Nivek, wow! You and I actually watched the same series?!? Like Gypsy, I LOVED IT! Have not read the books yet, but I am planning to now!

The Heartwood
Dawnview Vale
Dawnview Castle
Hasday, the Eighteenth Day of Tiger

Bekkah, Cesare, Daxia, Keiko, Lyric, Kisa, Linnell, Reena, Tomomi, and various Dayalans

Linnell Allaine had spoken about so much, addressing each of her guests in turn. She listens to the responses with the earnestness of an attentive host, whether they be a few words or many. Only when things had gone full circle did she make her reply.

"I would like to think that if it were a love story, it would be a stronger tale. No tale, no song has any meaning unless it speaks to how we treat one another; unless it teaches us something about ourselves."

And with that, her attention spun to the Mouse in her house. She couldn't help but smile, just a little bit.

"To fill the emptiness with kindness. Has anyone ever told you that you have a wonderful way with words? They have a simplicity that is lacking between here and the Seas. I would like to meet this Lady of yours; she sounds much more down to earth than the Councilor. To fill the emptiness with kindness. It is a shame our world does not think of that more. We have so many stories about great events and the buckling of swashes and the happenings of the past. Why is it that we have so few songs about what is really important? To be taught this by a strange — strange only because we have just met — Mouse makes me feel more than a little ashamed. Reena is correct, this must be what my daughter saw."

Tomomi just swallowed at that, eyes wide as saucers and her ears as pink as a beautiful sunset. Of course, Linnell saw this, and of course, she then chose to speak to Lyric.

"How come there are not more such teaching songs?"

The ex-Khorall offered the Minstrel an odd smile at that. Kisa blinked and raised her hand to her mouth while Captain Reena raised her hand over her liege's head as if getting ready to rap Linnell once more.

"You are very quiet for a minstrel. I have never met one with so few words. You are even quieter than the oft-spoken-of Temple critter. No offense to our Miss Mouse, of course. Are you quiet because being surrounded by Allaines is as mystifying as some High Court or Council where you have no right to be at or are you afraid of what you might say? So you are not a wolf. What sort of Minstrel are you?

"Are you a minstrel first, one who simply watches the world turn around her or are you a minstrel second, taking hold of who you are and what you do and the songs come naturally after?"

Reena simply snorted at that, taking her hand back.

"Linnell, my dear sweet innocent Linnell, you are going to be so vexed if she answers that question with a simple, single word: yes."

Kisa giggled, and her mother looked grumpy for a moment or two. To resolve that conundrum, Linnell chose to question Bekkah.

"So what do you think, what sort of minstrel do you travel with? And I challenge you, Yurisdotter. Prove to us that Daxia did not inherit all your family's words; I have heard a rumor, and I would like to know if it is true, that once she left the Vale, she has been forced to use your allotment of words and has thus been given less than an agreeable nickname. Show us that this is not true; that it is not yours and Lady Attera's fault. I am curious about your answer, in more than a handful of words."

As she waited for Bekkah to formulate her answer, Linnell took a breath, before she responded to Keiko concerning grandmothers and fathers and their feelings.

"Love is something that a Noble has to place third or fourth or fifth in the Order of things important. It is the way of the world. It is right because it simply is. The Noble Families must be maintained. Allaine cannot fall, cannot be let to fade away. For all that my sister is rigid and narrow-sighted, she is correct in that. It is not a matter of pride.

"It is a matter of service."

She sat up a bit straighter.

"It is our duty, which we gladly take. In return for our position, we give everything else up. It is our task to provide for our people. Their security comes first. They must be safe and able to live without fear. Their welfare comes first. They must be able to live a life in good health, with enough food, water, and sustenance. Their happiness comes first. They must be able to live, not just survive. Their smiles are our smiles. Their success is how Allaines measure ours.

"For us to find happiness? That is a rare thing. Something to be cherished. Mayhaps, this is why Allaines tend to care so much for those chosen to protect us. For who else would care? Who else would look after us in the same way? I know I would be lost without Reenashka."

"I find myself doubly lucky. I have Reena, and I can think of Kisa's Father and smile. I suspect his responsibilities to his caravan are as significant to him as mine is to the people of Dawnview Vale.

"This is true, isn't it, Keiko?

"It must have made the Goddess laugh, that a Waverider and a castle-bound girl found each other. I would hope that somewhere he still thinks of me in the same way. His last Midwinters in the Vale was when Kisa was still so little. I have never asked why he stopped visiting the Vale come the Storm Season. I have never followed that pattern. In my head, I know what is most probable. But my heart refuses to ask that question. If I do not ask, if I do not seek that pattern, it will always be as if he is just over the next hill.

"One day, Kisa. One day, Daxia. Both of you will learn that there are some questions that are better never answered."

Daxia got her answer next. Of all the answers in the world, it came from somewhere near, or in, the least expected territories.

"I never saw it."

Linnell shoulders raised and fell.

"The pattern that you and my daughter set in motion? I never saw it. It was beyond the limits of my world, it was a question I would never have even thought to ask. That disturbed me, for quite a while, as these odd rumors came in, about a strange Lady of Attera being watched over by a troublemaker Dayalan. And then I realized it was perfectly fine.

"This is your time.

"Not mine.

"These are your stories to tell, your songs to make. Does the stone in a castle's foundation have any idea of the Castle it supports? Probably not. But it is still part of the Castle's story, and without being there, there would be no castle.

"I can certainly live with that. And take a mote of pride and happiness in being that foundation stone. Besides..."

The redhaired woman leaned back against her bodyguard.

"I am looking forward to being spoiled in my old age, having all the benefits of being a grand Allaine and none of the responsibilities, being doted on by my loving daughters."

Kisa raised a brow at that.

"Doting? Bah. Follow the tiles, dear Mother. Two weeks of being doted on and you will be bored to tears."

Linnell just laughed looking across to her guests.

"Maybe yes. Maybe no. But until then, the sun is heading to its rest in the West and we should too. Daxia, you probably have just enough time to cross the Valley to the Temple, and if you say that your liege demands your return, limit her words to you so you may get back before morning. The path is lit, so the dark is not a worry."

Kisa nodded.

"I so demand."

She then paused, giving Tomomi an inquisitive look.

"I also demand that Miss Tomomi Mouse accompany My Knight and to not leave her side. If anyone says this is inappropriate, pray inform them that the Khorall would then like to speak to her Priestess. Immediately."

This was immediately followed by a quick apology.

"If this is acceptable to you, Miss Mouse. I ask it as a favor, as it would be valuable for everyone and my sister if you saw that inside of the Temple."

It was Linnell's turn to quirk her brow. Tomomi just nodded in reply. After an awkward pause, Linnel swept her hand across the room.

"As for the rest, you are our guests. Rooms will be found in the second tower for you, the main hall and the terraces free for your use. The Allaine tower, of course, is for family only, and if you find a door closed, we expect that it to stay closed. Otherwise, a fair night. Reena and I shall take evening promenade. Feel free to stay here and make your plans for the morrow; if you are going further on..."

Linnell nodded to the two Dayalans also watching over them.

"Let them know what you need, and they will ensure it is collected."

She then, with her captain in tow, she took her leave, heading upstairs to the gallery and then deeper into the castle. As they left, a few snippets of conversation drifted down in their wake.

"Hey Linny, can I ask you something..."


[[OOC note: If you have a further response to Linnell, feel free to include your closing thoughts in your post. Tadaa! You get the last word! Otherwise, you should plan what you want to do next and how to go about it. If Daxia wants to visit the Temple she can do so between now and sunrise - and anyone who wants to accompany her is fine by me; you just need to get Daxia to agree. I'd like the next post for all of you to be moving on to your next adventure!]]

Neither.. but wishing those that have a nice day!

Volli

The Sister just tilted her head.

"Multiple times I have sung to her."

She crossed her arms, still a mountain lake in winter.

"She may be in a place where Dvasha melody cannot reach her."

What she was thinking was like the still waters in that lake. For the moment, hidden beneath its mirror surface.

42 this year for me!

Have a lovely day together! Really pleased for both of you.

And nice Flintstones Don!

Sadly ... until it shows up on NetFlix ... I won't be able to watch it <sigh>

But it is on my 'radar', so if it =does= show up ... <weg>

We have a lot of time - about 2 weeks. I plan on finishing off the other game before then. Just some I's to dot and T's to cross.

ARS has closed temporarily

Answers:

evil, evils
ins, isle
lei, lie, leis, lens, lien, lies, line, live, liens, lines, liven, lives, livens
nil
sin, sine, snivel
vie, veil, vein, vies, vile, vine, vise, veils, veins, vines

Ken - Wow!!

[OOC: Phil is targeting the rats and, in between shots, fixing his bayonet.]

Kriv

As he had upon receiving the prior rank, the Dragonborn noble acknowledged it in his stride, inclining his head at the promotion to the third tier in relatively short order. He was comfortable in a structured hierarchy, and confirmed the order with a simple,

"It will be done."