| Subject: Re: Answers |
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Kalea, etc
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Date Posted: 13:56:28 03/03/07 Sat
In reply to:
Trebor, Dante
's message, "Re: Answers" on 12:17:14 03/03/07 Sat
Kalea held on tight to Dante, staring at the spirit-Paw. Whereas the kitsune terrified her, she found this newcomer fascinating, for despite his gruffness he was something familiar. Dante, on the other hand, was tensed in fear, and Kalea rocked him gently, leaning against Thuronil under the shelter of his white wing. When Dante babbled the strange Paw looked at him sharply, but said nothing, listening to Trebor intently. He shone bright as the moon, and little wisps and tendrils of silvery smoke were constantly flowing down his legs, pooling briefly around his paws before melting away.
:Angels...: the spirit said slowly, turning his head to look out over the hills with bright eyes. :That would explain the change in the air. All of the Valleys lay in fear of this intrusion. But the mountains, you say....: A shiver ran down the length of his body and he took a few steps closer, looking tall Trebor squarely in the eyes. :If your business is the mountains, then you bring ill tidings indeed. She had warned us that it might not be pernament....: He trailed off, frowning deeply.
Thuronil looked around for a moment, then signed, Who are you?
The spirit-Paw snorted, lashing his tail irritably. :Ingrates,: he grumbled. :Has the world so short a memory? I am Janu.: He looked at Trebor. :Nobel Janu LeLorinan, Winterlord. I was king. Not only of the Valleys...of the entire East. I was their savior.:
"Then," whispered Kalea, and had to swallow before she could continue. "Then you were here when the mountains were made?"
He looked at her, almost smiling, almost enjoying himself now. :Yes, and more than that.:
You made them? signed Thur, eyes wide.
:Not exactly.:
"Then who did?" asked Kalea.
At once the kitsune, who had, surprisingly, been sitting quietly off to one side watching the goings-on with great interest, stood and spoke. (I did.)
Nobel Janu rounded on her, snarling. :Liar!:
(You know nothing, o pathetic bleeding dark-eye,) snapped Caspe, snapping her long jaws with a sound like sizzling coals. (With blood in your mouth you did not see me but I was there, I and my siblings, and if not for us you would never have succeeded.)
Wait, signed Thur, and stomped his foot hard to get their attention. We do not know what you're talking about. Speak plainly. We need your help - what must we do?
Janu gave the kitsune a final withering look and sat facing the visitors, looking stern. :You say that the trouble comes from the mountain, son, and you are more correct than you know. But I cannot help you alone. The circle must be completed.: He looked at Thuronil. :Since you are so bold, perhaps you would care to fetch my wife.:
Thur laid his ears back briefly, hesitating, then folded his wings and walked forward tentatively. I do not understand, he signed.
Janu sighed impatiently. :Do you want my help or don't you? My long-son came to the kitsune to call into the realm of the dead, and it was I he called. Her power to recall a spirit is spent for as long as I remain in this world. We can do nothing until my companions, with whom I helped to forge the mountains, have been assembled. Therefore, I am sending you to another kitsune to recall the spirit of another. Can you remember a name?:
Thur snorted indignantly. Yes.
:Star-Pool-Song. You must call her.:
Thur tilted his head. A Many-Color? You called her your wife.
:There will be time for unnecessary questions later,: said Janu, turning to walk toward the statue from which Caspe had emerged. :Come, it is time to travel. Giver - warn your siblings of the approach.:
Caspe giggled wildly, and leapt up in a backflip. (O care and be careful little fleshies for my voice is the stuff of nightmares, blood in a golden bowl.)
Kalea managed to interpret the warning just in time and clapped Dante's hands over his ears, following suit just as the kitsune lifted her nose to the stars and howled. The world seemed to shake, and it seemed to Kalea that the terrible sound, wrenching and squealing, echoed back from the stars themselves and the evening sunlight shattered into a thousand pieces. Then it faded and Kalea looked up, heart pounding, to a perfectly normal world.
Thuronil gave his companions a final surprised glance and followed the spirit-Paw to the statue. When Janu stopped the Many-Color kept walking, and winked out of sight.
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