As Kineada watched Sanria walking away, and thought to himself that it wasn't the worst view he'd seen this fine day, he sighed and stretched his weary muscles once again.
He had agreed to meet with this..Femoch? Fenlock?..character, but then Kineada was never in the habit of turning down any sort of invitation from a member of the fairer sex.
It was these same members of the opposite gender that more often than not seemed to get him mixed up in what he used to call "adventures", but now viewed more as "slight annoyances".
"But why should it be?" Kin muttered to himself. "When did I become so complacent and....lazy?"
Drawing a bit of his katana from its sheathe, Kin thumbed the edge of the blade, and was completely unsurprised to find it a bit on the dull side. "As my wits surely are following as well..."
The sound of pleadings drew his attention a bit down Main Street from Festival Square. Two Vectorian Cityguards appeared to be bullying an old woman. With a frown and a self-admonition for allowing himself to be cut off from the trials and tribulations of those around him for far too long a time now, Kineada chanted a dweomer that polymorphed the guards into newts, allowing the startled old woman to scurry away.
"Perhaps some adventure is exactly what I need..." Kineada mused as he prepared the spell to transport him back to his sanctum.
Discussions with New Friends (1-2)
The trickle of the fountain in Market Square was just as constant as Sanria's chatter with Kineada. The Shadow Bushi seemed pleased to be speaking, yet Sanria could sense he was careful with the information he would give out - as if he had not truly spoken of himself in a very long time. "So where exactly do you come from? I mean, you look unusual. I have an acquaintance with similar features, perhaps you've heard of her, Myn Kaze?"
Kineada chuckled. "Not everyone who looks alike comes from the same place."
"Oh, I know, I just... it's simply unusual."
"Well, Kara-Tur is my homeland, though it has been many years since I've gone back."
"I understand. Kara-Tur is in Faerun, is it not?" Sanria asked.
"Indeed."
"I was born near Unther, but was brought here in infancy. I've never visited Kara-Tur."
The green eyed man gave another chuckle and shifted, his blades at his sides moving along with him. It was curious, Sanria thought, that this older man would carry weapons. Could he use them or were they ornamental... "You carry very thin swords."
"Katanas, child. The sword of my homeland."
"Can... you use them?"
At this, Kineada let out a laugh and looked at her, his eyes sparkling as if given a new challenge. "Do you wish to spar?"
"No, not in my condition," she smiled, patting her stomach lightly.
"Yes, I suppose it would be a bad idea, wouldn't it? So, tell me. Why are you interested in balance?"
"Ah, my writing... yes. I've just had so little of it in my life. I'm either off on some half-planned adventure, barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth, or as dull as a dirt clod in my home - doing nothing but reading."
"There is nothing wrong with reading," Kineada replied.
"What good is reading if it leads to nothing but more reading? I do not use what I learn, not like I did in the Illuminati."
"Mmm. I understand."
"I was given a proposition not one day ago to seek balance to learn truth, to learn truth to seek balance, and when I had both, I would find harmony."
"An interesting proposition. Do you find it worth pursuing?"
"If it's true," Sanria said.
"Well, there is your first problem," Kineada said with a chuckle.
"What?"
"Doubt. While its healthy to have doubt in many other things, in balance, you can't have doubt. You have to believe there is balance before you'll ever see it. If you don't know if it's there to begin with - what good is it chasing it?"
Sanria sat back on the bench, staring at the fountain. "I would love to see this whole place the way it used to be."
"Bah," Kineada said dismissively, waving a hand, "time passes, people and even the Gods come and go. You simply learn what you must to deal with the present and if you believe in planning for the future, adjust to what becomes your future's present. For - the present is always here."
Sanria looked over at Kineada, who also stared at the fountain with a touch of a smile on his mouth. "You are wise," she said. "Do you seek balance?"
"I believe it an essential component to life."
"So... do you seek it?"
Kineada looked over, his eyes suddenly filled with mirth. Sanria had the sud- den feeling that this man saw her as a child with questions that were foolish, but none-the-less, deserving of answer for nothing more than her earnest in asking. "I would suppose that one must always practice balance to keep it, in that regard, I seek it."
"Would you be willing to meet my friend, Fenlauch? To learn what he has to say on the subject?"
"As long as he is not seeking a religious convert, I have no problems meeting a new face."
"No - he's not religious. He's... well, I don't really know what he is. He's very tall, gold skin, bright eyes, and very much about balance."
A small smile came onto Kineada's face and Sanria returned it. "He sounds like a very interesting character," he said.
"He is. He seems very intelligent, too. He said his kind had been watching the realms since the fall of Myth Drannor."
Kineada lifted his eyebrow slightly. "That is a long time."
"I've never known Myth Drannor without demons in it."
"Yes... well, I'll meet with him if for nothing other than figuring out what type of creature is residing in our deeper midsts."
Sanria chuckled and stood up from the bench. "Let me return home to prepare. I think I should make sure I'm a little more ready than the last time I met him."
"Oh?"
Sanria pointed to her forehead where a red scab was still forming. "He startled me quite a bit and I had an encounter with a tree."
Kineada chuckled. "I see."
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I suppose I can make an exception," he said with a mirth-filled smile.
With a quick bow, Sanria headed back into the west and the Haon'Dor toward her cavern, her heart lightening with each step.
Kineada chuckled. "Not everyone who looks alike comes from the same place."
"Oh, I know, I just... it's simply unusual."
"Well, Kara-Tur is my homeland, though it has been many years since I've gone back."
"I understand. Kara-Tur is in Faerun, is it not?" Sanria asked.
"Indeed."
"I was born near Unther, but was brought here in infancy. I've never visited Kara-Tur."
The green eyed man gave another chuckle and shifted, his blades at his sides moving along with him. It was curious, Sanria thought, that this older man would carry weapons. Could he use them or were they ornamental... "You carry very thin swords."
"Katanas, child. The sword of my homeland."
"Can... you use them?"
At this, Kineada let out a laugh and looked at her, his eyes sparkling as if given a new challenge. "Do you wish to spar?"
"No, not in my condition," she smiled, patting her stomach lightly.
"Yes, I suppose it would be a bad idea, wouldn't it? So, tell me. Why are you interested in balance?"
"Ah, my writing... yes. I've just had so little of it in my life. I'm either off on some half-planned adventure, barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth, or as dull as a dirt clod in my home - doing nothing but reading."
"There is nothing wrong with reading," Kineada replied.
"What good is reading if it leads to nothing but more reading? I do not use what I learn, not like I did in the Illuminati."
"Mmm. I understand."
"I was given a proposition not one day ago to seek balance to learn truth, to learn truth to seek balance, and when I had both, I would find harmony."
"An interesting proposition. Do you find it worth pursuing?"
"If it's true," Sanria said.
"Well, there is your first problem," Kineada said with a chuckle.
"What?"
"Doubt. While its healthy to have doubt in many other things, in balance, you can't have doubt. You have to believe there is balance before you'll ever see it. If you don't know if it's there to begin with - what good is it chasing it?"
Sanria sat back on the bench, staring at the fountain. "I would love to see this whole place the way it used to be."
"Bah," Kineada said dismissively, waving a hand, "time passes, people and even the Gods come and go. You simply learn what you must to deal with the present and if you believe in planning for the future, adjust to what becomes your future's present. For - the present is always here."
Sanria looked over at Kineada, who also stared at the fountain with a touch of a smile on his mouth. "You are wise," she said. "Do you seek balance?"
"I believe it an essential component to life."
"So... do you seek it?"
Kineada looked over, his eyes suddenly filled with mirth. Sanria had the sud- den feeling that this man saw her as a child with questions that were foolish, but none-the-less, deserving of answer for nothing more than her earnest in asking. "I would suppose that one must always practice balance to keep it, in that regard, I seek it."
"Would you be willing to meet my friend, Fenlauch? To learn what he has to say on the subject?"
"As long as he is not seeking a religious convert, I have no problems meeting a new face."
"No - he's not religious. He's... well, I don't really know what he is. He's very tall, gold skin, bright eyes, and very much about balance."
A small smile came onto Kineada's face and Sanria returned it. "He sounds like a very interesting character," he said.
"He is. He seems very intelligent, too. He said his kind had been watching the realms since the fall of Myth Drannor."
Kineada lifted his eyebrow slightly. "That is a long time."
"I've never known Myth Drannor without demons in it."
"Yes... well, I'll meet with him if for nothing other than figuring out what type of creature is residing in our deeper midsts."
Sanria chuckled and stood up from the bench. "Let me return home to prepare. I think I should make sure I'm a little more ready than the last time I met him."
"Oh?"
Sanria pointed to her forehead where a red scab was still forming. "He startled me quite a bit and I had an encounter with a tree."
Kineada chuckled. "I see."
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I suppose I can make an exception," he said with a mirth-filled smile.
With a quick bow, Sanria headed back into the west and the Haon'Dor toward her cavern, her heart lightening with each step.
Curious Strangers
Sanria wrote a note, this time to the entire family, and set it on the fountain open for view:
'Hello everyone,
I went on a walk and should be back within a few hours time.
Sanria.'
She studied the note, nodded, and grabbing her book and her pack, headed out the door. It was exciting to have a task - even if it was a small task to follow. Meditate. As she walked through the forests, her mind went back to Fenlauch. "Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained." According to him, harmony was achieved only when spreading truth and balance - but you couldn't have one without the other. Had she ever taken the time to actually *try* to make balance in her life? The only time she could remember were her studies in the Illuminati - and life was fabulous... until Thasmudyan died the first time. Then she went crazy and no amount of balance had been achieved since.
Sanria continued walking as she thought, paying no heed to where she was going until she found herself walking through the gates of Westbridge. Strange, that her feet would direct her here. Westbridge was still overrun by the Vectorians, and even though for a while it seemed TriPower was set to evict them, the rumors of war rumbled and died away. Rebellion seemed like an afterthought, and the people contented themselves to be under the rule of devious peoples.
With a sigh, Sanria passed the guards who shot dirty glances in her direction, sizing her up for troublemaking, no doubt. She walked into Market Square and sat down on a bench, looking at the fountain. There were many times in her past she would come here and usually each time, she would meet someone new. Now, the square was quiet.
Sanria pulled out her book/diary/book and wrote, "What is the first step towards balance?"
"Solitude," came a voice and Sanria looked up into the jade green eyes of a very exotic man. "But you won't find that here since anyone can just come up and see what you're doing."
Sanria shut her book quickly and stood up. "Well, I suppose that is true, isn't it?"
The man shrugged and sat down on the bench, stretching his legs out a bit. He seemed awfully comfortable, as though he'd been sitting in that same spot for ages. He looked older, but nowhere near decrepit.
"I don't make a habit of it, normally, but you were in my seat," he said.
"Oh... well... I didn't realize-"
"It doesn't have a name on it, but its mine none-the-less. I'm certain if you look hard enough, you might even find the print of my robes on the bench."
His smile made Sanria chuckle and she sat down beside him. "I'm Sanria."
"Kineada. WuJen. Shadow Bushi."
"That is a lot of titles..."
"They suit me."
'Hello everyone,
I went on a walk and should be back within a few hours time.
Sanria.'
She studied the note, nodded, and grabbing her book and her pack, headed out the door. It was exciting to have a task - even if it was a small task to follow. Meditate. As she walked through the forests, her mind went back to Fenlauch. "Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained." According to him, harmony was achieved only when spreading truth and balance - but you couldn't have one without the other. Had she ever taken the time to actually *try* to make balance in her life? The only time she could remember were her studies in the Illuminati - and life was fabulous... until Thasmudyan died the first time. Then she went crazy and no amount of balance had been achieved since.
Sanria continued walking as she thought, paying no heed to where she was going until she found herself walking through the gates of Westbridge. Strange, that her feet would direct her here. Westbridge was still overrun by the Vectorians, and even though for a while it seemed TriPower was set to evict them, the rumors of war rumbled and died away. Rebellion seemed like an afterthought, and the people contented themselves to be under the rule of devious peoples.
With a sigh, Sanria passed the guards who shot dirty glances in her direction, sizing her up for troublemaking, no doubt. She walked into Market Square and sat down on a bench, looking at the fountain. There were many times in her past she would come here and usually each time, she would meet someone new. Now, the square was quiet.
Sanria pulled out her book/diary/book and wrote, "What is the first step towards balance?"
"Solitude," came a voice and Sanria looked up into the jade green eyes of a very exotic man. "But you won't find that here since anyone can just come up and see what you're doing."
Sanria shut her book quickly and stood up. "Well, I suppose that is true, isn't it?"
The man shrugged and sat down on the bench, stretching his legs out a bit. He seemed awfully comfortable, as though he'd been sitting in that same spot for ages. He looked older, but nowhere near decrepit.
"I don't make a habit of it, normally, but you were in my seat," he said.
"Oh... well... I didn't realize-"
"It doesn't have a name on it, but its mine none-the-less. I'm certain if you look hard enough, you might even find the print of my robes on the bench."
His smile made Sanria chuckle and she sat down beside him. "I'm Sanria."
"Kineada. WuJen. Shadow Bushi."
"That is a lot of titles..."
"They suit me."
Deeper Questions
Sanria sat in the night, but before she had even gotten a chance of getting up, a voice reached her, "Mom! Are you ok?" Orn. Sanria got up and greeted her son. With him she found Reggie - his newly befriended bear. He was growing up fast - but she kept such things as her pride in him to herself. The important thing was he hadn't shared with his father that he was gone- which was also the bad thing. Colin was going to be beside himself. She briefly told Orn where she was and of the man she had met and found it curious that Orn wanted to meet him. Then, she brought the three of them (Reggie included, for after Orn begged, Sanria couldn't refuse), back to the cavern.
Orn and Reggie headed out to the stream just as Colin walked into the room. He looked frazzled. "Sanria... I was worried sick. I had no idea where the two of you were. When you said you would take a walk I didn't expect you to be gone into the night."
"Colin... I'm an adult. I can manage. Orn... well... he didn't seem to read the note."
"It's just, after what has just happened..."
"Then... worry for Orn, after all, I haven't had anything happen to me lately."
It was true. The past year plus with Colin she had been here in the cavern, and certainly, it was nice, but all along in the back of her mind, she had harbored the feeling that she was being guarded in a sense. Things had been happy because nothing had happened. Everything was as Colin always wished it to be. The chance meeting was the first time in a long time that anything adventurous had happened to Sanria - and she had missed the feeling that trilled through her veins.
"I was just... pretty distraught when you were gone for so long," Colin said, interrupting Sanria's train of thought.
"Colin... if I choose to be gone for a long while... that is my choice. I left you a note. As, undoubtedly, I shall again."
"I just... didn't know what to expect. And Orn..."
"Orn I understand," Sanria said quietly.
And it was in this moment that Sanria felt in full the feeling that had been gnawing at the edges of her soul. Trapped. The child in her that she had planned on having grow at a normal pace suddenly seemed like a sentence, one that meant she would have to be with Colin for at least sixteen years while it grew. When she proposed speeding things along by having Thasmudyan heal her, Colin looked stung. "We aren't married anymore, Colin," Sanria said, "and I can't see how a slow growing child keeping us living together is going to make it any more comfortable."
"Well, what can I say?"
"You don't have to say anything."
"Right then..."
Sanria watched Colin walk toward the dining room and the garden beyond. It hurt her heart to see him like this, but she also knew that if she wanted this to be it - she would have to stand strong. She shouldered her pack and went into the library.
Orn and Reggie headed out to the stream just as Colin walked into the room. He looked frazzled. "Sanria... I was worried sick. I had no idea where the two of you were. When you said you would take a walk I didn't expect you to be gone into the night."
"Colin... I'm an adult. I can manage. Orn... well... he didn't seem to read the note."
"It's just, after what has just happened..."
"Then... worry for Orn, after all, I haven't had anything happen to me lately."
It was true. The past year plus with Colin she had been here in the cavern, and certainly, it was nice, but all along in the back of her mind, she had harbored the feeling that she was being guarded in a sense. Things had been happy because nothing had happened. Everything was as Colin always wished it to be. The chance meeting was the first time in a long time that anything adventurous had happened to Sanria - and she had missed the feeling that trilled through her veins.
"I was just... pretty distraught when you were gone for so long," Colin said, interrupting Sanria's train of thought.
"Colin... if I choose to be gone for a long while... that is my choice. I left you a note. As, undoubtedly, I shall again."
"I just... didn't know what to expect. And Orn..."
"Orn I understand," Sanria said quietly.
And it was in this moment that Sanria felt in full the feeling that had been gnawing at the edges of her soul. Trapped. The child in her that she had planned on having grow at a normal pace suddenly seemed like a sentence, one that meant she would have to be with Colin for at least sixteen years while it grew. When she proposed speeding things along by having Thasmudyan heal her, Colin looked stung. "We aren't married anymore, Colin," Sanria said, "and I can't see how a slow growing child keeping us living together is going to make it any more comfortable."
"Well, what can I say?"
"You don't have to say anything."
"Right then..."
Sanria watched Colin walk toward the dining room and the garden beyond. It hurt her heart to see him like this, but she also knew that if she wanted this to be it - she would have to stand strong. She shouldered her pack and went into the library.
Bold Tidings
Sanria woke to the sound of pages being turned. She opened her eyes a bit and watched as Carlaugh leafed through her book, reading - undoubtedly - her private entries. She sat up as he looked at her. "Quite a collection of thoughts."
"Private thoughts," she said, reaching over to take the book from him.
"They make you seem - lost."
"I suppose there are a lot of times when I am."
"Sanria-"
"How do you know my name?"
Fenlauch chuckled and pointed at the book. Sanria felt a twinge of shame.
"Right," she said.
"I believe it's time for you to go."
"But you haven't even told me where I am or what you are."
"We have been here a very long time. Since the fall of your forest and the spawn of the demons. We've been watching and keeping our eyes upon your material plane."
"What forest?"
"Your kind here know it as Myth Drannor, I believe."
"But... why?"
"Balance," Fenlauch answered matter of factly. "We keep balance - from here, to every corner of every plane. Good, evil - it matters not so much that one should not outweigh the other and bring about destruction."
Sanria sat up a bit more, staring at Fenlauch. "You keep balance - and nothing more?"
Fenlauch inclined his head with a small smile. "It is our destiny."
"Does that mean you have balance in your personal life?"
"That I do believe is personal - but it is the nature of my kind. Yes."
"Can you teach me?"
The question hung in the air, Sanria leaning forward, her face showing a measure of desperation. Fenlauch stood up and let out a sigh. He touched a symbol on his armor. "Enmach - a word." From the air, the silver woman shimmered into view, bowing deeply. "She wishes me to teach her. Balance."
Enmach glanced at Sanria, her mouth parted slightly. "Sir, you have a kind heart, but this is no place for one of the material plane."
"I promise you," Sanria began, "I will not interfere, but if you could teach me... I could help others learn."
"Sir-"
"And you will not interfere, but one alone cannot learn the balance we seek. You will have to find others to balance your search."
"Sir, are you inviting-" Enmach began, but found herself cut off.
"Evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil - for they must have one another to define themselves."
"I don't understand..." Sanria said.
"Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained."
"But I don't know where to begin, my life is in shambles right now and I would love to find harmony but there isn't any to be had."
Fenlauch smiled. "Meditate upon it in your times of turmoil and you will know." The man waved his hand and in an instant, Sanria was back in the forests, a light in her hand to brighten the night.
"Private thoughts," she said, reaching over to take the book from him.
"They make you seem - lost."
"I suppose there are a lot of times when I am."
"Sanria-"
"How do you know my name?"
Fenlauch chuckled and pointed at the book. Sanria felt a twinge of shame.
"Right," she said.
"I believe it's time for you to go."
"But you haven't even told me where I am or what you are."
"We have been here a very long time. Since the fall of your forest and the spawn of the demons. We've been watching and keeping our eyes upon your material plane."
"What forest?"
"Your kind here know it as Myth Drannor, I believe."
"But... why?"
"Balance," Fenlauch answered matter of factly. "We keep balance - from here, to every corner of every plane. Good, evil - it matters not so much that one should not outweigh the other and bring about destruction."
Sanria sat up a bit more, staring at Fenlauch. "You keep balance - and nothing more?"
Fenlauch inclined his head with a small smile. "It is our destiny."
"Does that mean you have balance in your personal life?"
"That I do believe is personal - but it is the nature of my kind. Yes."
"Can you teach me?"
The question hung in the air, Sanria leaning forward, her face showing a measure of desperation. Fenlauch stood up and let out a sigh. He touched a symbol on his armor. "Enmach - a word." From the air, the silver woman shimmered into view, bowing deeply. "She wishes me to teach her. Balance."
Enmach glanced at Sanria, her mouth parted slightly. "Sir, you have a kind heart, but this is no place for one of the material plane."
"I promise you," Sanria began, "I will not interfere, but if you could teach me... I could help others learn."
"Sir-"
"And you will not interfere, but one alone cannot learn the balance we seek. You will have to find others to balance your search."
"Sir, are you inviting-" Enmach began, but found herself cut off.
"Evil cannot exist without good, nor good without evil - for they must have one another to define themselves."
"I don't understand..." Sanria said.
"Through creating balance, you find truth, and when you find truth, you will know how to create balance. When you can create balance, you can spread truth. And when you spread truth and balance, harmony is attained."
"But I don't know where to begin, my life is in shambles right now and I would love to find harmony but there isn't any to be had."
Fenlauch smiled. "Meditate upon it in your times of turmoil and you will know." The man waved his hand and in an instant, Sanria was back in the forests, a light in her hand to brighten the night.
Advance Warning
"Why would you bring her here?"
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
"I couldn't leave her, it was my fault she got scared and bolted."
"With all due respect, Sir, you could have put her at the sawmill and her own kind would have looked after her."
"She was in the mist, Enmach."
"She wouldn't have found anything had you just let her be. You should just put her back where you found her."
"Your tone, Enmach."
"Sorry, Sir. I merely mean we could place her back below and have this all go away. I'm certain one of the concordants could even erase her memories."
"No!" Sanria sat up with a start and stared at the two beings - the gold one in armor that she had run from, and a silver woman, much like the one in the forests. "I won't have my memories wiped."
"Easy," said the gold man. "We won't hurt you." He reached out his hand and Sanria jerked back. She looked around the room for escape, but found nowhere to go. A window looked out over a manicured grounds and her path to the door was blocked by the two beings. "My name is Fenlauch. I mean you no harm."
"What are you?" Sanria asked, her heart thudding in her chest. "Celestial?"
The gold man chuckled audibly at this while the silver woman, Enmach, let out a hiss of contempt. "Far from it. You were wandering our woods."
"Your woods..." Sanria said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, our mists at least," Fenlauch said.
"Sir," Enmach interrupted, leaning to Fenlauch's ear. "Put her back and let us not get embroiled in their affairs."
"Enmach," Fenlauch said, "Will you excuse us please?"
"But... sir..."
The silver woman rose and bowed, her long silver hair sweeping the floor. She passed a look at Sanria before leaving the room. "Now. I found this in your bag. You'll pardon my searching it, but I did not want trouble." Fenlauch pulled out the book, 'Ideals behind Balance.' "Does this subject interest you?"
Sanria stared at the man, then the book, then back to the golden figure with brightly glowing eyes. She let out a long breath, sensing that the man truly did not mean her harm. "It... is something that I would love to have in my life."
"A great many of us would. How serious are you in seeking it?"
Sanria's eyes narrowed a bit as she sized up Fenlauch, who chuckled politely before setting the book down on the bed beside her. "Rest. You had quite a nasty row with that tree." He rose and walked to the door.
"Where am I?" Sanria asked.
"Safe," Fenlauch replied as he closed the door behind him.
Sanria got up from the bed and tried the door. It held fast, not locked, but simply unable to be opened. She walked to the bed and with nothing else to do, drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Forest Ghosts
Sanria went deeper into the woods, pulling the cowl on her cloak even higher. She came to the Westbridge River and with a word, her feet rose into the air and she drifted over it to the other side. A small dirt path greeted her and the distant sound of a saw. Here, unlike the pristine north bank, the trees were marked. Destruction was everywhere it seemed. She dared not to put her hand on the trunks of the trees - if she did, she was certain to hear their pain.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
Following the path, she found herself deeper in the woods and within an un- familiar spot. A small stand of birch trees seemed an inviting place to sit, and she soon made herself comfortable off the beaten path. Her mind, again, began to wander. She would have to move out. Leave the cavern and put some separation between herself and Colin. Certainly, the children would suffer a little - but the last time the "Family Stone" had traveled to the druid grove, even the Elder there had said separation would be good. Colin may have been unwilling to hear it, but it made sense to Sanria. And she already had a place to stay with Claire and -
The movement caught the corner of Sanria's eye and she jerked her head in its direction. A woman, tall, slender, silver... stared at her. Seen, the woman vanished behind a tree like a ghost. "Wait! Hey..." Sanria called out, getting to her feet. "Come back!"
Sanria walked quickly toward the trees where the woman had been, deeper into the forest as she went. She reached the tree the woman had vanished behind and found nothing. Sanria slowly scanned the woods and let out a deep sigh. To the north, however, was a creeping mist. Unsettled, Sanria stood for a long moment. There were choices to make - she could return to the cavern and forget all of this... or... Sanria stared at the mist and slowly began to walk forward.
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