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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
| + | #REDIRECT ADanceOfAngels |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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| − | == Falcons of Paper and Dream ==
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> He leaves the cockpit, strolling through the corridoors of the ship to the small study he keeps next to the master bedroom.
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| − | He picks up quite a think sheaf of paper, as well as a couple of fine golden pens, and a small well of ink.
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| − | He sketches something on the paper, his hand flowing as he delineates the important features on the sheet. Then he starts to carefulkly fold the sheet, until about five minutes later, a falcon emerges, with a black beak and black eyes, some feathers on its wings and tail.
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| − | This, he holds in one hand as he moves through the ship to the room anne was staying in, knocking on the door.
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| − | "Anne, may I come in?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b>... As he knocks, she hears a muffled noise of some things being shifted, some things knocking on the ground, some thing closed and changed on a hurry... and then she is at the door, opening it slowly, looking up at him in pure awe. "... Yes? Of course... it is your ship, lord Cael..."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael smiles down at her, in a warm, friendly manner.
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| − | "It is, yes, but it's your room, and it would be most rude to barge in unannounced and uninvited."
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| − | He presents the small crane to her. "This is for you."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> Her face lights up, holding her breath in disbelief... taking the crane on her hand with reverence. "T... th... thank you... I..." Cheeks flushed, happyness, embarassment, shyness.
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| − | So shy. So fragile. As much as the Origami on her hands...
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| − | "... I..."
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| − | Behind her, Cael sees her bed, and the pillow a little too far up, something hid beneath it.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "I'm glad you like it. Soon I'm going to need your help to fold some more similar to it, but I thought we could have a little chat first..."
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| − | Cael walks over and idly sits on the bed, near to the head of it, apparently unaware of what's been hidden there.
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| − | "So, what have you been up to today?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> She looks slightly alarmed as he walked to the bed, fidgeting, then looking down... trying not to look at Cael, only to the origami bird on her hand. To see every part of its complex folding... so simple, yet so complex. "I, uh, I don't think... I don't think I know how to do it, ah, I don't think I could..."
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| − | She gulps then, "I... looked around the ship... you have so many beautiful things here, lord Cael... so many. So many books, full of pretty figures, so many paintings and rooms that are so pretty..."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "Just Cael." He smiles easily at her "It's fairly simple, once you get the hang of it, and I'm sure you have nimble fingers."
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| − | "And thank you, I do try to keep the ship looking good, as does Calisara. She will be pleased when I tell her that you like it. Was there anything you liked especially?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Any.. thing?"
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| − | <i>So many things, a lybrary so full of pretty books, so many paintings on the wall, each and every one, pretty, that one I did not understand, and that other one... and that other one that was naughty, and yet...</i>
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| − | <i>The sun deck was so beautiful, the baths were also so... the marble in all of it, taking a bath in them, feeling like a princcess, if for a second...</i>
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| − | "I... I couldn't say... it was all so... so..." She gulps, her hair falling over her face, so down her head went, "... I don't even know how to say it..."
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| − | Cael pushes what is under the pillow out, and she doesn't even see. A book, a slightly spicy one, about the fair folk of the west... 'Azure Monsters, Opal Maidens'. Done by a sorcerer, it had especially vivid illustrations in it, and few copies, at least, true ones, with all the little magic that kept it together like this.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> <i>That book hmmm? And she was how old? he smiles a little to himself. Not that I was much older when I started..</i>
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| − | He subtly returns the book to where it was. He would have to be a little careful, but...
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| − | He nods to her "It can be hard to describe sometimes, yes. Don't worry." his every worrd resonating with reassurance. He turns his smile on her. "And when you grow up? Have you ever thought about what you wanted to do?" he tilts his head "You can tell me anything you like. I won't think less of you, I promise."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> She smiles a little, her eyes looking up... just missing as he pushes the book back. A lump forms on her throat, even warmed as she is by his smile... the smile of a sun god looking at her... "I... I always wanted to go to the university in Windia... to become a Savant, a Sorceress.... I always wanted that."
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| − | She trembles.
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| − | <i>Yeah, right...</i>
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| − | She shakes just slightly, waiting to hear the laugh that would make her crumble...
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| − | <i>To marry and have children and knit and plant like every woman in the village, only thing I am good for...</i>
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael doesn't laugh. His smile doesn't falter, still warm, still sunny, still reassuring.
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| − | <i>Ah, good. She does have ambition, drive. Even if she doubts her own ability.</i>
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| − | "You'd have to work hard to do that of course. Being a sorcerror or even a savant isn't easy. Do you think you could? Work hard enough, that is?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> She lifts her face a little more, basking in the smile...
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| − | <i>He is just humorning you, he is just humoring you, really...</i>
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| − | "I... I think I could, yes. I would. If I had the chance... I would!"
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| − | <i>I don't have anything else...</i>
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| − | Words begin to come back to her, from what the Pale Angel had said...
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael nods to her. <i>Good. Good girl.</i> "Well, that is something I'll have to think about. It would mean you would have to leave the ship, of course to study there, but it would not be so hard to visit you or send you messages. Probably more than the families of other students could though ... do you think you could cope with that?"
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| − | <i>I'm not humouring you, not playing with you. I don't do that to people who arn't playing the game ... or think they are.</i>
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "L-Leave?"
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| − | <i>He wants to leave me.<br>He wants to get rid of me.<br>To place me somewhere and forget this bothersome thing was ever on his way..</i>
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| − | She grimaces. The origami almost falls from her hand. But, gulping down the sadness swelling on her throat, she says, simply, "I... think I could, yes. If you want to take me there... I could."
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| − | <i>And I will never hear from you again. And the gods will forget a girl ever walked among them.</i>
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "Well, during the terms anyway, yes. You couldn't study at an academy in Windia or anywhere else without staying there." he says reasonably.
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| − | "I'm not doing this to get rid of you, to leave you to grow old. I <i>am</i> doing this so I'm not carrying you through the biggest war the north has ever seen. I don't want you put at risk. And more than that, Anne."
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| − | His eyes catch hers, showing her the truth he speaks.
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| − | "I'm doing this because in five years, I want you to look at me as someone who lifted you up, not who cast you down. If you really, truely, don't want to go, then you can stay on the ship, of course, and help Calisara as you are able. But, if you have an ambition like that, is it not better to live it?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "You will come for me...?"
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| − | <i>To let me grow, to... to...</i>
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| − | <i>Why?</i>
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| − | <i>Just.. because he is like that...</i>
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| − | She smiles then, happyness crowning her face, happyness crowning her pale blue eyes and her pale hair, and she almost laughs out... "Yes! I... I would like to live it. To learn. I... I want to learn! To... to..."
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| − | The tears begin welling on her eyes, her face red.
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| − | In joy.
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| − | "I... I want to live. But... but I want to be here. I want you to not forget me. I want to do it, so I can come back and make you see I deserve to be here."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "Good. Then I will have to see about making arrangements for you. And, of course I will come back for you. Every summer break, I suppose." He says with a small grin.
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| − | "I know you want to go to the Windia Acedemy, but..." he makes a small sigh "The north is not a very safe place, and besides, the academies at Great Forks are so much more widely regarded than those up here." He smiles at her "And it would get you out of the cold too, if you wanted to go there instead...?" His smile entreats her to the latter option. It will be an adventure for her, yes, but a pleasnt one.
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| − | <i>The climate will do her good. And the gods. And the being away from the war.</i>
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Great... Forks?" She says. Her village, Dew, was on the frontier of Whiteshield and Windia... and so, by Gossip, she had heard of it. Heard so much... "Where the princess went to marry... the faraway place ruled by gods... they say it is close to heaven, you just go more to the East and you get to it... I would study... on heaven's frontier? The place ruled by Amaranthine's sister.." She knew of the Shield Goddess, of course. The silver shield and the golden shield... she prayed for the silver one, as they tore her clothes and pressed her face into the ground.
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| − | She had prayed to the silver goddess of protection, and a silver savior came to her.
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| − | So human, he was... so rough, but human. So unlike Cael...
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| − | Cael, who was so beautiful. So accepting. So... perfect.
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| − | "Yes... I would love to go to the Great Forks. Love it! But, but, wouldn't it take too long? *Too* long?"
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "The princess went to marry there, did she?" He smiles "But yes, to the city ruled by the gods. One of whom is the goddess Amaranthine's sister."
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| − | He laughs then softly "Oh, it might take a year or so if you were traveling along the ground. But of course, you wouldn't be travelling along the ground." He gestures to the cabin around him "We'll be flying."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Yes! Yes, the prince's sister went there..."
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| − | Alex's perfect image flashes in her mind then, so perfect, clean and beautiful... her mind trying to mimic what it was to see his perfect face and failing at it. The prince's image was enough to tinge hr cheeks red and bring her the same feelings as the book... but he was just a boy, she thought. In many ways like her... not like the man before her. So smooth, confident, perfect, giving, interesting, and, and, and... "I... yes. The Zephyr is fast, isn't it? So fast..."
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| − | Without noticing, she walks towards Cael, like a moth to a huge flame.. "And... when would that be? What... why... how... do... do you think they would accept me?"
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "I'll have to ask him about that, later." He says softly, and with a smile.
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| − | "She is very fast."
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| − | He reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on her cheek.
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| − | "I don't know when, exactly. I think they will be accepting for a new year soon though." his smile warms her. "I am sure with a recommendation, they will look at you. But it will be up to you to impress them enough to be accepted."
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| − | He holds up his hand to ward off her next complaint.
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| − | "I know you might not know much about the world. That is not what they are looking for. What they want to see is dedication and a willingness to learn."
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> She has no need to hold complaints, then.
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| − | The fact his hand is on her cheek is already... everything.
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| − | <i>Touching me...</i>
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| − | And he will say he loves me too, before leaving me, that he will wait for me, that when I come back I will be his wife... he will kiss me now, and take me on his arms, for his bed, full of orchids, a garden like Lilith's was last night... he will do it, he will do it, am I ready for it...
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| − | Her mind explodes in wild fantasies, just by his mere touch. And she will try... all her fear about it subsumed, right now. Later, she will feel even more weight on it, on that she will be disappointing them, her dreams... but now, she believes she can do it.
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| − | Because his hand is on her cheek.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "So, that is settled then. Good."
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| − | He strokes her cheek softly, to reassure her, then pulls his hand away.<br>
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| − | <i>All those things ... I could do, yes.<br>And when you understand more, maybe I will.<br>But not now, for that would be betraying your trust.</i>
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| − | "And now, I think I promised you I'd show you how to make an origami bird, yes?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Yes! Yes, you did!"
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| − | She says, no longer afraid. His words warmed her, his reassurance, his words earlier made her trust... trust him. Trust herself.
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| − | "If you think I can do it..." She says, coming to her drawer, leaving the origami bird above it... "Show me? Teach me? Please... if I can do such beautiful things..."
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael stands, and walks over to the desk with her.
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| − | "Of course you can." He says simply, his voice impressing on her what he feels about her, about her capabilities, then he kneels infront of the desk.
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| − | "You do it, like so.."
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| − | He shows her first how to make the crane, the simple series of folds that produce that bird.<Br>
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| − | Next he shows her how to make a lily.<br>
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| − | Finally, he shows her how to make a falcon, patiently guiding her through the steps.
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| − | "Now, I'm going to need quite a few of these, to help me defeat the Celebrant, the one who we must fight, so can you fold some for me, please?"
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> "Those... can help you defeat her? The lady in the red monster?" She imagines... how Cael could fight that... how could he fight something like that... as her fingers move,, carefully, to fold a falcon, once again. She liked Lilies best, but if she was to make falcons, she would. To help him...
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| − | "Will you... be alright? She.. she destroyed my village just by walking over it! Lady Lilith is strong, but.."
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| − | She gulps. <i>But I don't want to see you hurt... she cannot be hurt, but what about you? You are so beautiful, so unearthly, but, but... can you fight? Like that? Against *that*?!?</i>
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| − | <i>Don't die... please.</i>
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "They will, yes." he smiles "Combined with my own magic, they will bear me aloft, above the chaos of the battlefield."
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| − | <i>Red Monster? Hrmm.</i>
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| − | "She is a powerful foe, this is true, but we cannot let her march onto the city. We should not have let her march so far, but it ends here. We have decided . And Lady Lilith is strong, yes. But I am swift, and the kanji that the Binds write are swifter, and they cut those I wish deeply. Do not worry too much for me on the battlefield."
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| − | <i>Let me do that for myself.<br>I do not wish to die here. Or soon.<br>So I will not.<br>That is all there is too it.</i>
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| − | "Tell me a little more of this Red Monster."
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| − | As he starts to dot the eyes of the falcons
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| − | <b>Anne:</b> <i>Swift....</i>
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| − | <i>Above the chaos of the battlefield...</i>
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| − | Truly, she had forgotten. They were as gods. Her eyes glinting in dream as she sees the image in her mind's eye... folding another hawk. Yet another, and each time, she thinks less of it. Each time...
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| − | "It was.... horrrific. The size of three houses. It had... it had a chain of entrails on its hand. Like a pig's, but I am sure they were not... the chain was longer than a street, and each time it came down, it made a house into dust. Dust and splinters, and nothing more."
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| − | "Nothing more..."
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| − | She gulped. Remembering how her own house became dust. Her life. Clothes shred by the men, her father's corpse close by...
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| − | "It... it had so many things, in the releve of it. Like an armor, it was all blood... and it had... drawings... it was.."
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| − | "It..."
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| − | She falters.
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| − | "And the things she said... she told us to run, after we did... she said blood and bone was raining down on our land... that there was nowhere to run, that she would catch me..."
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| − | <i>And she almost did. They were here, the bad men...</i>
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| − | <i>And now Cael is going to them...</i>
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| − | <b>Cael:</b><i>... to destroy them.</i>
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| − | <i>So that no more villages can be ruined like yours was.</i>
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| − | "Thank you for that ... and, I'm sorry I asked you to remember such pain. I will return it to her, I promise."
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| − | Cael turns the conversation to more peaceful things, about her future, and about the possibility of them shopping in the city while they wait for the oil to be gathered.
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| − | "I have to leave you now, to talk to Alex for a while. If you could carry on folding the falcons, that would be wonderful. And, do not be afraid to ask Calisara for more paper, or more shapes to fold things into. I'll try and teach you a few more of the shapes I know too, though not now."
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| − | He rises then and walks to the door with her, leaning to kiss her forehead.
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| − | "I'll see you soon." He says with another warm smile.
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| − | ----
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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