Part 2 of -The Shadow of Love -

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

Silt 80/80

Silt blinked for a moment, not quite believing what he saw. When he opened his eyes and saw the two were still standing on front of him. "Hey, I didn't think I'd ever see you again, must have been quite an experience you had, but we don't really have time to sit and chat here, I think we should get moving, you can tell us your tales along the way"

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Originally posted by Larry_OHF: The Shadow Mage, Lord of Shadows Today, sitting in his throne room, the Lord of Shadows called forth all of his former allies, letting them know that the path had been made to return, and safety was again at the tower for those that served him.

ooc: And as we all know, where there's shadow, there's bound to be storm......

Once again with Larry's permission:

Elsewhere – a place where life is lived close to the sky .....

The Stonespires they are called in the tongue of the outsiders, these mountains of hard and jagged rock where the ceaseless movement of wind and the violent freedom of storm and the expansiveness of sky have made a home for a race of men set apart from all others. “Stonespires,” such a name only an outsider might give to such a place as this, for such a name speaks of that which reaches upward and away from the sure and stable firmness of earth to point to what is distant and beyond reach. Such a name speaks of the stone in its fixity and the mountains in their height and ignores the wind in its movement and the storm in its freedom and the sun in its bright and burning heat. But those who dwell here care little for the names of outsiders and have no interest in the firm soil which provides such stable fixity to their world. For to those who live here within the restless motion of the free and living air, where the sun is bright and storms are sudden and breathing is a thing both beautiful and difficult, it is not the harsh stone of the mountain tops, but the air itself which is their home. Life, to the children of the Clans of Storm, is to be lived close to the sky and so they name this place ha’ruah ha’shama’im – breathing of the sky – home.

They are synonymous to his people, life and movement within the free and living air close to the sky. And it is the closeness of the sky and its expansiveness that is his comfort even as his movements are made with the pain of a body that has been broken. Too long had he been away. Too long had he wandered the lands of the outsiders that are so terribly far from the sky within which he now stands. Seven years. Seven years which cannot simply be replaced. Seven years of living preparation for these wounds which shall be felt for the remainder of his days. Seven years within which his daughter has grown from a child to a young woman. That is the most painful of all. He looks at her as she climbs the stone ledges that lead to the place where he waits. Her movements are fluid with the grace of one familiar with so rugged a climb as this, as well they should be, for during those seven years she climbed to this place each night. It was here that she looked skyward to the Great Nomad, the star that always wanders yet is never lost, for it was at that star each night for the seven years of his Exiling that they met each other in the gazing upward of their eyes. The pain of those seven years was not his alone and this also is a great wound. She is free now, his child – her freedom won with the terrible price of those seven years, a price that each of them paid, he in being Exiled and broken and she in her lonely waiting. With her freedom came, of course, the freedom of their people for the Devourer is no more. The sacrifice of those seven years was well-made and its fruit has been great. The pain of those seven years, however, remains and even victory cannot erase it.

She smiles as she reaches him and the pain that even victory could not overcome recedes before so simple a thing as the smile a daughter gives to her father. He smiles himself in return and they stand together in silence a moment before she places the package in his hands. Sitting, he places it upon his knees and carefully unwraps it. There has been some attenuation of the burns on his hands and arms and his fingers have regained something of their normal range of movement. Still, he moves slowly and with a focused care. “The son of Koph’ar,” he says looking to his daughter, “has done his work well.” Slowly he lifts the head of an axe, the head of the Stormreaver – broken in conflict with the Devouring Wind – from the package. Forged anew by the son of he who forged it originally, it is well-balanced and all that remains is the sharpening of its blade and the finding of wood suitable for a handle. “Soon,” he says quietly. From a pouch on his belt he takes a file and begins to run it along the edge of the blade. He motions to his daughter to sit beside him. “Tell me,” he says to her, “how it was for you, enduring those years of loneliness.”

[mistral4543]

Rong Er

The sudden encounter had struck her by surprise, but when the first wave passed, she continued to hold her silence. What was there to say that was useful? Nothing! The others were right; danger was watching them menacingly, and the sensible thing to do was be alert and get to safety, wherever that was.

Nodding her assent, she thus followed her companions, focusing her attention on her surroundings.

[dplax]

Andrion Wilgor 47/60

Andrion only briefly greeted his companions but then fell deep into thought. These two coming back could complicate his plans. However he decided that he would accomplish it, whatever the cost.

Having made his decision he caught up with the group and walked alongside them.

"Yes, do tell us of what happened to you! We thought those birds would eat you two."

[Skydracgrrl]

Lyulfe

Lyulfe glanced at Rong, noticing her silence, before looking at Andrion.
"As you can see, we escaped. As Silt said, we should discuss what has happened at a later time... I do not wish to draw any unwelcomed attention or trouble through names." He looked towards the ceiling of the cave, where sky would normally be, then looked back at Andrion, getting his point across.

ooc- I'm going to hold off on posting further with Liam, until KayLisa has a chance to answer Larry's question about the cats' strange behavior.
pmed you Larry

[ 06-16-2004, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

[ArcadesSabboth]

Arcades, still in his Elven form, looks at the cats and chicken coup. Animals were far more cappable of uncovering his true self than sentient races. He makes an effort to keep away from them, if only to keep them from hissing and spitting at him.

The disguised dragon places his hand on Kaylisa's shoulder and smiles. [b]"This is a rather nice place, isnt it. Save for the Cats, it could be rather homey."

[Larry_OHF]

Candle Team

The reunited team of five members make their way to the entrance of the cavern, glad to be out of the hole in the ground. It had not felt safe in there amd now that their path was leading away from the land of Shadow...everybody's mood seemed a bit brighter.

As the party is traveling, trying to keep an eye on the sky for flying monstrosities, the sun is fast setting. Within an hour, it will be dusk.

You have put the cavern behind you by 2 hours travel time.

[TAOWolf]

She pats Arcades' hand with her own, and smiles up at him. She turns slightly, looking back into the cottage, and narrows her eyes playfully at Larry whispering, "Prank spell? Now who around here would do that to you..." Her smile fades slightly and her face takes on a knowing look, although the light in her eyes is controlled to a more subtle color of purple, with the hints of silver that normally blaze with emotion barely reflecting the light around her.

She tilts her head slightly, thinking upon her answer, then raises one ungloved hand, the rune carved there burning a bright blue as she speaks in a voice that carries ancient tones with it into the air,

"The cats can still smell the residue of the shadow on you, Larry. As can I and Arcades.... and others.."She glances at Liam then back at Larry."You may think you have lost all your powers, but in truth, I believe we have not seen the last of them or their effects. The only question for the time being is whether or not you will use the residual for the right reasons, or revert to some other type of shadow magic. I believe that is one reason there are so many who are watching you, and one reason the Shadow Mage still wants you dead. If you were completely powerless, why would he still want you dead, instead of letting you wallow in misery?.."

She lowers her hand, and looks back at the sky, this being the longest phrase she as spoken to anyone in quite awhile...

As she awaits the reactions to her statement, she follows the wind thru the trees, carefully marking the directions and movement, as her thoughts turn to the WindBringer and a small look of concern crosses her face briefly....

[ 06-16-2004, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: TAOWolf ]

[dplax]

Andrion Wilgor 47/60

The cavern behind them was dwindling away into the distance. He was somewhat glad that their stay in it had turned out the way it did. However the plan he had been thinking about for several days now was coming close to being accomplished.

"It is starting to get dark. Let us look for a suitable place to rest for the night. I am sure all of us are tired."

[Larry_OHF]

Larry

Larry knew that what Tao had said was true, and knew so before she even mentioned it. He was only shocked that she made the announcement that she knew. He thought he had been doing a good job at keeping it quiet. He also knew more about her than he had portrayed. She probably already knew this as well.

"Lady Kaylisa, my apologies, for I know of what you speak of. I have felt it everyday since my rebirth and have tried to hide it. I know that I have something of power within me, but I am afraid to open up to it. My memories are clouded, but they contain alot of clues.

I am not evil. I am not the Mage that I once was. I will never again hurt an innocent life. I know these things, and I hope you believe me.

I ...I also know something of you, druid. I know that the Shadow has not killed me yet, simply because he still fears your power. You are an unsolvable mystery to him. I know this because I dreamed about it. You and the one that is known as Cyril of the Winds are two people that the Shadow cannot comprehend, and this is your advantage."

He stopped there, for he could think of nothing more to add.