Guilt flashed across Krogenar's face briefly, and then he was himself again. He crouched down, and offered Laisha his hand. She took it and pulled herself aboard. For the next few minutes, she was led about the strange craft. Her friend seemed proud at the fact that it had no floor. He hopped nimbly from strut to strut, as she hovered through its innards.
As his pride in his bamboo ship became ever more apparent, Laisha became more convinced that Krogenar's future course would take him farther from Mystra's Church.
Since she began her unexpected visit, the two had filled the time with as much chatter about the ship itself as possible - skirting the reason for its being.
Now, as the half-orc swung in his captain's chair (a leather sheet suspended from a convergence of bamboo struts) she could only grin at him. She decided not to let any more chatter divert her attention.
"The first flight was awkward. So much dust!" He donned a pair of aviator's goggles and beamed at her, his canines peeking out at her. "Still self-conscious about his teeth, she noted, and smiled. He droned on about the ship some more.
"... I can push the ship myself, now that the armor is gone." He slipped his bare feet into a set of pedals. Laisha's eyes widened. "You canna be serious? You pedal?" He grinned again, almost shyly. "I can, if I need to - removing the armor has to cut down on the fuel it needs." He shrugged, and frowned. "Lift engines still need to be hot, my legs can only drive her forward, and then, only slowly."
The silence descended that Laisha had awaited. The two stared across at each other.
He was leaving The Church of Mysteries, she was certain. She imagined the many enemies he had earned over the years hunting him down, with no one to protect him. As this understanding passed silently across the space between them, Krogenar misinterpreted the silence. The strider placed his hand across his breast and looked at her grimly. As the Supreme Strider of Mystra in past years, it had been Krogenar's duty to visit and maintain the various secret caches of magical knowledge that were scattered across all of known Faerun. Of all Mystrans, Krogenar knew the secret paths and crypts best. Others might know the Words of Unlocking and Sealing, but their actual contact with the locations were limited to a fingertip on a map.
"No hand, no weapon will ever turn me against Mystra. Our secrets will remain our own."
She returned her friend's gaze and replied sincerely, "I know they will." Gripping his calloused and weather-beaten hand, she motioned to the ignition key. "I'll believe this wicker beast can fly when you show me!" As he swung across the helm in his chair, and started the airship's engine, Laisha's fingers brushed against the symbol of Mystra that hung about her neck.
.....
"Water!" he snapped.
Looking into the Lift Drive Mirror, he could see that engine smoking and coughing. He pulled on a rope, and the engine's throttle was cut down. "Not even clear of the ground yet!" he thought angrily.
Laisha followed Krogenar out of the airship. He moved ahead of her now, towards the stream, a canteen in hand. As she followed him, Laisha steeled herself.
The strider sauntered through the grass, his arms loose at his sides. He slowed as Laisha approached him, then stopped. He cocked his head, and Laisha could see the profile of his nose sniffing at the air. His head started to turn, but he checked the movement.
He sighed once.
Three figures appeared from The Weave, each a staff's length away from the half-orc.
Words of sleep were whispered at him in unison. Laisha leaped ahead, and uttered a sleep enchantment as well. Krogenar staggered, and she caught him. Simbul, Grandal and Danthor helped ease him gently down to the grass.
