?I know you are there, brother? you might as well quit trying to spy on me and just come gloat.?
No sooner had the old man uttered the last of those words that the Elder appeared. There was no great tearing, no unnatural rip between this world and the Primordal. No, here, the Primordal reigned, even if it was contained within the body of the old man.
?I would not gloat.? The voice came from across the office.
?No, but you told me that to give my heart to her would lead to my destruction.?
?I did.?
?Yes, you did. However, that is the difference between you and I. Where you give the world a cold shoulder, I give it a burning heart. I would do it all again.?
?Yes, you would.?
The two stood there for a long moment. It could have been a few minutes, or hours? or even perhaps days. Time meant nothing to the two. The old man continued to gaze out of a window, seeing a world that he had help build, with people he watched after and cared for. The Elder watched the old man, awaiting what he knew would come?
?then.. it did.
?Khirsah, bring the library back to the Isles. Leave the building and its residents alone. Leave behind all things that are not mine? and yes, that includes the furniture. The books, the scrolls, the devices and all magic, however, goes.?
?That does mean that the portals will be closed within the house.?
?Yes, it does.?
The Elder nodded. Perhaps the Younger was finally understanding why he did not care.
The old man turned and looked long at the Elder. When his voice came, it was almost a match for the Elder?s cold impartialness. ?Remove from the Isles all those who are not meant to be there, save one. You are to leave one portal open to the Manor on the Isles here in the Library, and you are to allow Mia to stay at the Manor. Kitty will continue to be allowed access to the Isles.?
The Elder suppressed a sigh. No, it seems that the younger was not quite ready to understand.
?I know what you are thinking, Khirsah. However, I will not give up on her. I will let her decide what she wishes to do. Despite what you think, or care to feel, I love her. I will not simply let go. If I have to, you know I would tear the world apart for her?? Then the old man?s voice grew soft. ??and it might come to that, won?t it??
?Yes? was the simple reply given before the Elder was gone again.
The old man continued to stand there, staring blankly at the books around him. Then, he finally turned and looked back out the window at a new view? the green hills that surrounded the Manor on the Isles.
?Yes? I will destroy this world and the next and all those who stand in my way if I have to in order to see to it that she knows I will not let her go so easily.?
No sooner had the old man uttered the last of those words that the Elder appeared. There was no great tearing, no unnatural rip between this world and the Primordal. No, here, the Primordal reigned, even if it was contained within the body of the old man.
?I would not gloat.? The voice came from across the office.
?No, but you told me that to give my heart to her would lead to my destruction.?
?I did.?
?Yes, you did. However, that is the difference between you and I. Where you give the world a cold shoulder, I give it a burning heart. I would do it all again.?
?Yes, you would.?
The two stood there for a long moment. It could have been a few minutes, or hours? or even perhaps days. Time meant nothing to the two. The old man continued to gaze out of a window, seeing a world that he had help build, with people he watched after and cared for. The Elder watched the old man, awaiting what he knew would come?
?then.. it did.
?Khirsah, bring the library back to the Isles. Leave the building and its residents alone. Leave behind all things that are not mine? and yes, that includes the furniture. The books, the scrolls, the devices and all magic, however, goes.?
?That does mean that the portals will be closed within the house.?
?Yes, it does.?
The Elder nodded. Perhaps the Younger was finally understanding why he did not care.
The old man turned and looked long at the Elder. When his voice came, it was almost a match for the Elder?s cold impartialness. ?Remove from the Isles all those who are not meant to be there, save one. You are to leave one portal open to the Manor on the Isles here in the Library, and you are to allow Mia to stay at the Manor. Kitty will continue to be allowed access to the Isles.?
The Elder suppressed a sigh. No, it seems that the younger was not quite ready to understand.
?I know what you are thinking, Khirsah. However, I will not give up on her. I will let her decide what she wishes to do. Despite what you think, or care to feel, I love her. I will not simply let go. If I have to, you know I would tear the world apart for her?? Then the old man?s voice grew soft. ??and it might come to that, won?t it??
?Yes? was the simple reply given before the Elder was gone again.
The old man continued to stand there, staring blankly at the books around him. Then, he finally turned and looked back out the window at a new view? the green hills that surrounded the Manor on the Isles.
?Yes? I will destroy this world and the next and all those who stand in my way if I have to in order to see to it that she knows I will not let her go so easily.?