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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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| − | == Golden Words ==
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| − | <b>Ryshassa:</b> "I'll be back soon, beloved."
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| − | <i>I love you...</i>
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| − | Ryshassa gently swings the door shut behind her, leaving her husband half-slumbering within. Normally--it would have been enough to soothe her, to rest safely ensconced in the warmth of Alexsei's arms, to feel the comforting pressure of his lips alighting upon her hair as she drifts off to sleep. But tonight her thoughts are restless, insistent, impossible to set aside even for a brief, relaxing moment of affection with the man she grew to love.
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| − | A decade ago, she would never have imagined she would be where she is now. In the belly of a First Age wonder, riding the winds inevitably towards her insertion into a war swiftly encompassing the entire far North, with other Chosen as her companions, her equals. And not long before tonight, the feat of spiritual healing she performed upon Prince Alexander's brother, unlike anything she had imagined possible even after years of adjusting to her newfound abilities. It seemed that life would never cease to surprise her, and she found it... exhilarating. Exhausting, yes, but exhilarating, to finally be able to make a difference on a larger, more significant scale...
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| − | Her meanderings through the corridors of the Zephyr brings her to the sun lounge, where Cael reclines reminiscing with a book and a bottle of wine. She pauses at the end of the corridor, momentarily hesitant to interrupt into his reverie. But she cannot compel herself to turn back. For some time now she had hoped to exchange words with him in private, and this seemed as good a time as any to try.
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| − | Summoning poise and control, Ryshassa emerges fully into the lounge room, clad this time in a kimono of deep crimson silk shadow-embroidered with nightshade blossoms up the hems and about the deep, pendulous sleeves, fastened shut with a sash of a violet shade so deep it appears nearly black. Her long dark hair, recently washed and scented with soothing lavender, flows unfettered down her shoulders and back. A slight blush colors her pale features as she greets Cael with a gentle smile.
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| − | "A lovely night, is it not? I do hope I am not disturbing you," she begins pleasantly.
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| − | <b>Cael: </b> Cael looks up as she draws near with a smile to her, setting the book down on the table, smoothing the silk bookmark down and closing the book quietly. His eyes politely roam her figure, covered by the crimson kimono. His face briefly conveys his approval for the effort she has made towards her appearance.
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| − | He nods, softly. "It is. The stars especially." he sits himself up a little more "And not at all, please feel free to join me." he says with a gesture to the seat next to him. "I can get you another glass if you;d like some wine.."
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| − | <b>Ryshassa: </b> <i>Really, Ryshassa, was that the best line you could think up to start an impromptu conversation?</i> The color in her cheeks spikes up a notch in intensity, but she inclines her head gratefully at how smoothly Cael received and replied to her entrance. And at the silent compliment, if the brief flicker of approval in his expression is any indication of such.
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| − | "Ah yes, the stars... high above the clouds, like this, against the crisp winter night, the stars are so brilliant they seem chiseled there, like jewels..." She laughs softly at her attempt to wax poetic, at the same time settling herself down into the prooffered seat, arranging her kimono to drape neatly upon her lap. "I would very much appreciate some wine, in fact... sleep does not come easily to me, lately, and perhaps it would help me unwind."
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| − | <b>Cael: </b> Cael smiles as he listens to her brief poetry, standing and walking easily over to the small glass cabinet with glasses in, taking one of the crystal glasses and returning to the table, pouring for her then offering the glass.
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| − | "I'm sorry to hear you have troubled sleep." he says as she takes the glass. "Troublling dreams or something else?" he settles himself in his seat, taking a sip of his own wine.
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| − | <b>Ryshassa: </b> "Thank you," she murmurs, accepting the libation graciously. She does not drink deeply, though, not yet. A sip or two to wet her lips and trickle enticingly down her throat, and then she lowers her glass to gaze thoughtfully, searchingly, into Cael's eyes.
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| − | "Not dreams so much as thoughts, an endless swirl of thoughts keeping me constantly awake." Ryshassa speaks candidly, in the hopes that she can coax her companion to be more at ease in her presence. "I have lived a long, protected while within the walls of Gethamane; this is, truly, the first time I have stepped from my home without any idea of when -- or if -- I will return. It is not so much missing home as... the import of all of these recent events and revelations, and the direction my life will now take as a result."
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| − | "I have no regrets, though. But it is a drastic change, particularly when you discover that your efforts could mean life or death for millions of people..."
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| − | <b>Cael: </b> Cael meets her gaze easily, dark eyes twinkling slightly as he sips from his own glass, then leans back in the chair, nodding as she tells of her thoughts.
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| − | "Ah, the worst kind in some ways. I know how to make talismans that ward against dreams ... I'm not sure I'd want to make ones that warded against thought." he cuckles softly, then looks at her with more seriousness as she talks of the reason for her concern.
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| − | "That is a change, yes. A very large one. It's one I've had to come to terms with myself since I started to help the Prince. It pleases me you still have no regrets about helping us, despite the ... revelations in the Theatre. If that should change in the future, please do not feel you have to stay."
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| − | <b>Ryshassa:</b>Ryshassa laughs too, throatily, flitting a wisp or two of hair away from her face before taking another, longer draught of her wine. "You speak as if I consider leaving a choice. I suppose it is -- but it is not one I could live with, and certainly, nor would my husband. My reasons for helping are simple, at heart: the North has become my home, as well, and I would fight in my own way to protect it. And ultimately to protect life and promote peace on a larger scale, if fate is kind to me -- and all of us."
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| − | She leans back in her seat as well, pursing her lips, regarding Cael speculatively over the wine-soaked rim of her glass. "You seem... guarded, still, towards me," she remarks softly. "Understandably so, as we have just recently met, and I am a Chosen, as you are. Perhaps, too, my husband brings you some concern, as mysterious as he may seem. I am not his agent, though; I am his wife, but my motivations are my own. I simply... wish to know you better, as I would any companion I will be working with in the future."
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| − | "I suppose I am unsophisticated, though, with my methods. Perhaps my directness, my desire to trust is naive." She shrugs, unconcerned with such notions--if he wished to take advantage of her, he had the perfect opportunity to do so right now, with her husband and the Caduceus both in their chambers. **
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| − | <b>Cael: </b> "Of course. That I can understand. I just did not wish you to feel your offer bound you more than your own feelings on the conflict." he says with another sip of his wine.
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| − | His own gaze meets hers with a certain amount of calculated mystery showing, then he smiles "Of course I'm guarded towards you. There are few in Creation I am not." he says, slightly amused. "That you can see I am at all, makes this conversation all the more interesting to me." he takes a sip of his wine, the same soft smile on his face.
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| − | "Your husband does cause me concern, yes. Mysterious as he is, but I will not press you for details.." a subtle emphasis on the word "..of his secrets. They are his own to divulge or not, as the case may be. He intrigues me, though, I will admit that to you."
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| − | "But anyway, you came here to find out about me ... what is it that you wish to know?" he asks with a faint, pleased smile on his face.
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| − | <b>Ryshassa: </b> <i>Well. That went down better than I thought it would.</i> As she considers Cael's replies, Ryshassa's own gentle smile returns to brighten her face, bringing palpable warmth to her almond-shaped eyes.
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| − | "What do I wish to know? Such an open-ended question! Surely you will not be so generous. But do tell me, Cael... what is it that draws you to aid our Prince so nobly? Given your proclivities and resources -- this ship alone is a fortune to your name -- there are quite a few endeavors you could have chosen to occupy your time, I am sure. Surely you are not simply keeping yourself busy while on the run?" At this she winks and chuckles teasingly, as if not quite believing that this could be the case, despite it being her own suggestion.
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| − | "I see you are a shrewd man, though... you choose your allies carefully. I do hope with time you will come to view me as a trusted comrade, and friend. One day... because it is a lonely, debilitating feeling, in the long run, to be surrounded by so many people and trust so few -- if any." The last she says in a more hushed, serious tone, though her smile hardly wavers. Veiled as he is in protective screens of etiquette and protocol, weaving well thought out sentiments that say very much of so little, she still finds herself believing that they could have much in common -- if ever they came to speak as equals unhindered by mistrust.
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| − | "You are right, though, in that I will not speak for my husband on what secrets he may hide, in part because even I am uncertain of knowing them in their entirety. Better to hear them straight from the source, I would think. And I believe Alexsei would be receptive to being honest with you, as I hope you can see I am now."
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| − | <b>Cael: </b> Cael is still for a moment, considering the question, apparently. "Well, the simplest explanation is that the Smiling Lover, with her lovely blonde tresses, asked me too." He says with a grin.
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| − | "And since I am their agent in the world, I was somewhat beholden to aquiess to her request. Then there is the fact that it keeps me busy while on the run, as you so astutely guessed." He pauses for a little while to see what her reaction is to these motives before he continues. "And then there is the fact that I couldn't just leave the Prince, and the North, alone to fall into darkness as the Bishops plans unfolded."
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| − | <i>Seeing beyond his words, Ryshassa's magic sees Cael's motives laid bare.</i>
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| − | <i>He'd told her most of the reasons he was with the young prince.</i>
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| − | <i>Mostly it was that he simply didn't want to abandon the Prince to the darkness, that he wanted to help him to grow and to shine and to make the North grow and shine along with him.</i>
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| − | <i>Then there was the challenge and the complement of the Ashen Tears Prophet. The gauntlet had been thrown down, so to speak, and that contest would have to play itself out.</i>
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| − | <i>There was the fact it was an interesting way to pass the time, a challenge in a way he had not been tested for a while.</i>
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| − | <i>Finally, there was the request from his allies in the Seven Sages. Which was perhaps more of a reason than Ryshy might have expected, but Cael's word mattered to him.</i>
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| − | He smiles at her as he sips his wine a little. "Trust is not something I''m adverse to." his smile widens a little "I already trust you as a comrade, of course, after the circmstances of our meeting. Trusting you as a friend, well, I have known you but for a matter of days ..." He shrugs carelessly, drinking a little more of his wine, making no real apology for his behaviour.
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| − | <b>Ryshassa: </b> "Of course, of course," Ryshassa says hastily, shaking her head with a rush of impatience that is slowly becoming more characteristic of her. <i>Do I look that much like a fool? Really!</i> "I don't expect friendship to develop in the span of a few days. Which is why I said... 'with time.' And I suspect we will have a great deal of that, given the circumstances."
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| − | "And we do seem to be more or less on similar terms with our intentions, or at least some of them." Her lips quirk in amusement -- though from what she could gather, he seems to be a man of his word, driven by motivations above and beyond the typical thrillseeking and skirtchasing. Not that she wouldn't put it past him to indulge himself along the way, if her impression of him thus far is sound. "So I am relieved that I have already earned some measure of your trust."
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| − | "May I ask, though, how the Seven Sages came to rely on you as their agent? As long as you are indulging me by answering my questions, by the way, feel free to ask me what you will." With that, she tips her glass to him and smoothly downs the last of her wine, secure in her belief that she has very little, if anything, to hide of her own background and intentions.
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| − | <b>Cael:</b>: play along to your role...
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| − | "Aye, I suspect you may be right ... time we will have in abundance, though whether we will have it for usch pleasant talks as this is another matter." He shrugs to indicate this is something that only fate will decide.
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| − | "That was the impression I gained from our first meeting, yes." he grins "It's the small differences that make this all the more interesting though, no?"
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| − | He takes a slightly larger sip of his wine. "Ah, the Sages. My relationship with the Sages stretches back to a few weeks after my Exaltation. They offered me protection from the Haslanti in my youngest days as a Solar and started teaching me the basics of sorcery. In exchange, well, I talked to people for them, brokered deals for them ... and so we grew to help each other."
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| − | "And I think I might take you up on your offer ... perhaps you could tell me more of Gethemane and your time there..."
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| − | <i>How people see places can be so interesting.</i>
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| − | <b>Ryshassa:</b> Ryshassa nods slowly, folding her hands around the fluted stem of her glass, resting them in her lap. "Ah, so they taught you -- that makes sense..." Her gaze becomes distant, unfocused, for a brief moment, as she murmurs, "Sorcery..." Another pause, short as a breath, and her eyes flicker back into focus, into the dark depths of his eyes once more... "Perhaps I can learn from you some day, if time allows. If your patience would allow."
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| − | A wistful, almost... fragile undertone drifts into her voice as she continues to speak, more softly now as she delves into the realm of personal experience. "I was a child of the Realm, and I Exalted... mere days before my graduation from primary school. Suffice it to say I would not be alive today if Alexsei had not been able to intervene..." Her smile, this time, is bittersweet, her entwined fingers gently caressing the band of orichalcum and starmetal on her left hand. "He is the one who taught me when I was new to my abilities. And it is he who brought me safe to Gethamane, away from the prying eyes of the Wyld Hunt, so I could learn and thrive in obscurity."
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| − | "Gethamane... well... I was a Cynis, and grew up in the west of the Realm, in Pangu Prefecture. Surrounded by lush greenery, vineyards and farmlands -- and of course, slaves, though that part I regret and have always detested. But I must say that my first impression of the cold, harsh, barren North was... unpleasant, to say the least. I felt for some time out of my element, you might say, until I learned to appreciate the beauty of the snow-drenched landscape, the contrast of bright stars on bleak winter sky. And of course... the wonder that is Gethamane herself, great vaulted halls of marble and chiseled stone, ancient statues, murals and monuments to gods and historical figures long past... an architectural delight if you but take the time to stop and appreciate its nuances."
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| − | She takes a deep breath, as if pausing for another wave of description, then falters in a moment of self-consciousness, pale cheeks once again flushed faintly pink. "Surely you do not wish to hear me carry on like this all night, though. I have no qualms of speaking of my past, or of what I envision of my future... for few have ever deigned to ask. But the last thing I wish to do is bore you to sleep!"
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> "Teach you sorcery ... of course, if you wish to learn, and time is available then I am willing try and teach it to you. I'm less sure about my abilities as a teacher, but I'm willing to try. I think you'll find me patient if nothing else..." He says, allowing himself a slight grin has as he does, the very corners of his lips turning up.
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| − | He listens politlely and attentively as she speaks of Gethemane ... and other, interesting things, occasionally sipping his wine, or making a small encouraging noise as she speaks.
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| − | He smiles "I <i>was</i> reading to relax myself before I slept ... not that what you have spoken of makes drowsy in any way. I always find it interesting to here of far off and distant places, even those I've visited myself." he makes a slightly lazy gesture "If you're truely in the mood for talking of what you wish to do in the future, then please, tell me of it if you will ..."
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| − | <b>Ryshassa: </b> "Mmm... one day then, I may very well take you up on your offer. But of course we have other, more pressing matters to attend to first."
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| − | "As for my future... well... it is not necessarily that I felt a pressing need to speak of it, merely that I would not be bothered to do so if asked -- but, well... since I suppose you DID ask, just now..." Ryshassa bows her head indulgently, and allows herself, for another unguarded moment, to speak freely of her feelings and intentions.
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| − | "There is not yet much to say that I have not already hinted at. My most far-reaching hopes are mere speculation, at this point... visions I have seen of myself, centuries in the past... through the Caduceus. I am a healer, first and foremost, so my heart's true desire is to heal those who cannot help themselves... and, eventually, be able to stave off wars and conflicts altogether, or at the very least prevent harm to those innocents who have done nothing to deserve it. But most of these is vague, distant goals... For now I am content to believe that my path lies with aiding Prince Alexander and his allies, including yourself of course."
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| − | Unfolding her fingers, the healer lifts her empty glass from her lap and rests it carefully upon the table in front of Cael. "You are indeed a patient man, for listening so closely to my endless prattle, but I myself grow weary. I thank you deeply for your time... and for the wine, of course." The crimson folds of her kimono whisper softly against her skin as she rises smoothly and executes another graceful bow. Though her smile is for Cael, and her gesture -- beyond its customary politeness -- sincere, her mind already rushes back towards her slumbering husband, and the warmth of the bed they share...
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| − | <b>Cael:</b> Cael continues to listen to her speaking of her desires for the near and the distant future, his features always attentive.
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| − | "I for one am glad you are", he notes as she finishes speaking of the very immediate future.
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| − | He stands himself as she does "It does not take so much patience to listen to someone with a voice like yours." he says with a sparkle in his eye. "Time and wine I will gladly share with you in the future, of course."
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| − | He returns her bow with one of his own, also sincere, as far as she can tell, though not something he would normally do, she senses. He has a smile on his face as he speaks again. "Good night then, Ryshassa. I hope your sleeep comes easier now." He remains standing until she departs the lounge, then seats himself, and reopens the book ...
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/ThirdMovement|Third Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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