12/7/1998 Cast: Mender, Ktai, Eveshka, Rayek, Rainor Event: It's after the fall of Sorrow's End at the hands of the humans, and Ktai at last convinces an exhausted Mender to rest in the Palace. Having turned his care over to her daughter, Ktai seeks out Rayek... with the intent to entice him to rest, too. --- Side Corridor(#6192RFL) Contents: Rainor Rayek Eveshka Obvious exits: Smaller Corridor Rayek's Chamber Entry Hall Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here. Ktai glides through, oddly pale and silent. She's moving quickly, as if she's out to -do- something. >From within, the heavy doors of the Palace burst open and a pale elf emerges. You sense in a locksend, Rayek's familiar copper-gold presence touches yours gently, curiously. ** Ktai? ** Mender stands silent, facing outwards from the Palace to the remnants of his village, a rather stoic, silent figure. You locksend ** ** to Rayek. Rayek locksends ** (Though the specifics are too hazy for him to tell, Rayek instantly realizes that something isn't quite right. Concern adds a blue aftertouch to his sending, as well as a darkening of suspicion and unease. His sending grows faintly 'louder'.) Ktai? ** The Palace doors probably shut with a resounding *clang* but Ktai doesn't notice. She just espies the stoic figure and seems to sigh in relief. "Mender!" She calls out. You locksend ** ** to Rayek. Mender twists his head about suddenly with widened eyes, probably assuming that another healing is suddenly again required.He looks at the figure and blinks once, then again, then widens his eyes as a memory comes to him."Ktai! Your cub?" You sense in a locksend, Rayek-Presence grows faintly stronger, then withdraws some, echoing of puzzlement. Ktai shakes her head, daring to step further out of the Palace and into the rubble. "He's fine. Eveshka too, though she's working herself to exhaustion. You should rest yourself. I couldn't find you until now, and I worried..." She doesn't continue. You locksend ** ** to Rayek. Rayek locksends ** (a flicker of.... something, quickly vanishing before it can be focused upon) Is he all right? ** Mender's expression does relax at that good news, though the grim features don't quite leave him. He merely shakes his head at the suggestion of rest, with a simple explanation. "I cannot." He looks back to the ruins solemnly. This failure he takes personally, that much is clear without words. Ktai looks perplexed. "How will you heal others if your body is rebelling against you?" You locksend ** Jealousy does not become you, my love. Eveshka will be pleased that he is well... or as well as he can be. ** to Rayek. Mender wants, desperately, to complain against that logic, but he's simply too tired and, when it comes down to it, he knows you're right. "I've healed more elves in the last few days than I have my entire life," he says quietly. "There can't possibly be anymore." Ktai nears, mindful of the dangers, gliding lightly above the rubble. "There is one..." You sense in a locksend, Rayek seems to flush a little, sending painted a rosy hue, before it vanishes as quickly as before. He doesn't reply to the former comment, instead focusing on the latter: ** How well is he? ** Mender looks back over his shoulder at you with a soft expression. "Who?" "You." You locksend ** He is stubborn, exhausted, yet refusing to admit it... It seems my daughter might have the same taste in elves after all. ** to Rayek. Mender chuckles with the int of a faint grin. "Oh?" Ktai smiles bemusedly. "Have you bothered to sense yourself, Mender? Have you seen how tired you are?" Mender closes his eyes and looks away. "Please don't show me. I've been frightened enough for a few lifetimes," he says with a laugh. Ktai is insistent. "Then you should come rest." Rayek locksends ** ....Eveshka? ** You locksend ** Well, it's certainly not -me- ...! ** to Rayek. Mender opens his eyes backat you now and returns your bemused expression. "Where?" "In the Palace, of course. There is refuge there." Mender sits down right where he is and hides his face in his lap with a sigh. "And face all the souls we lost?" Ktai's send is pointed. ** You sound like Rayek. ** Mender looks back up at you with a smirk. "Lursa is in there.She'd never let me live down how she died and I did not." Mender smirks at you wryly. "I do not." He'hmps' and looks away. Rayek locksends ** (He's caught off-guard by this. Obviously, this developement flew right over his black-haired head. For a few moments he is silent, then seems to swallow and press on forward.) Do you require assistance bringing him back? ** Ktai chuckles faintly. "Do you truly think it matters to them now? The memories lost, the loved ones lost... they are far happier now than they ever could be. I should know. Valdir is there." You locksend ** Perhaps. He is as stubborn as you are known to be. ** to Rayek. You sense in a locksend, Rayek-Presence seems to adopted a 'ruffled feather' feel to him, then he withdraws slightly. ** If you do, call. ** You locksend ** Beloved... I had not meant to offend... ** to Rayek. Mender again wants to argue, and again knows he can't, though he keeps his gaze on the village. "Now what am I supposed to tell Dart when I find him?" he asks instead. Ktai nears more now, slowly picking her way over the rubble. "The same thing I told Eveshka the night Valdir died. The truth." You sense in a locksend, Rayek assures briefly, but honestly, ** I am not offended. ** Just a little put off, perhaps. That said, his end of the connection goes silent. Mender looks back up at you now as you near. "That I lost his village for him?" "Why take all the blame, Mender? You are one elf, alone in a world far more than we can imagine. And yet, if you'd let it be, you'd be among friends... among..." She doesn't finish. There's something unspoken. Mender clearly doesn't catch the last part of that - he's far too distraught and self-absorbed to do so. "Because I was in charge. The villagers aren't warriors, Ktai. They depended on me." Ktai's voice is soft. "They also depend on you as a Healer." Mender nods softly at that and now fights to keep his eyes open. "I know," he says softly. "I know." Her hand rests lightly on your shoulder. "Then it is time now to be Healer. Let the warrior rest." Mender is, simply, too tired to argue. He lets his head fall to the side to rest atop your hand and closes his eyes. "I could kill Lursa for leaving me behind," he says tiredly. "She made the choice for you to live. Don't give her reason to regret it. Come, Mender. The Palace awaits." Mender lets out a breath, nods, and finally gets up to his feet. Ktai nods, ready to add her gliding to aid if needed. Mender stumbles, and stays near you with a hand ready to grab onto you if needed, but manages to keep his feet udner him. Ktai watches, moving slowly back towards the Palace. Mender steps through the doorway into the Palace. Mender moves away from the huge stone structure nearby. Mender has left. 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) Contents: Mender Sand cat Shenshen's Tent(#10445Je) Obvious exits: Corridor Winding Stairway Doorway Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here. Mender staggers in beside you and, upon entering, comes to a halt and looks about the Palace in awe. Rayek arrives out of the popular and well-lit Corridor. Rayek has arrived. Rayek passes through briefly, expression thoughtful. Without a glance around him, he quickly and silently ascends the stairway. Rayek makes his way up the long staircase. Rayek has left. Ktai seems to almost drag Mender in, yet she does not touch him at all. "You live here?" he asks quietly, just above a whisper. She nods. "Yes." Eveshka arrives out of the popular and well-lit Corridor. Eveshka has arrived. Eveshka wanders tiredly and only half-heartedly after Rayek, but comes to a halt when she sees Ktai and... Mender! The smile is a sharp contrast to her disheveled and tired appearance. Mender comes across Eveshka as he surveys the inner parts of the Palace and, in spite of his state, returns her smile. "Eveshka." Ktai watches her daughter; there is something she knows. Eveshka blushes softly. "Yes, Mender. Are you injured?" She's asked so many today, she momentarily forgets she speaks to a Healer. Rainor arrives out of the popular and well-lit Corridor. Rainor has arrived. Rainor says "Shade Mender, Its good to see you" Mender chuckles lightly and leans into Ktai for support. "Only in spirit, Eveshka." He studies her a moment with rather amused eyes. "You look horrible." He then glances over at Rainor with a tired grin. Eveshka smirks faintly and tiredly at Mender. "You don't look like a dreamberry yourself. You should clean up and rest." Ktai almost laughs at the exchange, but keeps herself still. You locksend ** Rayek...? ** to Rayek. You sense in a locksend, Rayek's position seems to have changed. His sending no longer comes from deep inside the Palace, but rather from its upper levels. ** Hm? ** You locksend ** Are you still so annoyed? ** to Rayek. Rayek's sending tastes of bone-dry amusement. ** No. ** Mender smiles lightly and closes his eyes while resting against Ktai. "I plan to do just that... Now I just need someone to rest with," he adds in a mumble. Eveshka can't help it; she blushes. You locksend ** They might do well together. ** to Rayek. Mender looks hopefully up at Eveshka and, as the friend she is, she shows him to a place to sleep, which he does - soundly. Rayek locksends ** (a ripple in the water) Who? Eveshka and Mender? ** You locksend ** Indeed. Where are you? ** to Rayek. Rayek locksends ** (Another ripple in the water, but he doesn't pursue the subject. He falls quite easily into his newfound role as a father now, doesn't he.) Just outside the Scroll Chamber. ** You locksend ** May I? ** to Rayek. Rayek locksends ** If you like. ** You make your way up the long, winding stairwell. Second Level Contents: Rayek Obvious exits: Scroll Chamber Winding Stairway Type 'palace help' for commands you may use here. Rayek leans against the closed door that leads to the room of Scrolls, his eyes closed and his head bowed. At the sound of Ktai's approach, a serpentine eye opens to regard her silently, his hands folded together over his chest. Ktai approaches, her head tilted softly. "You are tired." She can, perhaps, and she alone, sense the rising protest in the airwalker that never escapes. He did not sleep well last night when they retreated back to their chambers, staying with her perhaps a few scant hours before leaving as he often does to wander, checking in on the Sun Folk in the corridor and on Tilia in the scroll chamber. Rayek's head dips once in a single nod, acknowledgingly, and offers a faint shrug. "I had trouble sleeping last night." Ktai's gentle hands reach to caress the browned cheeks. "I know. I always know when you wake." Rayek's cheeks are warm to the touch, but not very. It is the desert after all. His eyes close and his hands lift, settling over her slender pair. ** I'm sorry. I am restless at night, now... It's all I can do to stay still. ** Ktai smiles softly. "You worry." His eyes open at that, melted gold, and regard her wearily and silently. She smiles. "It will be as it will be. We have not the power to change it." ** I hope so. ** The earnest sending escapes before the Airwalker can suppress it. He quickly shakes his head and straightens, biting back a sigh. ** Is it wrong, Ktai, to hope that they will not stay long? ** Rayek blurts suddenly, meeting her eyes. ** I don't know for how long we can sustain them. We are isolated and even reduced, their number is more than the Palace has held in turns... ** Ktai sends openly ** Then let them build outside... around the Palace if needs be. Things will come out in the end. You and I know it. ** Again, Rayek falls silent, neither protesting nor agreeing. He says nothing for a moment, one hand slipping away to trace a crack along the shimmering stone wall beside him, then draw back his hand with fingers curled to his palm. "I know," he answers after a time. "But it will not make it any easier." ** No, beloved. It never has, and never will. ** The golden-eyed hunter offers a mute nod. A few moments later, he sends quietly, ** I should go rest. ** But he doesn't move. Ktai sends openly ** Yes, you should. ** She tugs gently at your hands now. The airwalker doesn't move. ** Please? ** Silence crawls by for a few drawn out heartbeats, then the hunter almost reluctantly peels himself from the wall. She waits patiently. He relents with a threadbare sigh. ** All right. ** Ktai smiles gently. ** You even sound tired, beloved. ** Rayek glances up at her with a slightly arched brow, then answers with a gently crooked smile. ** Sorry, ** he sends after a moment, only partially in jest. Ktai leans in to kiss his cheek. ** Do not be sorry. It is good to hear you admit it. ** "Heh." That's all the airwalker can summon in reply, allowing himself to be led in the direction of where a moment's rest can be found. And she leads, but not down. Instead, she leads to a side room, a smallish hidden room filled with extra furs. Just perfect to catch a hidden nap. Along the way the airwalker summons protests from somewhere within his tired mind. Many of them are familiar ones that he has voiced in the past, but a new one has risen to dominate his thoughts. "What if something should happen? I cannot sleep... who will guard the Palace if the humans return?" You say "I am here, Rayek. And Eveshka and Mender... the Palace is full of new voices, new defenses. Rest." "But... what if it is not enough? We cannot expect the Sun Folk to fight so soon after.... Tyree? Where is he? What if he wanders outside? .... ..Ekuar? Or Savah? What if.." And it continues on as thus all the way to the side room. She fusses gently the entire way, matching his question with a deflecting answer, reminding him that not everyone will be asleep at the same time. Every step of the way he argues until Ktai's gentle replies finally quell any protest. Rayek steps inside the chambers and resigns himself with a sigh not quite as reluctant as before, but nonetheless uneasy. And Ktai nudges him, kissing gently. ** You know I'm right. ** His response is fondly, if not quietly, amused. ** You always are. ** Ktai laughs softly, dragging some furs into a more comfortable bed. ** Not always. But mostly. ** ** Close enough. ** Her laugh is quiet. Finally, the furs are as she likes them, and she nudges again. ** Lie down. ** The airwalker shoots her an amused look, then obeys dutifully, all but collapsing into the inviting pelts. She wastes no time burrowing in beside. ** Do you know what I like best about you, Rayek? ** ** My overwhelming personality? ** ** You're never willing to admit you have lost. Even to me. ** She is warm as she nestles up against you. ** And you hold me so gently... ** She's approaching sleep herself. A muffled laugh trickles out from where Rayek's face is buried in a blanket. ** Some would say that's the thing they like /least/ about me.. ** he answers, then falls quiet. As the Glider maiden's familiar touch comes closer, the Airwalker lifts an arm up to wind it over her, not even bothering to lift his face up from the fur. She curls up close with only a soft sleepy chuckle.