conversation had indeed be best left to the 
  airwalker and the diminutive Go-Back warrior, Ember has slipped out. Rayek 
  has not appeared to mark her passing, with all of his attention on Tilia, 
  where she sits. Fury draining rapidly out of his expression, he finally 
  gravely inclines his head, a single time. "Thank you," he says again, 
  gruffly.

Tilia looks over. "For what."

Rayek goes on, voice level now, if grimly quiet, "For being willing to listen 
  to my counsel -- if indeed I'm reading you rightly." He shoves a brown hand 
  through loose tendrils of black hair, and adds, "You're right. I am drawing 
  danger to this place, and it's high time I acted to stop it. But I'd be no 
  less of a fool now than I've been in the past, if I didn't" -- Rayek's voice 
  roughens, slightly -- "admit I needed your help."

Tilia looks away, staring at the doorway for a long moment.

The airwalker now waits, silent, but intent of gaze.

Tilia looks back and says in an uncharictaristically verbose way, "This is our 
  Home, but you have been doing things that hurt you. The Palace can fall into 
  the ruins of these hills by any danger, because I will be here until my last 
  breath keeping this Home what the High Ones intended. But if you lose 
  yourself, then that is a loss that will darken the Palace and take away some 
  of what it is."
Tilia's eyebrows arch with sorrow. "I grieve every time you turn your spirit 
  away. I don't understand how you can, or why."

Rayek inhales slowly as you speak, waiting for you to finish; when you do at 
  last, he glances at the nearer half of the Scroll of Colors, amber gaze 
  turning slightly liquid, but no less intent. "I... am still wrestling with 
  the why of it, myself," he confesses. Then his eyes sharpen again. "But it's 
  enough for me to know, now, that I no longer have the luxury of self-pity."

Tilia says "Good. Reminding you was getting tiresome."

Rayek smirks, but not unkindly, and shifts his gaze back to you fully to add, 
  "A Glider has tried to take my life; Winnowill, my soul. I am bringing 
  danger to the Home, Tilia, and I cannot let this stand. I came to you hoping 
  to not only put my past... foolishness behind me, but to speak of how we can 
  defend this place and those sheltering here."

Tilia says "We?"
Tilia grimaces. "I have no real power. Only you know this, and Leetah and my 
  son, but it is true."

Rayek replies evenly, "I'd be breaking my pledge that you should be guardian 
  here, if I made plans without you. Besides" -- and he half-smiles -- "you 
  have wisdom, even if it jabs me like Kahvi's spears."

Tilia snorts. "I can't even remember if it was the High Ones I ever heard. But 
  ... thanks."

Rayek's eyes lighten, just a little, and he gives enough of a nod to relay a 
  "you're welcome." Then he asks, soberly, "Did you feel it, when Winnowill 
  tried to take me?"

Tilia says "No."

His face tautening somewhat, Rayek turns as if to pace, heading first away 
  from the Scroll and then towards it, before finally folding himself down in 
  a restless red-and-brown sweep, to sit on the edge of its platform. "After 
  Sar had Zirek poison me," he tells you forthrightly, "Rigar asked me to eat 
  of a flower that would return me my strength more quickly. I should have 
  known better; he told me it would make my mind wander for a time. But..."

Tilia continues to listen.

Rayek scowls, in self-directed distaste. "I've been weary for some time of not 
  having control of my mind. But I don't like not having control of my body, 
  either, so I ate the petal, as Rigar asked. I dreamed. And Winnowill, who 
  has been spying on me for some time now, came into the dream." His 
  expression hardens. "She wreathed herself in my dreams as Leetah."

Tilia says "Snake."

Rayek, in slow and measured control, pulls in a breath and releases it. "She 
  dropped Leetah's face when I was deep into the dream, but by then...." He 
  scowls again, and in that same deliberation flexes each of his fingers in 
  turn, as though forcing himself to work off energy in tiny ways rather than 
  blasting something with his power. "Tilia, she almost had me. It took Ktai, 
  Delenbae, Rigar, and Kiralee to give me the strength to pull myself back, 
  and even then, in parting, Winnowill struck Ktai's mind so that she would 
  not see me, when she awoke."

Tilia says "Oh."

Rayek finishes in a baldly worried and angry tone, "Winnowill is continuing to 
  harry me, and she is beginning to strike at innocents when I do not bend to 
  her wishes."

Tilia says "Oh."

Rayek watches you now, quiet again, his regard full of the same restrained 
  restlessness that seems to crackle through his frame.

Tilia's expression does not convey much more than uncertainty.
Tilia says "I can't do anything to stop her, but get close enough to kill her."

Rayek's fine-boned nose wrinkles. "Killing her would gain us nothing save 
  turning her spirit loose in the Palace. There must be _something_...." He 
  balls his right hand into a fist, smacks it into his left.

Tilia shrugs. "What does she want."

Rayek glowers into the air over his joined hands. "Me, it would seem; she has 
  asked me repeatedly to go to Blue Mountain. But I would be three times a 
  fool, if I did that."

Tilia says "Why."

Rayek looks back to you, gaze still sharp and glittering, voice holding no 
  illusions. "I do not trust myself to stay unensnared by her; power to power, 
  hers is greater than mine. She knows I can see into the Scrolls, and that I 
  can fl... flew the Palace, once. My blood runs cold at the thought of her 
  using the Home, through me."

[And meanwhile, outside the Palace, Ktai returns from a hunt, as we switch
 to Ktai's point of view....]

Ktai walks in, hefting a fairly large and dead leaper.

Azeure's magic seems to envelop the beast, making it at least a bit lighter

Ktai looks over, her dark eyes glancing to you.

Azeure smiles a bit ** You've become quite the hunter sister **

Ktai sends openly ** Have to. To survive. **

Azeure nods once, making his way towards you.
Azeure stops, his magic faltering a bit..

Ktai pauses in step. ** What? **

Azeure frowns, closing his eyes

Ktai holds the leaper in midair. ** What is it? **

Azeure shakes his head, remaining quiet
Azeure locksends **  <to Winnowill> You once asked me to portray what it is to
  be a high one.. this is not even close... **
Azeure sends openly ** Go to Rayek... **

Ktai blinks. ** What? **

Azeure sends openly ** Just go to him.. **

Ktai frowns slightly. ** Why? What is going on? **

Azeure sends openly ** Ktai please.. **

Ktai turns and runs into the Palace, heedless of the fact that the leaper still
  follows. It falls to the ground seconds after.

Palace(#500Jae)
Doorway
You approach the huge battered stone structure.
Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here.

You locksend ** <Half-panicked> Rayek?! ** to Rayek.

You locksend ** Why... am I doing this? ** to Azeure.

You sense in a locksend, Rayek replies promptly, ** I am in the Scroll
  Chamber... are you alright? **

Azeure locksends ** Because I care for you.. now go.. far from me.. **

You locksend ** I... don't know... Azeure... acted very oddly... and now he's
  telling me to go far from him! ** to Rayek.

You step through the doorway into...
You move away from the huge stone structure, stepping around the rubble that
  litters its immediate vicinity.
Entry Hall(#8823RAF)
Bright Green Tent(#9206JOes)
Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here.

You locksend ** Is it Her? Winnowill? <She is alarmed> ** to Azeure.

[And meanwhile, within the Scroll Chamber, and back to the point of view
 of Rayek....]

Tilia says "And?"

You say "And, the only options I see before me are to either remove myself 
  from the Palace -- and I have had enough of solitude -- or to see whether we 
  cannot, all of us, here, find some way to keep her from harming anyone. 
  Especially through me."
Rayek asks plainly, "Am I missing anything, that you see?"

Tilia says "We might. I cannot. She attacks through magic, that I don't have."

Ktai locksends ** <Half-panicked> Rayek?! **

Rayek opens his mouth to reply, then blinks, attention shifting. "A send," he 
  tells you. "Ktai."

Tilia says "If even with the Palace's knowlege it takes four and more to keep 
  her out of your mind, there might not be a way."

You locksend to Ktai, Rayek replies promptly, ** I am in the Scroll Chamber... 
  are you alright? **

Ktai locksends ** I... don't know... Azeure... acted very oddly... and now 
  he's telling me to go far from him! **
Ktai arrives from the corridor outside.
Ktai has arrived.

Rayek, face still half turned to Tilia as he answers the sending he has 
  received, nods shortly, worry flickering across his face. "Three healers, 
  and Ktai, to bring me away from her," he agrees starkly. "She fights with 
  magic. And she fights with Chosen. She said that she did not order Sar to 
  harm me, or Ktai, but I do not think I believe her."
Rayek, then, looks up from where he is sitting on the edge of the Scroll's 
  platform.

Ktai steps in, half-sliding to a magical halt just inside the door. Pale, and 
  slightly out of breath, she send-blurts: ** Azeure sent me away. I don't 
  know what's going on, but he's sending out... like to Winnowill. **

Tilia says "If all of them cannot stop her with the Palace, when she is at a 
  distance, there is nothing we can do short of binding her in Wrapstuff and 
  hitting her over the head."

Ktai senses in a locksend, Azeure sends a silent affermation before completely
  severing his contact with you

Rayek smiles thinly to Tilia. "We _have_ a Preserver." Then, at Ktai's 
  entrance and outburst, he straightens and looks to her, frowning. "Eh?"

Ktai's eyes widen. Her lips part, and her voice is whispery soft. "She sends 
  to Azeure." Then she looks up. "I'm afraid." It's flat, and unemotional.

Tilia folds her legs with her in her chair, watching Ktai somewhat drolly.

Ktai doesn't care how Tilia's looking at her; there is a more important matter 
  at hand. Indeed, she doesn't even remember that her hunt went well, the 
  carcass forgotten below.

Tilia doesn't care if Ktai even notices she exists, but this is academic.

You say "Tilia and I have been speaking of Winnowill... among other things." 
  His mouth quirks a moment in something that might be dry humor, before going 
  grim again. Back to Tilia, he goes on, "Winnowill keeps trying to draw Ktai 
  back to the Mountain, and she does not want to go. This, too, is something 
  on which I must act, and on which I hope we all can.""

Tilia says "Why do they want her."

Ktai sighs softly. ** I know what she wants. She wants to use me as a way to 
  get to Rayek. **

Tilia says "It's a risk we all take."

Ktai looks sadly towards Rayek for a moment, her cheeks tinging slightly pink 
  before she looks to the Scrolls. ** Then promise me one thing. **

Tilia says "Yes?"

Rayek glances between you both, waiting for Ktai to continue.

Ktai looks to you both, as if thinking before she sends. ** If Winnowill is 
  successful in taking me from here... you must promise not to follow. I'll 
  escape. I have before, I will again. **

Tilia looks to Rayek as she says, "I have very few reasons to ever leave the 
  Palace."

Ktai locksends ** Please. Keep him here... I love him, Tilia... I cannot bear to
  think him falling into Her grasp over me. <Her send is quiet, carrying just a
  hint of desperation.> ** to Tilia.

Tilia continues watching Rayek, self-steady.

Rayek looks up Ktai's height, to meet her dark eyes with his golden ones. ** 
  Ktai, I cannot allow Winnowill to harm innocents because of me. **

Ktai glances again to Tilia before looking back to Rayek.

Tilia snorts and turns away, scowling.

Ktai shakes her head. ** Rayek... I love you. I'd give my soul, and gladly to 
  keep you safe. I don't want her to win you because you feel that you have to 
  keep 'innocents' safe! I'd rather die than for her to win you. **
Ktai sighs softly. That really hadn't meant to be known. But it's been sent, 
  and there's nothing more to do about it.

Tilia locksends ** I won't stop Rayek just because. I will stop him if he's
  foolish, if he will do more harm than good, but he is no child even with his
  self-uncertainty, and he is no dull mind. ** to Ktai.

Rayek rises with the same restless motion with which he'd sat. His eyes flash 
  with something suspiciously like his old pride, but tempered, somehow. ** 
  Better to work towards keeping her from taking any of us, than to worry 
  about what might happen _if_ she does? ** he asks Ktai, his tone strangely 
  uncomplex.

Ktai blushes deeply now, from what remains unclear. Then, with a 
  half-strangled send outward, she runs out. ** Ekuar?! **
Ktai has left.

Golden eyes widening at _that_ shout, Rayek frowns, then turns back to Tilia. 
  "I'd better talk to her, I think... and others, in the Palace." He rubs the 
  back of one hand across his brow, then finishes, straightening once more, 
  "If insight comes to you on this, please call for me."

Tilia says "On ... what?"
Tilia says "Your concerns, or the gliders'?"

Rayek half-smiles, but without mirth, and still with a sharpened gaze. 
  "Ultimately -- they're practically the same, at their heart: how to protect 
  the Home and the elves in it from Winnowill. It's too great a problem for me 
  to take on alone." He walks to the door, and adds, "I was alone ten years in 
  these Halls; that was enough." And with that, he is gone.

[And in the meantime, horrified at herself, Ktai runs for Ekuar and finds him
 asleep. So, she walks through the night, unsleeping, trying to gather the threads
 of herself into something a little less frightened. She is only minorly
 successful. And later....]

Palace(#500Jae)
Doorway
You approach the huge battered stone structure.
Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here.
You step through the doorway into...
You move away from the huge stone structure, stepping around the rubble that
  litters its immediate vicinity.

Entry Hall(#8823RAF)
Adi
Bright Green Tent(#9206JOes)
Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here.

Ktai steps in, looking more than moderately upset. She also carries a dead
  leaper that she almost instantly drops.

The young GoBack is sitting idly on the stairs sharpening her dagger.

Ktai sighs softly, and looks over to you. She pauses in mid-open send, and
  switches to her soft-spoken voice. "Adi...?"

Adi
The snow white hair is neatly kept and pulled away from her face with a strip
  of leather and some lacing; it frames a gaunt but young face that showcases
  two sparkling pine green eyes and a small slightly upturned nose. Adi's wornd
  green tunic is crossed diagonally by the strap of an arrow quiver that's
  slung over her back, and her baggy brown leggings are tucked into the tops of
  her tan knee hig boots. You think you spot the hilt of a dagger sticking out
  of the top of her right boot, but you quickly dismiss is at your
  imagination.. after all what would a fawn be doing so well armed? Adi's
  mischieveous grins is quickly replaced by a slight smirk as you gaze at her,
  she seems to know what you're thinking.

Adi glances up quickly, "Yeah?" Gruff, but inquisitive.

Ktai kicks at the dead leaper. "Get the bug to wrap this... I'm... not going to
  be here for a while..." The voice is brave, but her eyes betray her.

Adi smirks, "Like a bug will listen to me..." It clicks, "Where you going?"

Ktai turns towards the door. Her voice cracks only slightly. "The Mountain."

Adi slips her knife into its sheath, "Now hang on a minute, you don't like the
  Mountain and you're going there? Winnowill creepin' around people's minds
  again and no one telling me?

Ktai stops. "I don't have a choice. If I don't go, she'll force Azeure to
  kidnap me and Ekuar. I tried to warn Rayek, but he wouldn't listen... saying
  that he had to protect the innocents. I'm not innocent. So I'm going back to
  stop her."

Adi snerks, "Protect the innocent, mm-hmm. And if I'd have followed through
  with what the Snake wanted me to, Rayek would've been on me like trolls on a
  lone elf."

Ktai sighs. "What else can I do?"

Adi says "Well you can either storm the tunnels before the trolls come out or
  pick 'em off as they surface. I say stay and pick off the brid brains as they
  leave the Nest."

Ktai nods quietly. "Just... do one thing for me?"

Adi says "Sure, other than keep you from leavin' this place. That's a given."

"Keep Rayek from following me."

Adi covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, "Oh sure.. one runt of a GoBack stop
  Rayek. Feh, Suppose you want me to scoop up the Palace and move it
  somewhere's else while I'me at it hmm?"

Ktai turns, her eyes tired and sad. "Adi... I can't do everything. I tried to
  warn him... tried to tell him I was going. He wouldn't listen. I have to
  go... and if he follows... she will win."

Adi says "Since when does anyone _have_ to go anywhere? You and the rockshaper
  are the only two that keep the blackhair's head from spinning off his
  shoulders. You know he's gonna follow once he figures out where you've gone."

Ktai's shoulders fall. "And why would he?"

Adi rolls her eyes, "Doesn't take too much to know how much you mean to him."

Ktai shakes her head. "How come I can't see it?"

Adi says "Night that Winnowill knocked you out while I was talking to
  Winnowill, took off like an elf chased by every troll in the North... Ya
  can't see it because he's almost as cold as the Great Ice Wall."

Ktai blinks. "He... did...?"

Adi nods, "Yup.. even though it meant leavin' me talking with the Snake."
Adi says "Ya mean a lot to him wether he shows it enough for you to see or not.
  Nothing me, Ekuar or anyone he could do short of whappin' him upside the head
  with a boulder could keep him from following."

Ktai sighs deeply. "Then I can't protect him from her."

Adi says "You said yerself that she'd get everything she wanted if Rayek turned
  up at the mountain looking for you. You want her to win?"

You say "No, I don't."

Adi says "So you gonna charge into the tunnels or pick off the trolls that come
  out?"

Ktai looks at the leaper. "I'm not going anywhere. He may never admit anything
  to me... but that doesn't matter. I'll stay, and do what I can to keep him
  around for everyone else." Her voice is quiet, edged roughly with what might
  be pride and cold fury. Maybe.

Adi nods, "Smart move, Ktai."

Ktai sighs softly. "Is it? Really?"
Ktai continues. "I love him, Adi. I'd give my soul to see him safe."

Adi says "If ya need me to convince ya that it's a smart move, better work on
  convincing yerself while you're convincing me. There's no buck I'd give my
  soul for.. not anymore so consider yourself lucky."

Ktai sighs again. "Do I... overwhelm him? Is that it? Should I step back and
  make him look for me?"

Adi says "I don't think ya do, but I've only got Zirek for a base of that and
  he was overwhelming before we first joined But he's got his mind in the furs
  more than in his head."
Adi says "Rayek's the kinda buck that once you got his attention, never let
  go.. least I think."

Ktai nods slowly, looking up the stairs. "I'm not certain I have his full
  attention."

Adi smirks, "So wait around for the right time to snag it."

You say "How will I know?"
Ktai shakes her head. "Oh... never mind. I suppose I'll know..." She turns,
  quietly stepping outside and walk as she thinks. It's going to be a long
  night.

[End log.]