Log Date: 9/14/96, 9/15
Log Cast:
	Rayek, Ktai
Log Intro:
	Having just been awakened from a badly needed rest to discover that
Ktai is unconscious in his chamber, Rayek storms away from a conversation
with Winnowill, Adi, and Youngblood, to see what ails the Glider-born
maid....

----------
Rayek comes stumbling into the room, expression sharp with worry, dulled with 
  exhaustion, both at once. "Ktai," he calls huskily, eyes going straight to 
  her.

Ktai lies on the floor, as careless and as limp as a toy left behind by a 
  child.

Rayek scowls anxiously, and kneels on unsteady legs at the tall maid's side. 
  ** Ktai, ** he sends, mental voice thickened, but as alert as he can make it.

Ktai doesn't stir, seemingly lifeless as she lays there. Her chest rises and 
  falls slowly, yet that is the only outward sign of life.

Rayek notes those small signals, and someewhat does he relax. BUt not 
  entirely, not yet. Propping himself with one hand to the floor, he touches 
  the other to Ktai's forehead; his eyes close, and he gathers himself to send 
  more deeply.
You locksend to Ktai, Rayek reaches for you, pushing aside his own weariness, 
  the lingering whispers of dreams from beneath his thoughts. Focus only on 
  whether she is well. ** Ktai... **

Her skin is cool to touch, yet kissed by a thin sheen of perspiration. Still, 
  she doesn't move.
Ktai locksends ** <Darkness surrounds, thick and velvety. Winnowill's touch.> 
  **

Rayek's expression turns thunderous. He _told_ Winnowill not to harm... no. Do 
  not allow rage; channel it. Transform it to something that can help him 
  function, not hinder him from it....

Ktai doesn't move.

You locksend to Ktai, Rayek reaches for the Palace's brightness, linking 
  himself to it, bearing it up in one mental hand like a torch. Purposefully, 
  he ventures into that darkness, seeking. ** Ktai. It is Rayek... hear me...! 
  **

Ktai locksends ** <It seems as though the darkness swallows you as you move 
  on, but distantly and muffeled, you can hear a faint response... or is it an 
  echo....?> **

You locksend to Ktai, Rayek pauses there in the darkness, frowning. It _is_ 
  the same velvety blackness, and to find it here in such quantity disturbes 
  his already tired mind greatly -- but deal with it, first; then deal with 
  Winnowill, speaks his inner resolve. ** Ktai! ** he calls, drawing on the 
  Palace to add strength and clarity to the sending, masking his weariness.

You sense in a locksend, Ktai's presence-feel is completely muffled by the 
  darkness, yet her send-voice once clearly calls out in responce, then is 
  swallowed by memory-tinged velvet.

You locksend ** <There; get a lock. Follow it. He moves, golden, glimmering, 
  towards the source of the call, reaching to part darkness, push it aside, as 
  he goes. Deeper? Sideways? How can one tell, in directionless thought?> ** 
  to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <Deeper you go... until you fond a terribly dark area, 
  filled with what might be pain, if you were Ktai...> **

He does not hiss aloud, though inwardly he does; his brown features are set in 
  a scowl of concentration, sweat beading faintly on his forehead.
You locksend ** Ktai? Can you hear me? ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <Faint comes the response> ...? **

You locksend ** <Relief. She is not gone, not yet. He pauses there, bright, 
  glittering, illumining that darkened place, and he encourages,> Reach for 
  me, Ktai, let me bring you out of this... ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <The response is startlingly dark and oppressed.> ** Why? ** **

You locksend ** <Momentary confusion; this was not the answer he'd expected, 
  and in his weary state, it blanks his thought processes to receive it. He 
  answers finally,> PaleMoon... or Rigar... they can help. As will I. I'll 
  make her leave, Ktai, I vow it; I told her not to harm you, yet she has done 
  this...! ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <The response is veiled, though thinly> She... only reminded 
  me... **

You locksend ** <Taken aback, he hovers, dismayed.> Reminded...? Ktai... ** to 
  Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <It seems almost a farewell> Rayek... I love you... **

You locksend ** <Alarm. A farewell? Not now... he needs her! Needs people who 
  have, for all his attempts to armor it, seen the hurt place under his soul 
  and have offered their own strengths to help it heal... this he relays, 
  anxious, urgent.> I care for you, <he admits, compelled by the need to 
  shield against the encroaching velvet,> let me bring the healers, please...! 
  ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <It seems, from a great distance, that she reaches for you.> 
  **

You locksend ** <Bright, worrying, he hovers there, then in answer reaches 
  through the velvet again... (Curse it. So much of it, reminding him of its 
  source... but it can't affect him here, now, surely...) ... daring, he 
  cracks open his shields enough to send forth a tendril of his Self, towards 
  that distant light, something for her to grasp.> ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <She stops. Does he mean that?> **

You locksend ** <A sending flavored as though with his gaze gone liquid; he's 
  looked at you that way before, and he sends that way now. But this is 
  different -- deliberate vulnerability, cloaked on each side against the 
  velvet, targeted only to you. Perhaps not an admission of love, but it is a 
  true acknowledgement of depth between you, affection that is in his own way 
  returned... and worry, for he can't hold himself open this way long, not 
  with his mind reeling with weariness....> Eren. _Please_.... do not give 
  in... ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <She reacts, fighting for herself, fighting for you...> 
  Rayek... <She's pushing against that velvet, but she is not winning... not 
  alone...> **

You locksend ** <Telling himself it is only darkness... only the inner 
  pathways of the mind, perhaps right now tinged with whatever grief Winnowill 
  has imposed on Ktai, but it is Ktai's mind, nonetheless, and Ktai's mind 
  will not harm him... Rayek extends himself further, mental hand 'reaching', 
  bright and golden.> ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <There. Something brilliant, wrapped within the velvet... 
  Eren.> **

You locksend ** <Elation. He glides to that wrapped package, unshielded hands 
  brushing velvet as he strives to free that captured spark.> ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <She welcomes you... but only you...> Rayek... help me... **

Rayek reaches, drawing your crumpled form up into his arms, hoping that 
  physical contact will add to the link, give it strength and light....

Ktai is limp and cool. To one untrained, she would be thought dead.

You locksend ** <He draws you up into mental arms along with ones of flesh, 
  magic crackling, tingling, as he begins to draw off layers of velvet.> ** to 
  Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <She holds you close to her, loving you and trying to 
  physically wake> **

Rayek continues to kneel, your form cradled in his arms, his mind open, 
  sending.

Ktai's sends feel as though they are blanketed and thickly. Again comes the 
  query. ** Why? **

You locksend to Ktai, Rayek peels forth layer after layer of velvet, moving 
  with purpose and speed. The link from within him stays open, bright, waiting 
  for you to be able to reach forth to grasp it on your own.
Rayek sends, tone halfway between stern and gentle, ** Because I need you, 
  Ktai, friend <the word is shaded with 'companion', 'helper', and other 
  shadings he has yet to truly identify>... do not let her beat you... **

Ktai locksends ** <Very slowly now, a shimmering bluish sendril extends from 
  the darkness.> **

You locksend ** <Approving, wavering slightly from sheer relief, he reaches 
  for that blue, to give it a helping hand out of the surrounding darkness.> 
  ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <The sendril trembles, touched with old memories once 
  thought forgotten. It shys away for a moment, before extending more.> **

You locksend ** <His golden Self hovers there, reaching with both mental 
  'hands' now as though intending to pull you out of water; his power flows, 
  too, as though to try to make you lighter, to give you help to float up and 
  out of the invasive velvet.> That's it, Eren. That's it. Remember your 
  strength. Come back... ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <That which is Eren shivers, then extends to lightly 'touch' 
  your 'hands'... tingling with uncertainty> **

You locksend ** <Again he sends, encouragement, honest affection, tinged with 
  apology for his own gruffness and inability to allow himself to deal well 
  with such things. He sends trust, gratitude for your presence, appreciation 
  of your send-songs you've woven for him to coax him to slumber... anything 
  and everything he can bring to mind, to buoy up your spirit.> ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <She trembles, then the 'touch' becomes more firm, and the 
  sendril shimmers brighter, starting to 'burn' away at the velvet.> **

Rayek does not allow a smile, not yet; it takes energy to make his body to 
  things, and here and now he needs all his energy directed inward, magic-ward.

Ktai locksends ** <There. She shimmers softly blue, an slmost shy form within 
  the fading darkness. The velvet is gone, and it feels more like Eren with 
  each passing moment.> **

You locksend ** <A flash of brief relief. You begin to see _him_ more clearly 
  now, as well, as the veils begin to fade; Rayekness, aglow with pride, 
  ambition, yes, but leavened with caring taught him by inner suffering. An 
  ache within him to return to the star-place from which elf-kind came 
  glimmers there, as well...> ** to Ktai.

Ktai locksends ** <Within her, there is only the desire to be near you... old 
  pain resides there too... but time has lessened it to a dull and faded 
  memory. To her, she is nothing worthy of note... but she will love and try 
  for as long as she exists. It is all she has left.> **
Ktai locksends ** <A moment, then she is there.> **

Rayek lets out a shuddering sigh; then, fiercely, strangely tenderly, he 
  embraces the limp form he holds.
You locksend ** Do you hear me? <He does not restore his shields, not quite 
  yet, but he begins to gather them closer, just in case.. to keep out prying 
  other ears.> ** to Ktai.

Ktai stirs slightly in your arms, her breath seeming to catch, then ease into 
  a more reasonable pattern. Dark eyes slowly open to focus upwards.
Ktai locksends ** <Her send is touched with blue> Yes... I hear you, Rayek. **

Rayek looks down at you, face etched in haggard lines, but with alertness and 
  anxiety in his amber gaze. At the sending, then, he allows the faintest 
  glimmer of a smile.

She blinks, then smiles faintly in return.

You locksend ** <Only now does he allow himself to re-shield, for his own 
  safety and yours.> ** to Ktai.
Rayek murmurs, husky-toned, "Do you need Rigar? PaleMoon?"

Ktai locksends ** <Does a part of her go with you? Perhaps... or perhaps it is 
  imagined.> **
Ktai blinks again, her voice low and wispy. "No... I don't think so... it was 
  like being trapped in a nightmare..."

Rayek studies you, draw face grim. "Do you know what happned?"

Ktai nods. "Winnowill... reminded me..."
Ktai closes her eyes, pushing away the old memories.

Rayek brushes his palm along your cheek, scowling, now. "I will have to remind 
  Winnowill," he then tells you, "of the wrongness of harming elves in the 
  High Ones' first HOme."

Ktai closes her eyes, turning into your touch. She doesn't answer.

Rayek considers, then, leans down slightly to brush a hand across your hair, 
  to nuzzle his fine-boned nose against your ear. He then releases you, 
  gently, and stands.

Ktai opens an eye and looks to you. ** ? **

[With Rayek resolved now to confront Winnowill about this harm to Ktai, and
 Rayek and Ktai's typists needing to go to bed, we end our log.]