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For TAO and Raymond
THE GROVE
As Iphigenia silently accepts the wine, Claudia approaches bearing several cups made from snow colored wood. As the First pours out the wine, Claudia passes the filled cups to the others, starting with the visitors. Noting that Ullalume has not drawn close to the newcomers, she quickly walks over to the quiet woman with some wine and then returns to where the others are seated.
Ullalume placidly accepts the wine and takes a small drink from her cup, her eyes never leaving the one named TAO. Time has been torn apart around this one. Torn apart and twisted around her life in the violent way that is common in the rituals of other places. She has felt such things before, but never so strongly as this where at such a distance the twisting of time is so palpable. She sets the cup down and reaches for her own gloves, slowly putting them on. ~ It is best I take no chances with an inadvertent touch of this one.
As Miriam and Claudia introduce themselves to the vistors, Iphigenia’s eyes move between TAO and Ullalume. Turning to TAO, she speaks softly, “The claim which binds you is strong, indeed, if Ullalume is able to feel it at so great a distance.” Seeing the surprise in TAO’s eyes, she explains, “Perhaps you have heard the ancient tales of wondrously gifted individuals called ‘Cyveraens,’ those who can feel and shape and even change the movements of time. Ullalume is one so gifted and it is because of her gift that she keeps her distance from you.” She smiles as she continues, “She has placed her gloves on her hands that you might be free to leave yours off.” She rises to her feet and her bearing takes on an aspect of stern authority. Miriam gathers the tones of TAO’s song into her own soft chant as Iphigenia speaks, “Bright faced Artemis, beautiful Queen of Night, and Great Fenris, mighty in his pursuit, hold sway here and I am mistress of this forest and the First within the grove. Tonight hospitality shall rule in some little way even over the laws of your binding – so long as contact is brief, your markings will pose no danger this night to any within this grove save Ullalume.”
ooc: TAO - Iphigenia’s power is great, but not great enough to grant more than a single day’s reprieve from the negative consequences of your touch.
At a nod from Iphigenia, Ligeia removes a finely detailed clasp from her pouch. Handing it Raymond she says, “This shall mark you as one who walks under our protection.” The clasp itself is a remarkable likeness, in miniature, of the great tree at the center of the grove and is made of the same snow colored wood as the cups and hinged with silver.
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