| Subject: riddles |
Author:
Caspe, etc
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Date Posted: 14:20:38 03/23/06 Thu
In reply to:
Trebor et. al.
's message, "Re: Calling on Her" on 14:48:13 03/15/06 Wed
In response to Trebor's heated cry, the spirit giggled. Her laughter was shrill and breathy and her body seemed to ripple with waves of heat, though the creatures standing close to her could feel only the cool morning breeze. The sunlight, slanting across the stone, passed straight through the spirit's body but the shadow did not stay put; it flickered and twisted across the stone, never keeping still, lost in the rhythm of some mad fiery dance, and seemed unaffected by the light of the world of free air.
(Yes,) she whispered, and the sound seemed to crawl up from between the stones at their feet. Kalea stiffened, the hair of her tail standing straight out, and held tightly to the back of Dante's tunic to keep him from running off again. (I know why, o leaf-furred prince of the noble blue grasses, I always know why. My teeth, you see, are of discriminating taste, and they always find the truth, o yes!)
Trebor was about to speak again but the spirit cut him off. (but o my goodness o me, such rudeness! Do you know my name, little princes?) She lowered her head and those terrifying molten eyes sizzled. (My mother called me a darker name but my father called me Caspe and father is always right o yes? You know my name my fleet-footed prince.)
Trebor frowned. "Giver," he said rather shortly.
The spirit laughed again and capered in a circle, and though they could not see her feet it seemed to Kalea that she heard a faint crackling patter, like coals dropped to the ground. (O very good o my wise one! Yes the giver knows, o yes your giver sees the valleys o the hearts of light and shadow coming swiftly even now to the meeting-place. I see them o my o yes I can see them both.)
Trebor's eyes widened in sudden terror but again the spirit - Caspe - interrupted, now standing quite tall and still. (I see the alien colors marking your poor brothers and sisters,) she said, and her voice rolled like distant thunder. (I see the distortions o the kittens born malformed o I hear the frightened whispers when a child is born with white points. O fear and ignorance!)
Then WHY? signed Thuronil suddenly, stamping for emphasis as he stood between Kalea and Dante and the smoldering spirit. You speak in fine riddles, Giver, but what does it all mean? Why is this happening?
Caspe, who had never much cared for Many-Color, hissed at Thur with open mouth and her teeth seemed to spark and sizzle over her blood-red tongue. (I know why.)
"Tell us," said Kalea in a shaking voice. "We have to stop it somehow. Right?" She looked helplessly at the unicorn, who stood sedately to one side, dark liquid eyes obscure. He met her gaze and a vision leapt up in her mind, of the great mountains in the west over which Wesimbi had flown her, crumbling into dust and pebbles.
The...the barrier? signed Thur uncertainly.
The spirit cocked her head teasingly. (I know the way,) she whispered. (I know the way, I've been that way, the fire in my skin will light the way. One for each of you, methinks - the leader, the disciple, the singer, the heart....) Her voice trailed off like a wisp of smoke in a light breeze, and then she looked quite directly at Kaleadora. (And Ikana too, methinks.)
"What?" asked Kalea, for she did not know the word. She saw, however, that Trebor's face had turned to stone as he stared very hard at the spirit. "What does that mean?"
(I can call but one,) Caspe went on, as though Kalea had not spoken. (But I can send you away o far far away to my brothers my sisters and from there each will call one.) Her body flickered and seemed to become more solid for a moment, her eyes less fevered, and her shadow's dance was a bit less hectic. For a moment, she grew closer to the world of free air, and spoke again to Trebor. (For I too depend upon the barrier, little prince. In this much I will aid you.)
She shuddered, arching her back, slipping away again and chuckling inanely for a few moments before she could speak. (O come with me my little ones my ducks my darlings! I know the way, I've been that way, the fire in my skin will light the way! Call him,) she urged Trebor. (Call the snow-prince, dark-eye, winterlord - CALL HIM!
The sunlight seemed to dim within the stone pillars. Kalea shivered again, and leaned gladly against the little horse's side when he came up beside her; she felt sheltered beneath his white wing. All eyes turned to Trebor.
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