Sweet Dreams Kin

Peace and quiet reign this afternoon, as it does most afternoons, in the Temple of Eluna. Although there are fewer of the clergy here than usual, there are also few petitioners, and the austere marble of the holy center of the Temple presides over a serene and peaceful pool indeed.

It is not, however, entirely without activity. A bit away from the pool, a pair of rugs have been laid out to cover the marble, and Seldan, dressed in open-front shirt, trousers, and wizard robes, with bare feet and only some of his magical gear, talks in low tones with one of the white-cloaked Seers, an older-looking llyranesi with raven hair running to salt and pepper. He watches the pool as he does so, and while he is serious, something in his mien troubled, he looks rested and hale, and clean, hair behaving in the fluffy way that says _freshly washed_.

The sound of that gentle conversation is broken by the soft easy and now-familiar step-tap that foretells Zeke's arrival before one can turn to see the sith himself. The quite gentle clink of crystal against the hard surface of the temple floor before it is covered in rugs. The sith moves in a quite well of surety, his crystal limbs proudly visible and and though on occasion his eyes flicker with a trace of discomfort toward those that turn to watch him walk by, he otherwise ignores them. There's a trace of trouble on his brow, a flick to his tail that tells that he is thinking deep thoughts that do not particularly please him. Like Seldan however he is for a change of recent pace one who wears the bearing of one who has at least gotten their necessary rest and had a chance to cleanse themselves. Politely, he stops well away from the conversation, far enough that he is clearly trying not to evesdrop on what is clearly intended to be between the pair of men alone.

At length, the conversation ends. It doesn't take too long for sharp llyranesi ears to catch the step-tap of a known figure here in the Temple, and he nods backwards towards Zeke, then looks back at Seldan. "But I think that you have a visitor, and I should see to other things. If they become unbearable, and you cannot sleep, seek out or create an anti-magic field in which to sleep. It is not light magic, but you and your companion are no light magicians, and I think that you will manage well enough."

The robed Seer unfolds himself and stands, and after a moment, Seldan does the same, both of them picking up their rugs and laying them on a pile next to one of the outer pillars. Once done, the Seer raises a hand and makes a gesture of blessing, laying a hand on Seldan's as he looks up at him. "Walk in Her light, and the shadows shall have no power over you." He then turns away, but in doing so, catches the taller sith-makar's eye, the look significant if brief, a healer-to-healer silent communication, before turning and making his way towards the altar, robes silently brushing the floor.

As politely as he can Zeke ignores the last bit of the conversation which he happened to overhear, blinking it away wordlessly and offering a low polite nod to the priest after their brief but intent silent communication. It's one of those things that transcends species, but is not well-translated outside what Zeke knows only as caste. The sith then turns and allows his eyes to take in Seldan more carefully, weighing him and offering his customary nod. "Peassce on your nessst kin. You are looking well thisss day, thisss one iss glad." His tone is warm and fond, but a touch careful. "Would you ssshare wordsss with thisss one?"

"Peace be upon yours as well," Seldan greets in return, warmly enough, although he frowns a little at something in Zeke's body language and tone. "Cryosanthia looks far better, it was good to see her well. I will of course share words with you, how might I be of service?" His usual politeness is very much in evidence, but there is still something troubled, subdued there.

Rather than answer immediately the blue-scaled sith looks around. "Isss there perhapsss a place we might sssit to ssshare wordsss?" He returns his attention to the paladin. "Thisss one would ssspeak to you of the eventssss which took plasce lassst evening, and it might be good to have sssome... privasscy for sssuch words yessss?" He flicks his tail with mild discomfort, a trace of worry on his features. He is concerned for Seldan's wellfare, that much is certain.

Seldan's eyes close and lower, the troubled look returning threefold to his features. There is no fear there, though. Worry, yes, by the shovelful. Anger? Some, but well-controlled. Exhaustion? Some dark circles under the eyes, but no worse than Zeke himself at times, and he appears to be coherent and unhampered. "Yes, of course," is all he says. "Come with me."

He leads Zeke down the same maze of hallways where he'd come a week or so ago, and into the same room, a small affair like many others here, a bed, a writing desk and chair, a stool, and an armor rack, and little else. The scents here say that his mate has also been here recently and was here for some time, but other scents are more alarming - the herbs used to induce sleep and rebalance a badly shocked body, faint traces of Seldan's blood, and several different softskin scents. Time has passed, but healers were active here sometime in the last day.

Seldan nods to the door, meaning that Zeke should close it behind him, and sits heavily on the side of the bed. "I do not doubt that there are a great many rumors."

Zeke follows Seldan quietly, seeming to know the way, but content to be led down the path to the rooms that Seldan is taking him to. The room is spartan, but that is to be expected of rooms in a temple, and Zeke seems as comfortable here as he is in his own space in the temple of Daeus. Perhaps because one temple is not entirely unlike another. Yet he hesitates briefly, scenting the room visibly and shaking his head free of the combination with a short exhale before he closes the door and wanders to where there is a stool sitting. The sith seats himself with care, blinking his green eyes at Seldan. "Asss you sssay, and though Cryosssanthia wasss there, thisss one would hear from your own lipsss what happened. For thisss one knowsss that each perssson hasss their own perssspective on ssuch thingsss." He leans forward slightly.

Seldan leans forward where he is seated on the bed, elbows on his knees, eyes and head lowered. "I had been ... at arms for much of the day, and it was near nightfall. Mal had brought dinner to the arms grounds, but I was not truly hungry ..." He trails off. "Mother was sitting where spectators might. I - there could be no doubt. She had taken her, and yet - there she was. I did not think on why ... or how. She seemed well." Here, he smiles with remembrance. "My manners wholly flew me, and she chided me for it, and rightly so. She was fine - until night truly fell."

His voice trembles only a little, the smile fading. "It was her ... but I was wrong. The ooze still had her, it was but held back. Mal dispelled it, and it vanished ... only for her eyes to turn red. She - she's a vampire. Controlled by that ooze somehow. Yet ... she is still within. The real her is still in there. She asked me to save her - and then she bit me. As Kol did. But that is not her. Salina forced her to it, compelled her, ordered her to kill me. I called on Eluna's protection - and by her grace ... she fought long enough for me to free myself. Mal did something else - he could not physically restrain her, he did something else, I think he said he tried to break the enchantment on her. Salina grabbed her back before the spell could be broken ... she is taken again. I..."

He trails off, lost for words briefly, then picks back up again. "She is still in there, somehow. That was the real her. She isn't dead. She's ... controlled. By that ooze, somehow. I must find a way to save her, ere it is too late. Father will have my hide if I do not. And ... She will win, if I do not. All those people ..."

Not a single sound leaves the sith as Seldan speaks. As he relays this painful play to Zeke. All he can truly offer is comfort by his presence and that is little enough. The more that Seldan speaks however the more troubled grows Zeke's expression. Until Seldan trails off and the sith shakes his head. Not a negation of what the paladin has said, but rather more concern than anything else. "You can only do ssso much kin. Thisss one... Thisss one owess you many apologiesss. Thisss one knew that the missstresss of the ssshard tower wasss... essperimenting on your nesst-mother. But thisss one..." He finds the words hard to say. Sith are not often close to their nest-parents as softskins are, but Zeke had a unique relationship with his own, and it granted him an unusual perspective on the relationship between softskins and their strange (to a sith) relations. "Thisss one did not know how to tell you. You have gone through ssso much of late. Thisss one kept the wordsss inssside when they might have ssserved you better."

Many people might have exploded. Yelled at the sith-makar. Seldan, though, simply shakes his head, burying his face in his hands, at least for a little while. "No, Zeke. Many words have I shared with Menel. Enough to know the truth of her actions within that tower, and what occurs within. Something of its guardians, and how one may escape it. Cryosanthia knows more - but dare I ask that of her?" He draws a deep breath, and drops his hands. Haunted, yes. Worried, yes. Broken, no. Instead, he seems to be focusing himself differently. "No. I guessed that she was doing unspeakable things ... and could but pray when you told me that she yet lived."

When he looks up, though, he wears a very, very small smile. "And yet are there small victories. More are healed, cured. Kol is no more, though we yet must hunt down and destroy his brood. And ... I have drawn her attention, I think. She targets me as well ... and Faran." There, his smile fades. "Truly is Faranmidahn in greater need than I. The gift she received from the fae woman...." He swallows, hard, in sympathy.

Zeke looks away, guilt slashing across his features. "Thisss one iss glad that he wasss able to help you." Unspoken are the words that might have followed that. The admission of the murder that haunts the sith-makar. He looks at his claws, breathes deeply but moves forward. They have little enough time for the dead. Hardly time for the living it seems. "Thisss one knowss that the choissce of who regainsss their memoriesss isss yoursss and Cryossanthiasss, ssso thiss one will sssay no more on the matter. Thisss one only hopess that good comess of what you sssacrifisced for."

He shakes himself and nods to Seldan's words about Faran. "Thissss one wondersss... Hasss Malik ssspoken to you of what he learned about the demon that attacked the temple sssquare the other day?" Again his words are cautious.

Seldan frowns, eyebrows raising at the guilt slashing across the features, but like Zeke, he turns his attention to the other, more immediate question. "I pray the same. No, he has said nothing of the sort to me. He was ... little enough of a mind to talk when I emerged, and less so in private. I thought it best not to pry overmuch. Has he spoken to you at all?"

"Yessss. And thiss one would tell you what thisss one would trusst no other to know." Zeke looks at Seldan very seriously. "That iss to ssay. Thisss one would assk that you keep thiss knowledge in the sstrictesst of confidancesss. Thisss one doess not even tell Cryossanthia lesst ssshe be sscried upon. And though Mikilosss hasss been helpful he issss..." Zeke's tail flicks, and he hesitates. The sith caution with wizards and their ilk is not an unfamiliar thing, though Zeke has shown little enough of it personally. "Thisss one hasss heard that he hass conssorted with demonsss and worriess what he might do with thisss knowledge."

The blue-scaled sith steadies himself and does not look away from Seldan's ice-blue eyes. "There issss a circle for sssummoning a Duke of Hell beneath the sscity. Your mate hass the knowledge of it. Helped thisss one uncover it in fact."

Distracted from his own thoughts by an announcement that is very akin to a slap in the face, Seldan starts, eyes widening and then narrowing. "Even so? I understand your caution, and will speak to none of it. It was Mikilos that first released Eclavdran from his binding within the shard tower, and ... the man blindly gave his sworn word to the Queen of Air and Darkness. His power is mightier, I think, than his judgment."

All trace of smile is gone. "Did Malik wish me to know of this, I think it likely that he would have spoken by now, once ... reassured. I would not have him know that you have told me, I would see does he tell me himself."

Zeke bows his head. "Then thisss one will sssay nothing of having sshared sssuch wordsss with you. Thisss one wasss however consscerned by sssome of hisss wordsss in learning sssuch. They gave thisss one reassson to caution." He seems thoughtful, perhaps remembering Malik's expression and his tone upon uncovering the truth. "Thisss one could not fail to warn you of ssuch; knowing that you are clearly a target for thisss missstresss. Sshould ssshe sssend thisss demon-lord to you, you will have great need of being prepaired. An encounter with sssuch a fiend might well be more difficult than dealing with the vampire."

Seldan's expression, a dark frown, only deepens at the description. "You are right to caution. Does he mean to try it himself, he will not tell me of it. This much do I know for certain." Unspoken is the added, _because he knows perfectly well what I will do if he does_. "I value the warning greatly, and shall remember. Not idly did I have my armor enchanted, that I might sleep in it." A very, very small chuckle accompanies that, one that fades quickly. "I pray that no such thing comes to pass ... but I would ask you one indulgence. There is one with whom I would share the knowledge, that she be as prepared as I should it ever be used. Serene is my senior within the Silver Guard, and she has been researching Eclavdran for me, to little avail."

A look of shock crosses over Zeke's face. "You think that your mate might try to ssummon the demon?" He sounds properly horrified at the thought. "Thisss one..." He swallows and looks even more upset. "Thisss one told him the sssacrifice necesssary for doing sssuch. Thisss one did not think that he might do ssso... Worried that he might be tempted yesss but..." He seems uncomfortable now and he sighs and then nods. "Asss you sssee fit, only be /careful/ yesss?"

"I ... sincerely hope he would do no such thing." Seldan draws a deep breath. "I cannot say but ... I have tried to teach him more concern for others and better morals. I have ... met with mixed results. Who else knows of it?" He smoothes the rumpled bedclothes next to him. "I shall be careful. This one only would I speak to ... is Serene known to you?"

Zeke shakes his head. "Malik and thiss one alone know of sssuch, though Cryossanthia iss looking into it. Thisss one hasss tried to disscourage her, but doess not think that ssshe will learn the truth for sssome time. Thisss one will know when sshe learnsss of it thisss one isss ssure." He sighs and then shakes his head. "Thisss one hass not met thiss Sserene."

"She has offered to help with the plague cures, and tells me that she has the ability to do so. I should therefore make her known to you, as soon as may be." Seldan rubs his face in his hands. He does not explain the gesture, though. "I ... would begin again to help as well."

"Take your time kin." Zeke says comfortingly, shaking his head gently. "You do much for thissss causse with-out healing the sssick. You may leave the curing of the ill to the People, to thisss one, and to onesss like this Ssserene. You do not need over-tax yoursself." Zeke huffs out a breath and looks around the room. There is not much within it to be had. "Can thisss one make tea for you? Isss there the makingsss of sssuch here?"

"Within the Temple, yes, but not in this room...a moment." Seeming to remember something, Seldan stands and walks over to the writing desk, sorting out its contents. A few things have been left for him, including a decanter half-full of water, and two cups apparently already used, and several packets of herbs. "The Seers bade me see to it that I drank another cup of this. It is not fancy ...." He begins, but traces a simple spell inside the teacup, the dregs of its contents instantly vanishing. "I know not if you carry upon you other teas."

Zeke emits a low murmur and rises to his feet to pull a little packet of tea from his sleeve. "Thiss one doesss not go without." He seems amused with himself gently. "Thisss one doess not know if thisss one will find the drinksss at ssome plascess to thisss onesss liking, and ssso hasss begun to carry ssuch with." He lays the little packet beside Seldan and gives the paladin his space once more. "Thisss one iss glad to remind you to take your medicine, even if only by accident."

Seldan smiles quietly in response, then passes a hand over the other teacup; it similarly clears up of all debris. He dismisses that, then makes that same gesture again, with the smallest of variants, and this time, wraps his hands around the outside of the half-full decanter, concentrating for perhaps half a minute. He then sets it down and gestures with his free hand to dismiss the spell.

He pours two cups of now-hot water from the decanter, then picks both up and one of the herb packets and carries them back over to the bed. "It is not a teapot, I know, and the cantrip has its limits, but I pray it is enough." He offers one of the cups to Zeke, then settles back on the bed with the other and the packet of herbs. He dumps the packet in the water, and the scent is clear enough to Zeke's healer nose. A restorative, and a mild sedative. "I am glad, I would ask none to drink this for pleasure."

Zeke gratefully accepts the cup from Seldan, picking up his own packet and adding it to the water as he moves with the quite grace he has back to his stool. His nose twitches at the scent of Seldan's medicine, and he wrinkles his snout delicately not fond of the smell. Still he sits down. "Medicinesss are hardly ever pleasssant to the tongue, but necesssary. The healersss mussst find you in need of ressstful sssleep. Thisss one isss glad that they are taking care of you sssince you ssseem ssso sset on not doing ssso yoursself." His words are gently teasing, a glimmer and his eye and the tone of his voice giving away that he knows well enough that the same could be said of himself. "Thisss one thanksss you for ssharing wordsss, and tea with thisss one. Thisss one knowsss that your time isss valuable of late."

Seldan cradles the cup between his hands, discarding the packet carelessly into the bedclothes, not drinking yet and plainly letting the herbs steep. His eyes lower at the mention of restful sleep, and he lets out a breath. "It is no trouble, and in truth, a pleasure to share quiet words with those with whom I may speak freely. Events move swiftly since Kol's destruction. I must needs ...." He pauses. "It is in my mind to gather those that would march upon the tower, when the time comes, and lay our plans. Yet do I face a dilemma, knowing that those branded may be used as eyes and ears for the enemy we face. Even within an antimagic field can I not fully trust such. One of Master Mithralla's pocket dimensions, perhaps, and even though he had his brand cut away, I know not if she yet holds power over him."

The sith seems to startle at hearing that Mikilos had his brand cut away, and like Seldan does not quickly set to drinking his tea. He patiently allows it to cool instead. "Thisss one would be honored to join you for ssuch a dissscusssion, but undersstandss your cation. Thisss one doess not know much of magic, sso can not sspeak asss to if ssuch watching would be sssomething that could be done inssside a pocket dimenson." He says unfamiliar words with a touch of caution and shakes his head. "Only that thissss one thinksss we musst move sswiftly. Thingsss are growing... More dangerousss thiss one thinksss. Thisss one believesss that our actionsss may yet caussse her to act more harsshly againsst usss than even ssshe hasss yet."

"That is in my mind as well, that we must move swiftly. For the sake not only of ..." Seldan suddenly stops, his gaze unfocused, but with a sudden cloud of pain and worry upon it. The silence hangs, and he swallows hard, forcing himself to continue. "Those trapped within the tower, but those she targets here as well. Does this continue, I know not if Faranmidahn will find the strength of heart to march with us. I think, then, that I wait not upon Master Mithralla's pleasure, but invite those I deem may aid us, and I shall see to the purchasing of the spells that may ward our meeting place."

Zeke does not question Seldan's harsh trailing off, or the painful fog of pain that even a sith could not miss. Particularly not one given over to healing of the sick. "Thisss one will trussst you to do sssuch. Thisss one hass every faith in you Sseldan." These words are said simply, but with conviction. The sith-makar holds his tea as if hoping they might warm his one feeling hand, perhaps stave off the chill that invites itself to him. "Thisss one will tend to Faranmidahn if thisss one can. Thisss one knows that Cryossanthia hass done what ssshe may for her, but thisss one will reach out asss well."

"I shall see to it that your faith is well-placed." Seldan sniffs at his mug, and lets it steep for a bit longer, not to mention cool. "I will also do what I can for her ..." He shakes his head slowly. "I would have you not tell her of the events last night, if such can be avoided. I would not cast pitch into the fire of her fears. I must devote my time to preparing to march on the Shard tower, though I will aid the sick as I may."

"Thisss one will ssay nothing of it to her then, and perhapsss will asssk Cryosssathia to keep sssuch wordsss from her earsss." Zeke sighs, thinking of Cryosanthia and shakes his head. He looks at Seldan and seems about to ask a question, but thinks better of it and closes his mouth again only to say somethin gelse instead. "Take what-ever time you need to do your work Sseldan. There are othersss to tend the sssick, and you are not cassste. It will be well."

"That is kindest, I think." Seldan, too, seems to be waiting for his to cool. "I shall. Perhaps it is better if I do not attempt such things now." He's about to lower his eyes, but frowns again. "Does something trouble you?"

"Yessss." Zeke sighs, but seems for a moment like he will not elaborate, and indeed his words are perhaps more cautious than telling. "But thisss one doesss not wisssh to add to your burdensss kin. You have enough to bear. Besssidesss, they are merely the thoughtsss that a worried male might have."

"That a kinsman is troubled, and yet will not speak his pain, is a burden all its own, for those that care," Seldan counters, seriously, "and it is said among my people that a burden shared is a burden lightened, but that a joy shared is made greater still for the sharing. More, knowing the burdens of others may bid me dwell less upon my own." A smile accompanies that. "It benefits none for me to sit and think."

Zeke wags his tail softly and shakes his head. "But it might do usss all for you to sssleep yesss?" He says this gently and with some amusement. He sighs though, and considers his words carefully. "Thisss one merely worriesss again over old concernssss. That the memoriesss you would give Cryossanthia would sserve her ill... Yet." He steels himself and finally speaks his peace. "Thisss one hasss changed thisss onesss mind, and will asssk you give the cure to her. Thisss one... Thisss one sssslew her hatchling."

The words come out harder than he intends them to and he looks away. "The leassst thisss one can do isss asssk you to give her the memory of him."

"Menel?" Seldan blinks in confusion, considering the sith-makar's words, staring into the teacup. "Even so? But I do not .... It was in my mind to give it to her, should she choose to accept. Yes, of course, although I know not whether she would accept it. Shall I approach her on the morrow? I am certain that you would wish to be there." He sniffs at the tea again, takes a tentative sip.

Zeke tilts his head at Seldan. "Yessss. Menel." The man's name catches in his mouth and he watches Seldan curiously. "Do you not remember that thisss one killed him? Did you give thisss memory ass well to the fae for the prisce of the thing which ressoresss memoriesss?" He shakes his head. "Yesss, thisss one will be there if it isss allowed. To help her through the memoriess, and heal her mind if necesssary." Following Seldan's lead he tries his own tea.

Seldan's eyes narrow, face pursing as he thinks hard. "I ... I did not know that he was dead." His eyes lower, and he stares down into his teacup, saying nothing further. "I ... know not. Two things did I offer to the Queen of Air and Darkness ..." The pain is returned to him in full measure as Zeke's words sink in. "No. It was her. Not you. Her. This is known to me."

For a moment Zeke is silent. "Thisss one knowsss. For had thisss one acted to kill an innoscent with willful intent, then the Dragonfather would never have accepted thisss one back. Thisss one knowssss thisss." The god of light after all did not welcome murderers with open arms after all. He hums at the tea and wags his tail at Seldan. "We can not undo what hasss been done kin, and thisss one hasss much to thank you for, in being there for thisss one."

Still is Seldan silent, tea cradled between his hands, as if trying to process, to think. He seems to have forgotten all about drinking it. "I ... I could not do other. I know that the intent is not yours." He looks up, fresh grief written in the softskin features. "You have been as a brother to me, where my own fled. More than. We are kin, as much as Mother and I are in our way." What is he talking about?

Zeke wags his tail again, pleasure written on his features alongside sadness. "Thisss one hasss never heard before that you had nesst-matesss. That isss what a 'brother' isss yesss?" He is fairly certain, but it doesn't hurt to ask. "We are kin, and thisss one knowsss that you feel much for your nessst-mother. Thissss one... underssstandss where othersss of the People might not. Thisss one thinksss."

"Yes." Something jolts Seldan out of wherever he'd been going with that, and he remembers to sip at his tea - not without making a face, mind. "An older brother. Emerind ... he used to carry me pick-a-back in the marketplace when I was small." A smile comes to the man's face at the memory. "He took care of me - but, he and Father had a horrible fight. I was sent to my room ... and have not seen Emerind since. He stormed out - Father disowned him, I think."

The blue-scaled sith blinks at this news. "Emerind? Emerind." He tilts his head. "Isss thisss a common ssoft-ssskin name?" He asks this question with curiosity. "It ssssoundsss familiar to thisss one for sssome reassson." Zeke drinks his own tea softly now, clearly enjoying his though Seldan is not enjoying his.

"Not really. Mother and Father did not favor the common names." This time, Seldan takes a bigger sip of his tea, clearly intending to drink it down as quickly as he can. "If you have heard some news of him, I would hear it. The last report some years past had him in Charn."

Zeke rolls his shoulders. "Thisss one isss not sctertain. Thisss one heard that Iuitl had dealingsss with sssome ssslaversss in her home village." Zeke flicks his tail with displeasure at the thought of slavers. "The People ssshare wordsss of sssuch. Thisss one heard that one sssuch might have been a man by sssuch a name, but thisss one did not hear the detailsss. Thisss one doesss not know if it wasss your nessst-mate, or another. Sssurely he would not have had dealingsss with egg-ssnatchersss." The blue-scale shakes his head.

"Certainly not. I know that he and Father had their differences ... but he would not stoop so low, no matter how angry he was. Father taught us both better." Seldan swirls the leaves in the tea, then drains it off as quickly as he can. "I am certain it is another that you think of. It is well." There is still grief behind those eyes, but he seems to have relaxed at least a little. "When this is all over, perhaps I shall find him."

The blue-scaled sith nods his head and finishes his own tea more slowly, moving to rise and take Seldan's cup from him. "Thisss one would think that good. Thisss one knowsss that sssoftsskinsss are much closser to their nesst-parentsss and their nesst-matesss than the People are. Kin of any kind isss good. Now, you ssshould ressst. Thisss one will leave you in peasssce."

Seldan lets the cup go readily enough, looking up. "I will not keep you. I hope that I have been of service to you." The tea is beginning to take hold, and Zeke will clearly see that. "Shall I find you and Cryosanthia on the morrow, then?"

Zeke nods, and leaves the tea cups on the dresser. "We will await you in the Dragonfather'sss hallsss. Resst well kin, may you find peassce in your godessesss realm." With that he opens the door and gives Seldan a lower nod of farewell, and leaves the paladin in what he hopes is peace.

-End