Topic: A Gift for a Ghost?

Elessaria

Date: 2007-11-11 18:30 EST
Seeing Connar that night in the Inn and set a whole set of emotions whirling within her. When Eless saw him chatting with Kacey, she had to sit quickly because she really doubted her legs would hold her upright due to her utter surprise. As she reflected upon the events of the previous night, the elven magess sifted through her papers until she found a couple of sheets of parchment tied with gold and blue silk ribbons and rolled carefully to preserve a tiny palmful of white sand she had placed carefully within.

The petite empath had kept her shields tightly woven when she realized he was alive. The last thing she wanted him to know was how she had nearly died with him nor how the Servants of the Dark used that to their advantage. She knew that would pain him greatly and he had suffered enough for many lifetimes.

She tucked her gift into a small satchel whose leather tie encircled the black ruff of Nuage. With mischief replacing the sadness that mixed with the blue flames in her eyes, Elessaria set the wolf in search of Connar.

When initially opened, the first page would be written in her usual, flowing script

Cher Connar,

As I write this note I know not yet whether thou art truly dead or if thou art alive. I could not pass the veils that separate our worlds in spite of our bond nor the potency of my empathy. However, deep within my core I cannae believe thou art dead. Whether tis instinct or just a simple wish, I have prepared this simple gift to give thee shouldest thou return to RhyDin. Since thou didst regale me with thy tale of the desert, I could nay forget snippets of this poem. I am glad I finally remembered it in its entirety. 'Tis my gift to thee in thanks for an evening that brought camaraderie and a smile to my countenance.

Toujours, ~Eless When the sheets are separated a small amount of incredibly soft sand slips from where it was cached between the pages. The second page consisted very high quality and the words had been carefully penned in gold leaf in an intricate — yet still legible— calligraphy, one that had not been used for centuries.



~Murs, ville, Et port, Asile De mort, Mer grise O" brise La brise ; Tout dort.

Dans la plaine Na"t un bruit. C'est l'haleine De la nuit. Elle brame Comme une "me Qu'une flamme Toujours suit.

La voix plus haute Semble un grelot. - D'un nain qui saute C'est le galop : Il fuit, s'"lance, Puis en cadence Sur un pied danse Au bout d'un flot.

La rumeur approche ; L'"cho la redit. C'est comme la cloche D'un couvent maudit ; - Comme un bruit de foule, Qui tonne et qui roule, Et tant"t s'"croule Et tant"t grandit.

Dieu ! la voix s"pulcrale Des Djinns !...- Quel bruit ils font ! Fuyons sous la spirale De l'escalier profond ! D"j" s'"teint ma lampe ; Et l'ombre de la rampe, Qui le long du mur rampe, Monte jusqu'au plafond.

C'est l'essaim des Djinns qui passe, Et tourbillonne en sifflant. Les ifs, que leur vol fracasse, Craquent comme un pin br"lant. Leur troupeau lourd et rapide Volant dans l'espace vide, Semble un nuage livide Qui porte un "clair au flanc.

Ils sont tout pr's ! - Tenons ferm"e Cette salle o' nous les narguons. Quel bruit dehors ! hideuse arm"e De vampires et de dragons ! La poutre du toit descell"e Ploie ainsi qu'une herbe mouill"e, Et la vieille porte rouill"e Tremble, " d"raciner ses gonds !

Cris de l'enfer ! voix qui hurle et qui pleure ! L'horrible essaim, pouss" par l'aquilon, Sans doute, " ciel ! s'abat sur ma demeure. Le mur fl"chit sous le noir bataillon. La maison crie et chancelle pench"e, Et l'on dirait que, du sol arrach"e, Ainsi qu'il chasse une feuille s"ch"e, Le vent la roule avec leur tourbillon !

Proph"tes ! si ta main me sauve De ces impurs d"mons des soirs, J'irai prosterner mon front chauve Devant tes sacr's encensoirs ! Fais que sur ces portes fid"les Meure leur souffle d'"tincelles, Et qu'en vain l'ongle de leurs ailes Grince et crie " ces vitraux noirs !

Ils sont pass's ! - Leur cohorte S'envole et fuit, et leurs pieds Cessent de battre ma porte De leurs coups multipli's. L'air est plein d'un bruit de cha"nes, Et dans les for"ts prochaines, Frissonnent tous les grands ch"nes, Sous leur vol de feu pli's !

De leurs ailes lointaines Le battement d"cro"t, Si confus dans les plaines, Si faible que l'on croit Ou"r la sauterelle Crier d'une voix gr"le, Ou p"tiller la gr"le, Sur le plomb d'un vieux toit.

D'"tranges syllabes Nous viennent encor ;- Ainsi, des Arabes Quand le cor sonne, Un chant sur la gr've, Par instants s'"l've, Et l'enfant qui r've Fait des r'ves d'or !

Les Djinns fun"bres, Fils du tr"pas, Dans les t"n"bres Pressent leurs pas ; Leur essaim gronde : Ainsi, profonde, Murmure une onde Qu'on ne voit pas.

Ce bruit vague Qui s'endort, C'est la vague Sur le bord ; C'est la plainte Presque "teinte D'une sainte Pour un mort.

On doute La nuit... J'"coute : - Tout fuit, Tout passe ; L'espace Efface Le bruit.~

"Les Djinns" - Ecrit par Victor Hugo en ao?t 1828; Les Orientales, XXVIII, 1829

Connar Valdor

Date: 2007-11-13 00:12 EST
As he looked out over the city of Rhydin from the vantage point of a lofty knoll, Connar sensed the quiet approach of Eless" messenger-wolf, Nuage " the dry, fallen leaves crumbling under his heavy paws. He knelt down, meeting the animal's snout with an open palm, as one might do with an unfamiliar dog"a very large, dangerous unfamiliar dog that could easily rip the flesh from your arm if it so pleased. Encouraged by the wolf's calm demeanor, Connar petted him lightly on the head and scruff of the neck, "What have we here, Nuage, something from your mistress?"

He loosed the small satchel from around Nuage's neck, giving the animal a soft pat on the head. The gold and blue silk ribbons were carefully untied and the parchment was rolled open. Connar read the brief note and ensuing poem penned by Eless, a smile turning his lips as the sentiments of the Djinn, of dragons and demons of the night, of the powerful wind-swept sands. Her words flowing as a vivid dream off the parchment page. He read it a couple of times over, seeing with perfect clarity the imagery in each line.

He looked up, night was falling over the city, lamplights and warm glows rose from the somber streets and alleyways. The letter was rolled up once again and placed with the letters and parchments comprising his journals.

He tied a small wooden carving to the leather strap around Nuage's neck. The object was no bigger than a coin and carved from a dark piece of rosewood. As it dangled from the wolf's neck it very well could be mistaken for a marker or tag. He roughed the fur on Nuage's back and sent the wolf on its way, knowing the animal would head straightway to his mistress" side.

When Eless would discover the object around her wolf's neck, she would find a small, but ornately carved wooden gear.