Log Date: 9/11/96 Log Cast: Rigar, Rayek, Winnowill, Ktai, Youngblood Log Intro: Startling every elf currently staying within it, Winnowill, along with a group of three of her Chosen as well as Eveshka, has arrived at the Palace of the High Ones. She has been met by Rayek... who is himself accompanied by Ktai, Ekuar, and the Preserver Petalwing... and although she has attempted to wreathe him in private, intimate sending, thus far Rayek has refused to respond in any such fashion. Winnowill has headed for the Scroll of Colors, drawn to it like a moth to candle-flame, with Sar accompanying her; his conscience dictating that no elf should be barred from any part of the Palace regardless of his personal feelings about them, yet not being so foolish as to let Winnowill into the Scroll Room unattended, Rayek has followed. In the meantime, worrying Ktai, Alorn has attempted to use her own magic on her, but has thus far been dissuaded, with Ktai kept close company by not only Ekuar but also PaleMoon, Youngblood, and the Preserver. Now, in the Scroll Room, while a distracted Sar looks on, another of the Palace's group of campers comes to investigate the commotion... ---------- Rigar wanders in, looking none too happy "Rayek.. oh.. I was -hoping- you didn't have company" Winnowill stands, as she has for some time, in the center of the room. Rigar nods "Hrm.. crawled out from under your mountain again healer?" Winnowill doesn't reply. Her eyes may be open, but she seems very far from here. Rayek, standing with arms crossed tightly along his chest, eyes the Chosen who eyes him just as steadily... and the Mountain Lord. Rayek then smirks, just a bit, at Rigar's greeting of Winnowill, and turns to say to the new arrival, "Company, yes. Winnowill; two Chosen, and Ktai's daughter." Rigar mutters "That's what I was wanting to talk to you about.." Winnowill locksends ** /As soft as Her breath on your ear./ Rayek.... turn them... ** Winnowill moves towards Rayek now, her eyes looking to him. Rayek's mouth stiffens, briefly; he does not meet Winnowill's gaze, as he says to Rigar, "I'm listening." Rigar says "Yes.. but so is she.. another time perhaps.. lost for words 'healer'?" Winnowill replies, her voice low and full. "No. Yet I have no words for you." Rigar rolls his eyes "Ahh.. it would figure" Rigar settles down against the wall, watching Rayek's eyes glitter, without amusement, though perhaps on some level he is bleakly amused. He does then turn, black eyebrows lowered, to study Winnowill. "Why do you wish the Scrolls turned?" he asks, question simple enough, but tone blunt. Rigar locksends ** Watch her.. I don't trust her.. ** Winnowill says "Why to see how well my representation is. One can hardly copy the original without seeing the original to begin with." You locksend to Rigar, Rayek's answering sending is tightly shielded, flickering with a surprising amount of power. ** Neither do I. ** Rayek considers the tall ebon-haired elf, across the space his gaze must rise to meet hers... Winnowill reaches out, she is almost close enough to touch him. Rayek then asks, archly, "Is the presence of this place" -- he flicks a brown hand about -- "not a sufficent demonstration? Do you not see, from it?" Winnowill says "I do... but one of mine has spoken highly of the Scrolls. I wish to see what he has seen." Rigar watches quietly, frowning. Winnowill steps closer, almost touching Rayek with her outstretched hands. Rayek's slim red-clad form abruptly, just barely noticeably, shimmers, casting a faint golden sheen about him. Rayek then steps to the Scrolls, saying curtly, "The Scrolls are the gift of the High Ones to _us all_; there is no reason why you should not see something of what they tell. Perhaps Rigar will be able to carry the news of it back to his tribe, as well." A brief amber glance, to the shorter healer. Winnowill nods, her dark smile forming again on those ruby lips. Rigar nods once "Perhaps.." Rayek lifts his glittering hands, then, standing at his full height. Light flows, from his fingers to the graceful stone shapes in their holders... which then rise, ponderously. Winnowill looks on with barely held in check glee. This is what she wanted... this... "The Palace as it was," remarks Rayek, tone still edged, but softening just a bit, in reverence. Between the two Scrolls, color and light begin to interplay... and form images of a canopy of stars, of a sphere shaped of the very stuff of a long-dead homeworld. Winnowill locksends ** /Like a soft caress, the send twines about you./ As it can still be... ** Rigar looks on Rayek says to Winnowill, without turning, "As it may be again, someday, with our kind united to make it return into the stars." He calls up fleeting pictures, of the star-craft and its tall and limber inhabitants visiting this world, that... You locksend to Winnowill, Rayek's mental presence simply stands there, not answering you. Shielded within, to reflect the barely perceptible golden sparkles that play just above his skin even now. Winnowill locksends ** /The send seems to caress your entire being./ Yes, my soul's brother... see where we can soon be... Where we should be... ** Winnowill locksends ** /She is not so easily swayed/ ** Rigar pulls his knees to his chest, looking between the two elves and the scrolls Winnowill watches the Scrolls, but her lips are curved in a dangerous smile. Rayek holds the Scrolls on the tableau of the Palace, shaped into the pristin shape from which it has aged since its landing on this place, and Timmain and the other High Ones beginning their struggle to survive; an image pauses, on Timmain mid-way between elf-shape and wolf. "All of us," says Rayek quietly. "Sun Folk. Gliders. Go-Backs. Wolfriders. Cat Elves. _All_." Winnowill locksends ** /Her sends are soft and velvety-deep/ Have you forgotten our joinings, Rayek? Have you forgotten the shortcomings of the half-bloods? Perhaps... /her send voice drops low and whispery/ Perhaps I shall have to remind you of my soul's touch... ** Winnowill looks at the Scrolls, distaste showing as Rayek mentions the WolfRiders and Cat Elves. But, it passes as all things must. Rigar nods slowly, listening to the tale Rayek sucks in a slow breath, all at once; his brown fingers draw together on one hand, subtly, and the Scrolls respond by making the images they bear shiver, briefly, in a shower of iridescent sparkles. "_All_," says their turner, but there's a brief involuntary flutter in his voice. Winnowill locksends ** You do not answer me, my Soul's brother. Have I offended you? ** Winnowill steps to Rayek, resting a hand on his shoulder. Rigar scurries up from his seat, standing now There is no tingle, nothing that would warrant alarm from her touch. It is simply a hand on your shoulder, nothing more. The golden light flickering about Rayek flickers somewhat more brightly as Winnowill's fingers lower... stopping them a hair's breadth above the red silk that clothes his flesh. He looks up, then, levelly, without malice, but without openness, either. Winnowill merely smiles. No words are said. Rigar locksends ** I am here.. friend. ** Winnowill locksends ** Such a guard, my soul's brouther. Do you welcome her touch? Or is she what has turned you from me? ** Rayek finally says calmly, "Offended _me_, Winnowill? No. Not lately, at any rate." Winnowill's lips curl slightly and she reaches up, putting an arm around Rayek. "Good..." Rigar raises a quiet brow Rigar says "Shall we have more of the scrolls then Rayek?" Rigar says "Or are we finished for the nite?" Winnowill murmurs softly. "Yes, Rayek... which?" Rigar's eyes shift to Winnowill a brief moment, then back to the airwalker Youngblood arrives from the corridor outside. Youngblood has arrived. Rayek's slim form yet glimmers, the tiny lights playing back and forth just under Winowill's arm, giving fractional space between her white skin and Rayek's dark shoulders. His mouth has tightened, making a compressed line across his face; he then says, still calmly, "Would you see more, Rigar?" Youngblood tries to slip into the chamber unnoticed, wary eyes darting with recognition towards Winnowill. Winnowill remains 'holding' Rayek. Youngblood's eyes widen at the sight of Winnowill with Rayek. Winnowill locksends ** Remember...? Was I the last you touched in desire? ** Youngblood's eyes dart to the Scrolls, and he frowns, as if noticing something. Rayek, amber gaze studying Winnowill impassively -- impassively? is that a glimmer of regret in his eyes? -- indeed fails to notice Youngblood as the Wolfrider enters the chamber. With Rigar's answer in the negative, Rayek's face goes more tense... only then does he glance to the door, and see Youngblood there. Winnowill locksends ** /The send tingles/ Such magic we can make, you and I... ** Youngblood's eyes dart from Rayek to Winnowill. He stands in the doorway, silent. Cautiously, he takes a few steps into the room, closer to the two. But not too close. Ktai locksends ** Rayek? ** Winnowill remains as close to Rayek as his magic would allow. You locksend ** Scroll room. Meet me. ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** ** Ktai arrives from the corridor outside. Ktai has arrived. Rayek says, with just a hint of a pause roughening his words, "No, Winnowill.. our time has past." Ktai moves switfly in, her dark eyes searching. Youngblood glances over his shoulder at Ktai, then instantly fixes his attention back on Rayek and Winnowill. Winnowill makes a move as if to caress Rayek, then abruptly frowns, and lets him go completely. Winnowill's voice is low. "We shall see, Rayek." Ktai locksends ** Did she harm you? Try? Are you well, beloved? ** Ktai's eyes narrow when she sees Winnowill. Without an aloud sound, she moves to Rayek, putting a hand to his arm. Winnowill backs up in annoyance. Youngblood stays where he is, a judicious distance from the contending elves. He watches Ktai advance, eyebrows rising. Winnowill locksends, to Ktai: ** /Darkly/ Do not get in my way, Ktai. It would indeed be a pity to see something happen to that lovely form of yours. ** Ktai glares back quickly at Winnowill before looking to Rayek with concern. Winnowill turns and walks out of the room. "I expect more to be shown later." Rayek, with that, allows Ktai to take his hand -- and the telltale golden glimmers do not flicker into life about his fingers when Ktai's close on them. "We go to Ekuar," he says quietly, grimly. And, over his shoulder, "Winnowill, you and your Chosen are as free to come here as any other elves, but." And he abruptly switches to sending. ** I have pledged to guard this place, and to protect those within it. Do not sully the Palace's halls by treachery, or I pledge, too, that you will see more of my magic than you might like. ** Ktai locksends ** Rayek... let the Scrolls down... gently. You can do it. ** Winnowill almost seems to dismiss him herself as she exits with one final comment. "That, Rayek would be a show to end all shows." Winnowill has left. Youngblood lets out a tense breath as Winnowill exits. He mutters darkly, "Well that's a promise of trouble and no mistake>" Rayek, as soon as Winnowill leaves the chamber, shivers convulsively... and, slowly, the Scroll of Colors' two halves settle into their holders. Ktai sighs softly, seeming to almost draw Rayek to her. "Yes... to Ekuar..." Youngblood glances at Rayek, frowning, "What do we do now?" Eren soulsends ** ** The subliminal golden sheen flickering about Rayek dissipates, allowing Ktai to fully embrace him -- doing so, she can tell that he is quivering as tightly as a plucked bowstring. His gaze flicks to Youngblood, veiled, tired. Youngblood meets Rayek's gaze, and his expression grows troubled at what he sees there. He bites his lip. Ktai holds Rayek gently and murmurs softly to him. Rayek says lowly, "Do? We hope with all our strength that treachery is not what she plans, for I will have angered her with what I have sent. But it needed sending." Youngblood frowns again, "This is Winowill we're talking about. She is incapable of other than treachery." Ktai sighs. "She means me harm. That I know." Ktai holds Rayek for as long as he will let her. Once more there liquidly glimmers across Rayek's eyes a trace of regret. "Yes," he murmurs to Youngblood, "I know. More than you can guess, Wolfrider." Rayek finishes, voice grim, "More than you can guess." [End log.]