Log cast: Rayek, Rainor, Eveshka, Ktai Log date: 12/7/98 Log intro: Humans have taken Sorrow's End by storm. Savah, the Mother of Memory, sent to Rayek from afar, telling him that the Palace was their only means of escape - and survival. Rayek and Tilia argued, but the Palace did fly once more after so long. Now it resides in Sorrow's End, waiting for the last of the Sun Folk to flee inside. And in the meantime.. ------ Side Corridor(#6192RFL) This corridor isn't quite as large as many of the corridors though the Palace, and gives less of a feeling of airy, open space than the larger passageways do. The damage that the Palace suffered is no longer in evidence here; translucent walls and columns once again swoop smoothly and gracefully to a delicately arched ceiling. What magic can be spared from the Palace is used to keep this area comfortable against the climate. One of the smaller corridors branching from this one seems to be lit, dimly but reasonably well. Contents: Rainor Eveshka Obvious exits: Smaller Corridor Rayek's Chamber Entry Hall The Glidertall airwalker stands just outside the entrance to his chambers, threads of ebony fallen over his sleepy eyes uncombed. At the sound of footsteps his gaze shifts upwards, but only when he hears someone address him does he look up. Rayek's gaze flickers to the smaller elf and a stiff smile touches his lips. "Shade... Rainor, was it?" Ktai steps out from Rayek's chamber. Ktai has arrived. Rainor smiles and nods "Yes, how are you? You look like you need rest." Ktai glides through, oddly pale and silent. She's moving quickly, as if she's out to -do- something. Ktai goes back out to the Main Hallway. Ktai has left. "Yes, I probably do," the dark-haired hunter admits wryly, reaching a hand to brush some hair from his eyes. Ktai's brief appearance draws notice, a small frown appearing as the airwalker glances after her, then returns his attention back to Rainor. You locksend to Ktai, Rayek's familiar copper-gold presence touches yours gently, curiously. ** Ktai? ** Ktai locksends ** ** You locksend ** (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? ** to Ktai. Rainor says "I'ld offer to do whatever it is that you're too busy doing to sleep but I probably can't" Ktai locksends ** ** Rayek's golden eyes seem bemused, distracted somehow, but his reply comes out clear as the Daystar in a cloudless sky. He seems oddly quiet. ** I more often lose sleep over what I don't do than what I do. ** The pale lavendar slip of an elf enters now looking tired but steady. At the sight of the two, she notes Rayek, then looks to the other, asking the same three words she's been asking since this whole thing started. "Are you injured?" Rainor shakes his head "no" You locksend to Ktai, Rayek-Presence grows faintly stronger, then withdraws some, echoing of puzzlement. Ktai locksends ** ** Rayek's gaze shifts away from the villager at the new voice, a smile alighting on the airwalker's lips as he recognises who it is. "Eveshka..." he starts to say, then arches an eyebrow at the Glider's appearance. "You should go rest." She nods slowly, turning quiet eyes to Rayek. "I have done all I can. Without Healing... some will have more than simple scars..." At Rayek's words she smiles faintly. You locksend ** (a flicker of.... something, quickly vanishing before it can be focused upon) Is he all right? ** to Ktai. The golden-eyed hunter looks distracted again, then dips his head in a faint nod. His voice more thoughtful than anything else, he announces, "Ktai... She has found Mender." Rainor says "He was missing?" Ktai locksends ** Jealousy does not become you, my love. Eveshka will be pleased that he is well... or as well as he can be. ** The glider's lips curl into perhaps an unbidden smile. It's almost strange, but she might simply be glad he is safe. Then again, maybe not. Rainor says "I'm glad I didn't know...saved me a lot of worry." Oddly, Rayek's cheeks seem to burn for the briefest of moments, but as he turns it quickly vanishes, as if it were never there at all. The airwalker arches a black brow at Rainor and doesn't reply, then focuses his attention elsewhere, a hand resting lightly on the Palace wall. You locksend to Ktai, 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? ** Ktai locksends ** He is stubborn, exhausted, yet refusing to admit it... It seems my daughter might have the same taste in elves after all. ** The glider, for her part, simply stands there, too tired even for floating. Rayek's head suddenly snaps around again, regarding with Eveshka with wide, blinking eyes, then back to stare down the hallway again, his gaze seemingly to focus on no particular thing at all. You locksend ** ....Eveshka? ** to Ktai. Eveshka looks up to her father, the gaze almost blank. She doesn't know what's going through his head... even when he's talking to her. Ktai locksends ** Well, it's certainly not -me- ...! ** You locksend ** (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? ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** Perhaps. He is as stubborn as you are known to be. ** You locksend to Ktai, Rayek-Presence seems to adopted a 'ruffled feather' feel to him, then he withdraws slightly. ** If you do, call. ** Ktai locksends ** Beloved... I had not meant to offend... ** You locksend to Ktai, Rayek assures briefly, but honestly, ** I am not offended. ** Just a little put off, perhaps. That said, his end of the connection goes silent. Rainor looks around. "Is there anything I can do to help at the moment?" After a long time of silence, the Airwalker turns again to face Eveshka and Rainor. His golden eyes stay steady on the Glider maiden a moment, then a faint smirk curls before disappearing, his attention returning to the villager. The Airwalker tilts his head slightly: "What would you like to do?" Rainor says "something helpful,,,I don't know." Eveshka simply watches Rayek, completely lost as to his behavior. But then, she's only starting to understand him... Rayek nods slightly, then offers, "Do you know if whether any are hungry? Thirsty?" Eveshka's whisper might go unnoticed. "There is water..." Rainor says "I think most have enough water, I don't know about food though" Rayek glances briefly at Eveshka, then back to Rainor again. Once more, the airwalker nods and answers shortly, "Go check." A faint frown appears on his lips as he casts a wary glance towards the entranceway. Brownskin cannot help but wonder how long the Sun Folk will stay and how long the food stores will be able to provide for them. Rainor goes into the Smaller Corridor. Rainor has left. Rainor comes in from the Smaller Corridor. Rainor has arrived. Rayek is still where he was, but leans up against the wall, eyes half-closed as if the Airwalker were ready to fall asleep standing up at any moment. Rainor says "They've eaten" The small Glider sighs faintly. "I wish I had a bondbird. I should hunt soon." Rayek cracks open a tired eye, then dips his head in a slow nod in reply. Whether in response to Eveshka or Rainor, or both, is difficult to tell, for the Airwalker simply half-closes his eyes again and reclines back against the wall. ** How is the Mother of Memory? ** Eveshka is at a loss: She has not dared bother the regal survivor. Rainor says "She is physically fine..." That doesn't seem very reassuring. Black-hair frowns and nods, then looks away, pulling himself off the wall. He almost sends to her, almost, but stops himself, reasoning that she deserves some privacy. So his footsteps simply bring him in the direction of the Entry Hall, silently and without a word beforehand. You wander back out into... Entry Hall(#8823RAF) [Desc deleted.] Contents: Ktai Mender Sand cat Shenshen's Tent(#10445Je) Obvious exits: Corridor Winding Stairway Doorway Rayek passes through briefly, expression thoughtful. Without a glance around him, he quickly and silently ascends the stairway. You make your way up the long, winding stairwell. Second Level This wide corridor sports myriad tiny ripples and swirls in its walls and floor, as if once it might have been rife with damage; now, these patterns seem only to add to the ethereal feel of the place, giving your surroundings a flowing, airy look. The air is full of a barely palpable tingle, a sense of welcome, a stronger sense of magic. At one end of the corridor you can see the stairs that wind back down into the lower level of this place; at the opposite end, a tall doorway that glimmers golden in the faint light. Obvious exits: Scroll Chamber Winding Stairway [Some time passes, and then..] Ktai locksends ** Rayek...? ** You locksend to Ktai, Rayek's position seems to have changed. His sending no longer comes from deep inside the Palace, but rather from its upper levels. ** Hm? ** Ktai locksends ** Are you still so annoyed? ** Rayek's sending tastes of bone-dry amusement. ** No. ** Ktai locksends ** They might do well together. ** You locksend ** (a ripple in the water) Who? Eveshka and Mender? ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** Indeed. Where are you? ** You locksend ** (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. ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** May I? ** You locksend ** If you like. ** to Ktai. Ktai comes up the stairwell from below. Ktai has arrived. 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?" Ktai says "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. An 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. [End log.]