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The Steeplewood Forest
“I am surprised, Ligeia,” Iphigenia says to the younger woman, “a day spent in your company and he is still so carefully polite.”
“He is rather stubborn in that way,” Ligeia replies and then adds smiling mischievously, “but don’t hold that too strongly against him.” The women share a laugh and Ligeia’s smile broadens at the unexpected humor of the First.
Iphigenia waits as Raymond and TAO exchange greetings before speaking again. “Such conversation as awaits us is best conducted among such comforts as the grove might provide. Our home shall be yours while you are with us.” Turning to the East, she nods in the direction of a pair of enormous trees which suddenly begin to move.
“By your command, Mistress,” a low and resonant voice rumbles from the first of the trees and something like a face is apparent upon its trunk. With a slow and powerfully deliberate movement the tree seemingly uproots itself and steps to the side, its companion doing likewise. The song of a strong and confident voice drifts out into the opened space created by the movement of the speaking trees.
“That is Miriam,” Ligeia whispers to Raymond. “She is singing the song that will open the wards of the grove to you and TAO. Such a voice she has .....!”
There is a sudden twinkling of light as if hundreds of stars had burst into dancing movement along the forest floor and the howl of a great wolf [Ajax] brings Miriam’s song to its conclusion. A narrow parting emerges in the laurels that had been shielded by the speaking trees.
Turning to Raymond and TAO, Iphigenia smiles her words of welcome, “Come. Let us enter the grove.”
ooc: Raymond and TAO - Go ahead and enter. I’ll hold off on describing the grove for the moment, but suffice it to say it will make even the rest of the Steeplewood seem ordinary in comparison.
[ 06-24-2002, 02:22 AM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]
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